Lean Coffee timer with Roman voting
Timebox each topic. When time's up, the room votes with their thumbs: keep going or move on.
5 min timebox
5 min
Run the whole Lean Coffee in LeanBrew
Everyone adds topics, votes with beans, and the minutes write themselves. Guests join with a link.
Start your 30-day free trialHow it worksHow to use the timer in a Lean Coffee
In a Lean Coffee, the group collects topics, votes on them to build the agenda, and then discusses them one at a time, each in a fixed timebox. New to the format? Read what Lean Coffee is. This timer handles the timebox part:
- Pick a timebox before you start. 5 to 8 minutes per topic works for most groups. 3 minutes suits quick check-ins or a long list; 10 minutes suits deep topics in a small group.
- Start the timer when the topic is introduced (press Space). The ring turns amber in the last 30 seconds, so nobody is surprised by the end.
- When time is up, call a Roman vote. Everyone shows a thumb at the same moment: up to keep going, sideways for no preference, down to move on. Tap the counts, or just pick the outcome.
- Extend in short rounds. If most thumbs are up, add 2 minutes (press E) and vote again when it runs out. Otherwise, move on to the next topic.
Keep extensions shorter than the first timebox. A topic that needs three extensions probably deserves its own meeting; park it and note a follow-up. For more on keeping the conversation moving, see how to facilitate a Lean Coffee.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a Lean Coffee timebox be?
Most groups use 5 to 8 minutes per topic. Use 3 minutes for quick check-ins or large backlogs, and up to 10 minutes when topics are deep. If the room votes to keep going, extend in shorter rounds of 2 or 3 minutes so one topic can’t eat the whole session.
What is Roman voting?
When the timer runs out, everyone shows a thumb at the same time: up to keep discussing, sideways for no preference, down to move on to the next topic. The facilitator counts the thumbs; if most are up, add a short extension, otherwise move on.
Does this timer save anything or need an account?
No. The timer runs entirely in your browser tab, needs no account and stores nothing. Close the tab and it’s gone.
Can I show the timer on a TV or shared screen?
Yes. Use the full-screen button to fill the screen with the timer, and the keyboard shortcuts to run it: Space to start or pause, E to add 2 minutes and R to reset.