I don't use herbs and coffee beans much in my game. In fact, I don't think I've ever made coffee.

I'm playing an apocalypse/nothing is free mashup challenge right now, and since there is no grocery store, I'm limited to only using ingredients my sims grow from seeds they find. Early on, any variety is precious, especially because I need 8 varieties of perfect plants.

However, most of the seeds my sims receive upon hitting Gardening level 1 aren't food - coffee beans, herbs, and alchemy ingredients. (In the way of edible plants, I currently have lettuce, grapes, onions, and white caps. I'd kill for a tomato.) It makes me wonder if there's more to be done with herbs and coffee.

Could this be related to the spawners in the world you are playing? In standard game worlds, you usually find the lvl1 Gardening seeds in parks etc. Lettuce, apple, tomato etc. I doubt there are food dishes for coffee beans though.

Oh, to be clear I'm not complaining about the seeds I'm getting. That's part of the challenge (Nothing is Free is a city building challenge, so I have to earn lots before I can place spawners.)

I'm just thinking it would be fun if there was more functionality from herbs and coffee beans, like if coffee-making was a skill the way nectar-making is.