Running a coffee shop may seem simple enough from the outside. The reality is anything but.
Will today be as busy as yesterday? Should you prepare more hot coffee, or iced? What happens when the line gets too long? Your top barista costs more, but can serve more customers—what do you change now?
Gurobean puts you behind the counter—allowing you to see firsthand how mathematical optimization supports each of these decisions in the real world.
Think you can out-brew the Optimizer?
Think of it as your own real-world lab. No equations required to get started. Just a coffee shop, a whole lot of variables, and the tools you need to find the best possible answer.
Building off the success of The Burrito Optimization Game, Gurobean introduces complex problem solving concepts, such as nonlinear optimization, simulation, and decision-making under uncertainty—all the challenges of running a real-life coffee shop.
Pour yourself a fresh cup and put your skills to the test.
Who Is This Game For?
Gurobean is designed for students, instructors, and anyone who wants to learn and teach nonlinear optimization through an engaging real-world experience.
By placing players in the role of coffee shop manager, the game brings complex optimization concepts to life while highlighting the trade-offs, uncertainty, and strategic decision-making that businesses face every day.
New to Optimization?
Gurobean is the second game in our gamification series and builds on the concepts introduced in our first game, the Burrito Optimization Game.
