Choose your method
Download Coffeetosh
Direct Download
Download the
.dmg installer, open it, drag Coffeetosh to your Applications folder, and you're done.macOS 13 Ventura or later
Download .dmg
View all releases on GitHub →
Install with Homebrew
Already using Homebrew? One command installs Coffeetosh and keeps it up to date with
brew upgrade.Requires Homebrew installed
$ brew install coffeetosh
First Launch
Get up and running in 3 steps
From download to first session — takes less than 2 minutes.
1
Install the app
Open the downloaded
.dmg, drag Coffeetosh into your Applications folder, then double-click to launch. macOS may ask you to confirm opening an app from the internet — click Open.2
Find it in your Menu Bar
Coffeetosh lives in the macOS menu bar — look for the ☕ icon in the top-right corner after launch. Click it to open the control panel, set a duration, and start a session.
3
Enable the Terminal CLI (optional)
Click the menu bar icon → Settings → Install CLI Tool. This lets you control Coffeetosh from any terminal window with
coffeetosh start, coffeetosh stop, and more.$ coffeetosh status
Coffeetosh: INACTIVE
What you get
Everything's included. No tiers.
One free download. No account, no subscription, no upsell.
Lid Closed Mode
Keep your Mac fully running for SSH, builds, and downloads with the lid physically shut.
Keep Awake Mode
Prevent idle sleep when the lid is open. No sudo needed. Perfect for presentations and long tasks.
Full CLI
Start, stop, check status, save presets, add time — all from your terminal.
Session Dashboard
See remaining time, live status, and session history directly in the menu bar.
Low Power Mode
Optionally enable macOS Low Power Mode during a session. Auto-restores when done.
MIT Licensed
Fully open source. Read the code, fork it, contribute. No black boxes.
Before you install
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does Coffeetosh do?
It prevents your Mac from going to sleep on a schedule you define. Lid Closed mode lets you work with the display shut — great for SSH sessions, overnight builds, or running scripts remotely. Keep Awake mode prevents idle sleep while the lid is open, without needing any admin access.
Does it need root access or modify system files?
Lid Closed mode uses
sudo pmset — the same tool macOS itself uses — to adjust one sleep setting. It prompts you for your password once per session and restores everything when you stop. No kernel extensions, no SIP bypass, no residual changes. Keep Awake mode needs no admin access at all.
Will my Mac overheat with the lid closed?
Your Mac's fans and thermal management work the same regardless of whether the lid is open or closed. If you're running an intensive workload and worried about thermals, use
--low-power mode which throttles performance slightly to reduce heat and save battery. Most idle or light workloads are completely fine.
What happens when the session timer runs out?
The daemon automatically stops the session, restores
pmset settings to their original state, and disables any active Low Power Mode. Your Mac returns to normal sleep behavior. You can also use coffeetosh add 60 to extend a running session before it expires.
Can I use it from Terminal only, without the app open?
Yes. Once you run
coffeetosh install-cli, you can control everything from the terminal. The menu bar app doesn't need to be running for CLI sessions — a background daemon handles everything. You can even start sessions remotely over SSH.
Is it really free? What's the catch?
No catch. Coffeetosh is free to download and use forever. It's MIT licensed and open source — the full code is on GitHub. If it saves you time, a star on the repo or a coffee via Buy Me a Coffee goes a long way.
How do I uninstall it completely?
Stop any active session with
coffeetosh stop, then delete Coffeetosh from /Applications. Remove the CLI symlink with sudo rm /usr/local/bin/coffeetosh. App data lives at ~/Library/Application Support/Coffeetosh/ — delete that folder to remove all preferences and session history.
Ready to keep your Mac awake?
Free download. No account needed. Works in 2 minutes.