Inbrixx Teddy’s Coffee Shop REVIEW | Set 881101 | 3 minifigures | 1381 pieces | 8 stickers | 39 prints | weight: 990 g | 163 steps | 5 bags | 19 x 27 x 18 (w x h x d) cm
Introduction
The teddy bear as a stuffed toy is likely to be found in every child’s room and is also a popular collectible for some adults. In the world of brick-building, teddy bears have been relatively unrepresented, and I am curious to see how they fare in this medium.
Packaging and Instructions
Teddy’s Coffee Shop was delivered directly from with a box, but wrapped in a lot of plastic. The bricks are then packed in smaller bags sorted by construction phases. The set includes instructions, a sticker sheet with eight stickers, and a brick-separator.
The 63-page instruction manual is well done. I found no points of criticism while building.
Building Experience and Part Quality
Teddy’s Coffee Shop is built in four construction phases with a total of 163 building steps. Logically, it starts with the construction of the baseplate and the ground floor. Quite quickly, the emerging interior is decorated with details: a shelf with cups and containers, tables and chairs, lamps, a counter, and many other small items that give the ground floor a very charming look. This makes building a real pleasure!
In the second phase, the movable back wall is built, so that the interior can be admired later. In addition, two seating options with awnings are built in front of the café. The Dark Green | Earth Green is reflected in the umbrellas and awnings, creating a harmonious color scheme with the Light Brown tones.
At times, it was a bit tricky to determine which brown was needed. This was sometimes not so clear in the instructions, but eventually, the existing parts on the table helped.
The large sign on the front is made of six tiles, which are covered with a large sticker. I’m not a fan of this, but I stuck it on anyway, as it would otherwise seem lacking. Two stickers are meant for the back of the building and one for the side wall. I did without these (see sticker sheet), as they don’t add any visual value.
Now, in the third phase, the upper floor is built. This consists of a small enclosed room, with a back wall that can be opened again. Next to it is an open space with a chair, a bookshelf with small details, representing a “book club.” A railing and a staircase to the roof complete the coherent design of the floor.
The roof is a real highlight. Half of it is covered with a grass roof. Beneath it is a large swing and many plants winding and growing up there. The area without a roof is adorned with a picnic blanket and invites you to linger there under a string of lights.
The building process, as mentioned, is a joy. There are no open questions thanks to the clear instructions, and everything fits together well. There are no technical challenges in the construction, but it is not boring either. In addition to the eight stickers, I counted 39 prints. Some are very small, some a bit larger.
Teddy’s Coffee Shop comes with three minifigures (teddy bears) that need to be assembled. These consist of pants, tops, arms, heads, and headgear, like other minifigures.
Compared to a classic LEGO minifigure, they seem quite bulky and I can’t really get excited about them. But they can certainly appeal to some or can be easily exchanged.
The quality of the parts was absolutely satisfactory. The clamping force is right, the colors are vibrant, and there are no color deviations. Of course, I could complain about small scratches on the panes, but this is the case with almost every manufacturer.
Conclusion
The finished house or café from the Teddy Bear Collection is an absolutely lovable object. The design and colors are harmonious. Numerous prints and details inside and out contribute to this positive overall impression. I would have preferred the eight stickers as prints. The two walls that open to reveal the inside are particularly well done.
Whether Teddy’s Coffee Shop is suitable for children to play with is doubtful, as everything is very small and delicate. For example, the swing invites play, but there is very little space for playing hands, and something from the planting might fall off. Older kids can surely handle it.
As a pure display object, it is a gem and is allowed to stand with me, even without the teddys.
