- BGG rank
- BGG #3,675
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Ligretto
- 2–4 players
- 10 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1988
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,046
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Espresso
1995
Rules assistance for Espresso
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 30–60 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Espresso
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Espresso is a board game released in 1995 for 2–6 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Michael Michaels and its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
Espresso is essentially a multiplayer version of a standard solitaire or patience game played in real time, something like the traditional card game Racing Demons, although it has significant differences from that game. It is also more or less a clone of the well known game Ligretto. Each player has an identical set of 36 cards (9 each in 4 colors) from which a stack of 9 is randomly dealt as the "espresso" stack - this must be gotten rid of by playing to common stacks in the center of the table. These stacks must each be built up from 0 to 8 in a single color. Players have 3 other face-up cards to help them, and can turn over cards from the rest of their deck to provide further alternatives.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- AMIGO
Questions and answers
Espresso supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Espresso is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Espresso for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Espresso has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Espresso belongs to these categories: Card Game and Real-time. Its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Espresso are: Michael Michaels. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Espresso as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.