As a freelancer juggling multiple projects across different time zones, I’ve tried countless time tracking apps. Most fall into two categories: overly complex tools designed for enterprise teams with features I’ll never use, or basic timers that lack the insights I need for client invoicing. Coffee sits in that sweet spot I’d been searching for - simple enough to actually use daily, sophisticated enough to provide real value.
The developers describe it perfectly: “A tiny time tracker for your next big project.” Made in Amsterdam by freelancers for freelancers, Coffee understands the actual workflow of independent workers. You’re not managing teams or generating complex reports - you just need to know how much time you spent on each client’s work.
The menu bar integration is the core strength here. A mini timer sits right in your menu bar, showing your current session at a glance. Click it to start tracking a project, click again to stop. The friction is so low that I actually use it, which is the highest praise I can give any productivity tool. When tracking time feels effortless, you stop forgetting to do it.
I’ve been testing Coffee on my M2 MacBook Air for the past month. Creating projects is straightforward - give each client or task a name, pick a color for visual distinction, and optionally set a daily time limit. The customization options are playful without being overwhelming. Each project can have its own icon and color scheme, making it easy to see at a glance which timer is running.
The daily limits feature has changed how I work. Set a target for how many hours you want to spend on a project each day, and Coffee sends you a notification when you hit that limit. For me, this has been invaluable for maintaining work-life balance across time zones. When I’m coordinating with colleagues in China and the UK, it’s easy to let work bleed into all hours. The gentle notification that I’ve hit my limit helps me step away.
Performance is excellent. Coffee uses minimal system resources - I measured roughly 1% CPU usage and around 60MB of memory during active tracking. The app sits quietly in your menu bar until you need it, which is exactly what a utility should do.
The insights and analytics aren’t enterprise-grade, but they don’t need to be. You get clear visualizations of how you’ve spent your time, broken down by project and day. The monthly view shows patterns I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise - turns out I’m spending way more time on administrative tasks than I thought. The CSV export makes it simple to send time reports to clients or import data into invoicing software.
Data privacy is handled well. Everything is stored securely in your iCloud account, syncing across your Apple devices. No third-party servers, no questionable data collection practices. For freelancers handling sensitive client work, this local-first approach matters.
The app is completely free with no ads, no tracking, and no in-app purchases. Developed by Andrei Ildiakov, Coffee represents the kind of indie development I want to support - solving a real problem without monetization schemes or dark patterns. The App Store listing shows version 1.1.1, with regular updates that add polish and fix bugs.
Some reviewers have noted issues with window resizing and interface bugs. I encountered a few minor quirks during testing - occasionally the window height felt too tall for my laptop screen, and I couldn’t resize it manually. These issues seem to come and go with updates, suggesting active development but also occasional regressions. Nothing deal-breaking, but worth being aware of.
System requirements are modest. Coffee requires macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer, making it compatible with most Macs still in active use. The download size is reasonable at around 6MB.
One limitation to consider: Coffee is designed for solo freelancers, not teams. There’s no collaboration features, no shared timesheets, no role-based permissions. If you need those capabilities, look elsewhere. But if you’re an independent worker who just needs to track billable hours accurately, the simplicity is actually a strength.
For freelancers working across time zones - whether you’re in Sydney coordinating with teams in China and the UK like me, or managing clients spread across continents - Coffee provides the essential time tracking functionality without enterprise bloat. It’s not trying to be the most feature-rich time tracker. It’s trying to be the one you’ll actually use every day, and it succeeds.
