If you prefer using a desktop app to record audio and video from meetings, use Coffee's Desktop Recorder and link it to the Coffee web app so recordings are synced automatically.
How to download the Coffee desktop app
Click Settings in the bottom left corner of the Coffee web app
Go to Call Recorder
Select Coffee Desktop Recorder from the dropdown menu
Click the download link for your Mac processor — Apple Silicon or Intel
Not sure which processor your Mac has?
Follow Apple's official instructions: 👉 https://support.apple.com/en-my/guide/mac-help/syspr35536/mac
You can also download directly here
Install the Coffee desktop app
Open the downloaded file and follow the installation steps
Pair the web app and desktop app
After installation, link the two apps so recordings sync to your Coffee workspace.
In the Coffee web app, click Settings in the bottom left corner
Go to Call Recorder
Select Coffee Desktop Recorder from the dropdown menu
Click Generate Pairing Code — the code is automatically copied to your clipboard
Open the Coffee Desktop App and paste the code
Click Connect
Once linked, your desktop recordings will automatically sync with your Coffee workspace.
Grant required permissions
The first time you open the app, you'll need to grant a few macOS system permissions.
Open the Coffee desktop app
Follow the on-screen prompts to enable Microphone, Accessibility, and Screen Recording
👉 For step-by-step instructions, see Granting permissions to the Coffee desktop app on macOS
How to use the Coffee desktop app
The desktop app shows your upcoming and past meetings. The top bar with the Coffee logo, date, and your profile picture stays visible as you scroll.
For each upcoming meeting, you'll see four actions:
Record — toggle recording on or off for that meeting
Join — open the meeting link directly
Notes — open a notes panel for that meeting
Briefing — view attendee info, company details, and context before the call
For each past meeting, you'll see:
Summary — AI-generated recap of the meeting
Recording — access the recorded audio/video
Notes — view or edit notes taken during the meeting
Email — draft a follow-up email based on the meeting
Tasks — view action items extracted from the meeting
Record a meeting
When a meeting is about to start, Coffee shows a pop-up prompt asking if you want to record.
Click Record and Take Notes to start
To start a recording manually (if you missed the prompt, or want to start it yourself):
Click on the meeting in the desktop app to open the meeting detail view
Click Record
Once recording starts, a floating bar appears on your screen showing the meeting name, a live audio waveform, and a timer.
Click Stop Recording to end the recording at any time.
Your recording is saved and synced to your Coffee workspace once the meeting ends.
Audio detection
If you're in an active meeting where Coffee wasn't enabled by default, the desktop app can pick up that audio is present and prompt you to record.
When Coffee detects audio from an active meeting, a Record button appears in the desktop app.
Click Record to start capturing that meeting on the spot.
This works whether you forgot to start the recording or the meeting was never on your calendar.
Take notes during a meeting
Click on a meeting in the desktop app to open the meeting detail view
Click the Notes tab
Type your notes in the notes area — type
/for formatting commands
Notes are saved to the meeting record in your Coffee workspace.
Desktop app settings
Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select Settings.
System Permissions
Review the macOS permissions Coffee needs to function:
Accessibility — required for meeting detection
Microphone — required for audio recording
Screen Recorder — required for screen capture
Recording
Live meeting indicator — when enabled, shows a floating indicator on your screen while a meeting is being transcribed. Toggle off to hide it.
Meeting pop-up reminder — when enabled, notifies you before a meeting starts and prompts you to begin recording. Toggle off to disable the prompt.
Appearance
Choose between Light, Dark, or System (follows your macOS display setting).
Transcription
Select your preferred language for meeting transcription.