How Coffee Shops Can Make the Best Substitute Offices
Imagine a quiet office space. There are only a few people around – not enough to distract you, but enough to ensure that you don’t feel isolated from the world. Mostly they are freelancers, typing away at their computers.
You like the music playing in the background because it is almost like someone copied your own playlist. The coffee is delicious, there’s plenty of food to choose from, the view is not bad at all…And the best part? The rent you pay is the price of the things you eat and drink.
It sounds good, doesn’t it? I’ve just described at least three of my favorite coffee shops. You might think that working in coffee shops is an obvious choice, albeit not a very convenient one. After all, several other FreelanceSwitch writers made pretty good cases about why libraries make better offices than coffee shops or why co-working spaces are the best office alternatives. But what if there aren’t any co-working spaces near where you live? And most libraries don’t really allow you to eat or drink something around their computers.
So what’s a freelancer to do? Sure, most freelancers, including me, run home offices. But working in one place for a long time decreases productivity, creativity and frankly, it gets boring and lonely.
So every time I need a change of scenery, I take my stuff and go to one of my favorite coffee shops. And if you choose correctly, they can make the most fun and positive office substitutes. Whether you don’t feel comfortable in libraries or you don’t live near co-working spaces (or just don’t want to pay $25 or more for them), here is a guide to what to look for in coffee shops so that they provide a satisfactory office experience:
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The quiet hours. I know many people who work more effectively with noise in the background. While I appreciate a little noise, I can’t concentrate with children running around screaming. But many coffee shops have their quiet hours.
If you can detect them, it will feel like the whole place is yours. It will feel peaceful yet social. After all, there will always be a fellow freelancer who is taking advantage of these times, or a ferocious reader who just enjoys his book more with his favorite coffee.
- Comfortable chairs and tables. Sofas are lovely, but I personally work more effectively with armchairs and high tables. They are comfy while still providing the feeling of professionalism. Then there is the perk of not getting neck or back pains from sitting for so long.
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Friendly staff. Some places are self-service, but you might have found your work haven in a place with waiters. Whatever the case, it is important that they are friendly and don’t give you weird looks because you are spending so much time there or aren’t ordering something new every 30 minutes. Yes, you will be ordering things, but they shouldn’t expect you to spend a hundred bucks every time you are there.
It also helps that there is someone nice to chat to. Just as you like a friendly attitude, most employees also appreciate the friendly customer they can complain to about their nightmare customers.
- Taste and price of coffee (and food). I love my coffee, and like many freelancers agree, coffee is also good for productivity and a must-have. I can’t work without good coffee, and it raises my spirits more when the cost doesn’t put dents in my wallet. And I have to admit, I can never make the killer mochas my favorite places do. It’s just not the same.
- Fast and free internet. As much as turning off the internet for the sake of concentration and flow is recommended, we still need it for a lot of things. A coffee shop without a good and free internet connection, in the long run, is a no-no.
- Vicinity. It really helps if it is a walking distance from your house or at least takes only a short ride. It’s nice to take breaks, but you don’t want to get exhausted and lose a lot of time trying to get there. Time is cash after all.
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Other freelancers. If the coffee shop has several of the characteristics I listed above, there will be other freelancers. I actually made a couple of close friends just by saying hi, or answering a question they might have about the place or about anything.
We even started a Facebook group to connect and arrange get-togethers. Recently, both my freelancer friend’s schedule changed, as well as my own. But even though we can no longer work together, we still meet there for the occasional coffee and brainstorming.
- Lots of sockets. You will need to charge your laptop from time to time, a it’s frustrating when you need to fight for one of the few sockets with the other freelancers.
So there you have it. Coffee shops don’t need to be avoided by freelancers. With new ones opening every day, it might make sense to try out the independent ones. Unfortunately, franchised coffee shops like Starbucks usually get to be more crowded. And even if you have an office, it doesn’t hurt to get away from it every once in a while.
How about you? What’s your favorite substitute office?
Photo credit: Some rights reserved by pmaguire.
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As you mentioned, the best working place is a place where you feel confortable. For me, the mix coworking space – coffee shop is a winner.
I currently live in Vancouver, BC where any street corner hosts a coffee shop.
In european cities (e.g., Belgium) coffee shops are not that common and it can be quite a challenge to find a quiet and comfy place :/
Hi Francois,
You are right, it is all relative. I listed the conditions that make me and a lot of freelancers I know content and productive. Luckily, I live in an area where I can find some good alternatives-as long as I don’t mind some research and trial & error. : )
A lot depends on the kind of coffee shop. One where it’s laid back, the staff is fine with you hanging out and it’s comfortable, easy to get out of the path of traffic and not noisy rocks. Most large shops (Starbucks, etc) aren’t like this. Smaller, independent ones can be.
One thing though – DO buy things there and DO tip the staff. Buying small black coffee in return for 5 hours of office time is a bit chintzy. Buy a reasonable drink and tip the staff 20% of the price. Be nice to them. Don’t leave a mess for them to clean up and, if the place is getting packed and they could really use your space for more new customers and you’ve been there for 3 hours, move on.
You definitely need to order stuff, Rick. But when you are the nicest customer they have met, and you don’t complain when they are a little late (and yes, tipping is always a smart and thoughtful gesture), they do enjoy seeing you there. Of course you don’t want to be best buds either-since some of the staff can be too chatty and end up interrupting your work.
But I totally agree with chains, as I mentioned Starbucks in the article. It can be really nice if you are there from 7am-9am, but even then it is a nightmare.
I find it kind of difficult to work in coffee shops sometimes if I really need to focus. I also feel obligated to spend a good amount of money on a coffee or some food while I’m there….and I tend to get distracted by the conversations people are having around me.
Another good substitute for an office is a public library. Just like a coffee shop , you have to make sure you have access to the internet and some sockets but if you do then its great
. My local library even has an area where you can eat too so it’s definitely freelancer-friendly.
Micaela, I’m so jealous of that public library : ).
Does it have comfy sofas and a good taste in music too? I don’t have any places like that around me, so I’m focusing on the perks of the coffee shops. You are right about the distraction, and sometimes it can get unbearable. But that’s why quiet hours come in handy. It is also cool if the place is not kid-friendly. I discovered a place in a street full of bars, but the place doesn’t serve drinks so it is almost always great for working. I also tutor my private students there, and they love that place too.
I’m absolutely with Rick! Respect the places you visit and be polite to the staff.
I will work in a coffee shop for short periods of time when I’m traveling, but it is important to remember that whoever runs the coffee shop is also a business person. They are not there to provide you with an office space for hours on end, nor are they there to provide you with free internet and office furniture. The space is their income – if you are taking up space for a long period of time and not buying much you are short changing someone.
If a staff member has to ask you to leave after several hours because they need a table, do thank them for the space and leave politely (unlike the yelling fit I saw someone have in this situation last week).
If you can’t afford to find a regular space to rent I would suggest it is time to have a really good think about your business model. Can you raise your rates so you can afford some space? Are you able to make some space in your home work as an office? Are you able to do a deal with a friend to use some of their unused space during the day? Are you able to barter some work for some space? There are lots of options!
Hi Poppy,
Working at coffee houses is very convenient for most writers – and getting social and not dealing with the pressure and expenses of an office are two of them. I’m thinking about getting a big flat where one of the rooms will be my office but even then, I’ll be using coffee shops for a change of venue and the social interactions.
It is also important how you choose the place. If it is a place where people only stay for 10 minutes and leave, you’ll obviously not be welcome to work- even if you are nice to staff and order freuqently. But if you go to a place where you are a regular customer, or the most regular in my case, and are also bringing your friends/students/family too, they welcome it from a business point of view too.
It is all about how you choose it. Currently, I’m writing from a short-staffed place so they are happy to serve only when they have a chance to breathe. And the place offered me a discount without me asking for one. It is also a great business attitude to embrace the fact that it is cheaper to keep the old customers than make the new ones…So it is all about getting to know how the place works, and see if your expecations match theirs.
I have an office but I like to go to coffee shop for creative thinking. When I am in my office I DO the work and don’t plan. I try not to spend more than 2-3 hours in coffee shop, and try to choose the time that is not their busy time
I get tired after 2-3 hours too, so switching between my home office and the coffee shop or between coffee shops serves as an efficient break. It is also good for breaking block cycles.
One quality that I love about coffee shops here in Ireland is that many still don’t offer any internet access. I know, it sounds crazy but I love it. For me, working in a such place means no distractions and getting the work done much quicker.
Internet is my best friend and my worst enemy when it comes to writing. I love the fact that accessing an audience, interacting with them, researching markets and connecting with potential employers became so much easier. But it is so easy to get lost while you are reading several things on lime, even though it is work-related. And as much as Facebook is great for marketing, it is hard to resist replying to that friend who you haven’t heard from in ages.
That’s one of the reasons I do like it when the internet connection is lost. And I sometimes turn it off on purpose. I wrote an article here about what freelancing tasks we can do without the internet, and that list does help me balance productivity vs. fun time.
I have a little teashop that I go to (or used to go to). I typically go after the breakfast /early rush… and stay until lunch time. So I’m there for about 3-4 hours.
I agree, it definitely depends on the place… find one that encourages this type of alternative working environment and go from there. I love it for the change of pace/atmosphere. Think I may have to get back to doing this
It definitely beats a constant office, and my office-bound friends are typically very envious that we have the luxury to choose. I think you’d benefit from going back. You sound like you’ve missed it.:)
I read Pinar’s article and went, “Ahhhhhhhh!”
As she mentioned, after reading so many different posts and articles and rants and comments about why coffee shops as work spaces suck large, this one felt like my regular Coffice — familiar and comfy.
Thanks Pinar and company. Even though I’ve been working on this subject for quite some time, I see no reason to add to it.
Great job people! My blood pressure just went down.
Sam Title
Chief Executive Cofficer
TheCoffice.biz
Twitter.com/TheCoffice
Facebook.com/TheCoffice
Sam, that blood pressure thing really made me smile : ) You don’t need to worry, people love coffee houses in general, and that is actually why it can be a problem for freelancers. They can be crowded, loud and incidentally, full of kids. In fact, we need a lot of café’s that are more freelancer-friendly. In case you need another business idea in the future.: )
I think I’d feel a bit self-conscious working from a coffee shop. I don’t see many people working from coffee shops here in Britain, but saying that I’m not located in the city centre, where I would imagine that’s probably much more common.
However, I have found them to be great places to meet with clients for an informal chat about projects.
Hey Paul;
The UK has quite a large population of professionals who work from coffee shops.
While I’m not familiar with its geography per se, you could be right about being in a suburb with fewer coffee shops available.
On a whim I did a quick search on http://www.jiwire.com for cafes with free wifi near London. It came back with 66 locations. I’m sure that’s just the tip of the iceberg, so if you really want to give it a shot, try searching online for some spots close to you.
Good luck Paul!
Sam
I think you’d feel more at home after the first couple of visits. : ) You might try using your headphones to make it easier for the first times, though : )
Ever since I enacted what I like to call “Freelance Fridays” I really enjoy working at coffee shops. I agree with your tips here, even though I spend a little money on coffee and snacks, it’s a whole lot cheaper than renting a place. It does get lonely working as a freelancer, so finding a local coffee shop is a nice solution. I have one right down the street from me, which I can walk to on nice days. It’s really great to get some fresh air, and shake up the usual (and sometimes boring) freelance routine. Great article Pinar!
Thanks for the lovely comment, Carrie. So do you only go to coffee shops on Fridays? : ) It is a pretty regular occurance for me. Coffee shops made freelancing a lot more fun and social for me. Not the mention the inspiration – such as this article.
Great article, it absolutely describes my working lifestyle! I use to split my day between home-office & coffee shop, apart from the days I have to be in a real office… But working in a coffee shop is something that definitely boosts my productivity and relaxes my mind at the same time. Being there makes me feel social, even if I spend 2 or 3 hours typing, working and staring at my monitor. My city, Athens (Greece) is sunny almost all year long and working in the garden of a coffee shop in the spring and summer time is a real blessing!
I totally agree with you on the coffee shops being a blessing for the hotter days. I don’t have air-conditioning at home, and given that the cafés don’t turn on the freezing mode, it definitely makes things easier. Besides, everyone loves to sit outside, and you have the whole indoors to yourself. I use the garden for breaks. Oh and one coffee shop is close to the beach, so I can take a nice walk during my breaks.
I have always loved coffee shops in a bookstore. What could be better? Perhaps one without the creepster dude who actually asked me if I liked erotic literature and even approached me later, after I had given him my stay-away-from-me-or-I’ll-scream-look. Really? Other than that disappointing encounter, it’s one of my favorite places to write.
@Kelly Stilwell: hahaha This reminds me of my student years when boys would go to the library, trying to pickup hard-working fellow students! Boys will be boys…
You are right, that’s creepy. Knock on wood, I never encountered a creepy person in any coffee shop. The problem for me is that the bookstore cafés near where I live are very crowded. I just use the sofas inside when I am deciding between multiple books, but then back to the coffee places for me.
Great post, Pinar! It’s very close to our hearts, here at WorkSnug
We help people find laptop-friendly coffee shops – on our website and mobile app.
We actually put together a ‘Coffee Shop Code of Conduct’ for people who do work in coffee shops on their laptops. You can check that out here: http://bit.ly/sVojGt
Personally, I love working in coffee shops! I like the reliability of coworking spaces too – for dedicated time away from home – but I don’t like the membership fee? So coffee shop-working is perfect for me – and there are plenty cafes here in London to explore.
Do you ever work in hotel lobbies?
Hi San,
I really liked the code of conduct. : ) It sums up everything in a really fun way.
Thanks Pinar!
Great post about coffeehouses for a freelancer’s office. I’m one of those that enjoys them all the time for that and love it!
I am a coffee shop owner. I agree with poppy and it’s so nice to see that there are at least some people who consider others (ie other customers who want to sit down and the owner).
In our shop, wifi is there to get a better phone connection or brief internet connection while having a coffee. Most people are considerate and only stay a reasonable time, when it gets busy or people need to sit they move on. This is considerate to others and also to the owner who cannot afford to have tables used as a mobile office.
Many owners may not say anything to the extended stayer, but rest assured they are being cursed by the staff and owner. Poppy is right, just because you can’t afford an office space, or prefer to use a coffee shop doesn’t give you the right to overstay your welcome.
Nice post! I’m jealous of the freelancers who work at nice coffee shops. The only one near my house is Starbucks. It doesn’t even offer free wifi.
What I do instead is transfer next-door. My grandma lives with us so I come to her when I feel like I need nice company.
@Mark: That’s why we need to pick the spot carefully. We don’t want to be bothered, and we don’t want to make anyone else uncomfortable. But some cafes are designed/re-designed for freelancers. For example I know a cafe that can be slightly more expensive than chains, but it is often not crowded at all, so the freelancer who orders every hour is better than the customer who isn’t there and brings 0 revenue.
@Lianne: As long as you have a place to go when you are in need of a venue change, it doesn’t matter much where it is or what it is.:) My grandmother doesn’t live with us, but comes to visit often, and she sometimes tags along and comes to the “office” with her books and puzzles. It is fun to have someone to talk to when you are in a break.