Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly Review: Warm Cups, Warm Hearts

There’s a quietly remarkable show on Netflix called Midnight Diner that has been of comfort to me over the years. A nameless diner that opens at midnight and closes at 7 AM wouldn’t seem like the best idea for a business, but that doesn’t stop customers from gathering long after the sun has set. Of course, the patrons are a curious breed of night owls — taxi drivers, entertainers, and other walks of night life — but they all have one thing in common: the diner itself. Night after night, the customers dine together on foods carefully prepared by a strong, silent, yet caring chef as they celebrate their highs, grieve their lows, and foster an unusual yet tight community in the warm glow of the diner.

When the late Mohammad Fahmi of Toge Productions stated that Midnight Diner was the inspiration behind the original Coffee Talk, I immediately knew this was a game that would speak to my soul. In fact, said title flawlessly encapsulated the show so much — albeit from the restauranteur’s POV instead of the customers’ — that it was impossible to give it anything less than perfect marks. Naturally, this meant an extremely high bar for the newly released sequel, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly, developed by Toge Productions with publishing being handled by Chorus Worldwide. If the first brew was perfection, how would the second one fare?

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly opens up in the not too distant future (approximately next Sunday, A.D., depending on when you’re reading this) and not all that long after the first Coffee Talk. Players will take on the role of the same barista operating the same coffee shop with the same hours serving the same customers in the same fantasty Seattle. Not all is the same, of course — the handful of new faces shake things up a bit, as does the introduction of two new teas: hibiscus and butterfly. And while the majority of your current clientele come from the first game, their struggles have evolved into something completely new, such as an elf/succubus couple trying to move from “just dating” to “just married,” a vampire bored of his LA modeling job looking for his next big adventure, and two game developers arguing over a bad contract for a good game. Luckily for the customers, they have a place they can return to every time the going gets rough to mull it over with a warm-hearted individuals and a warmer cup.

I’ve discussed the gameplay details at length in my review of the first game, and since Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly doesn’t fix what isn’t broken, I don’t feel the need to repeat myself too much. Listening to what your customers want and brewing the proper cup is the bulk of the game here, with the added bonus of being able to hand them specific items as needed. Someone might leave an item one day, only to return and ask for it upon their next visit, for example, or a customer may leave their contact details for another customer in the hopes of a connection later on. Giving (or forgetting to give) these items can greatly impact how the story turns out, so be sure to deliver wisely!

Although Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly doesn’t change up the formula too much, it does add just enough to make it feel like a bigger, better game. More recipes have been added to the brewpad, more musical selections, better latte art controls, far more achievements have been implemented to extend gameplay, a shelf has been added to the background featuring unlockable tchotchkes, secret characters will visit various storyline branches, and more. There’s even more exposition on the barista themselves, although it’s still as gloriously vague as its inspiration. I think the best part about Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly that felt somewhat missing in the first version is how all the customers’ storylines start to merge together, their individual struggles made lighter through their seemingly casual connections over a cuppa. Although I feel this is a game best enjoyed slowly over the course of a few days, I couldn’t help but play straight through for the sake of the writing alone — I couldn’t wait to see how it all came together into one surprisingly exciting conclusion!

I could speak at length about how much I enjoyed the mechanics of coffee brewing or how relaxed I felt while reading the short stories and listening to the lo-fi music, but those small details aren’t truly what makes Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly perfect. What made me realize Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly’s perfection was after a session of serving customers, listening to them discuss love, life, and everything in-between, and noticing my face as the screen faded to black. There’s a meme about seeing your reflection in your switch screen being unsightly or otherwise blank; when Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly turned to black, I saw my own face smiling back at me. I couldn’t help myself — everyone was so earnest, gentle, and soothing that a smile the entire way through was the only natural outcome. By the end of the game, I came to love the characters and their connections as if they were real, and their presence in my life gave my heart as much comfort as a warm cup of coffee. If that isn’t a perfect game, I don’t know what is.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly may not change much from the first game, but that’s because it doesn’t have to. Perfection was already achieved the first cup around — the second cup tastes just as good. With that being said, the new faces and teas bring a unique flavor to the table, and we’re all the richer for their inclusion. If you’re ready for a cup of something warm to go along with relaxing lo-fi beats and thoughtful conversation, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly has a seat at the bar with your name on it.

Final Verdict: 5/5

Available on: PS5, PS4, XBox One, XBox Series X, PC, Switch (Reviewed); Publisher: Chorus Worldwide; Developer: Toge Productions; Players: 1; Released: April 20, 2023; MSRP: $14.99

Full disclosure: This review is based on a copy of Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly provided by the publisher.