Walk into any coffee shop today and you’ll see plenty of people working and studying on laptops.
I’m one of them.
In my daily attempt to get out of the house to boost productivity, I’ve frequented many a cafe in my neighbourhood. I love the chill vibe, coffee, access to WiFi, and the feeling of being around people without needing to interact much.
Coffee shops are a post-pandemic proxy for the social environment offices used to provide, and tons of professionals use them as a regular workspace.
But cafes are not workspaces, they’re not offices, and no one is entitled to use them as such. Coffee shops are for everyone to enjoy; they’re an important community gathering place.
So while remote workers are equally welcome in the space, we shouldn’t treat them like our own private offices. We need to be mindful and respectful of the environment, making every effort to be a good patron and good community member.
Basically, don’t be a jerk.
During my near-daily trips to local cafes, I’ve witnessed tons of good and bad behaviour alike. Here’s how I think we can all mind our Ps and Qs and keep the coffee shop an enjoyable place for all.
Coffee shop etiquette: 13 dos and don’ts
Oh the places you can go with just a laptop…
There are two overarching themes of this list that I think we’d all do well to remember:
- The coffee shop is not your office; respect the vibe of the coffee shop.
- Don’t be annoying.
With that, here are 12 specific dos and don’ts to follow whilst working in a coffee shop (or cafe, restaurant, or other similar location).
1. Do tip your barista
First thing first—be good to the people who work there. Tip your barista, be kind and patient, and make an effort to chat or get to know them if you’re a frequent customer.
This basic etiquette goes a long way on both sides, as getting to know the people who work in your favourite coffee shop can also be a pleasant social experience during your workday.
2. Don’t take phone calls without headphones
There is nothing worse than someone talking on the phone or Zoom without using headphones. The sound of someone else speaking through a device is less natural than two people having an in-person conversation. It’s distracting and noisy… don’t do it!
If you must take a call, use headphones and keep it short. Everyone will thank you.
3. Do use a community table
If your cafe has a large community table, use it. This is a great option for remote workers because you aren’t taking up an entire table for just yourself. Instead, you limit the space you use and leave room for other people to take tables.
Bonus: you might make some friends sharing a workspace!
4. Don’t expect people to be quiet
Once, I was sitting next to a mom and her kids at a coffee shop. They were chatting away, having a grand ol’ time. At one point,t the mom apologized to me for being too noisy and distracting me from work.
No apology needed, ma’am!
If I wanted silence, I’d stay in my apartment, get a private office at a coworking space, or use noise-cancelling headphones.
A coffee shop is a public space, and it’s not going to be quiet—don’t expect it and certainly don’t make anyone feel bad for being noisy. (I, of course, told her that they should be as loud as they like and not worry about me for a second).
5. Do avoid long meetings or conversations
Honestly, this should be a don’t—don’t take meetings in a coffee shop.
But, realistically, it has to happen every once in a while. Perhaps your colleague calls you quickly or you need to do a quick check-in. I think that’s fine. Just remember point #2 and keep it as short as possible. Trust me, no one wants to hear about how you put in the catering order for next week’s event and now you’re moving on to the agreed-upon deliverables for Friday’s presentation.
6. Don’t take up more than one table
Holy heck, this annoys me more than almost anything. If you are one person, use one table (or portion of a table) and one chair. Do not spread your things out and do not use up space that other people could use. If that means you can’t bring your full laptop riser, speaker, battery pack, and everything else you normally have to work, so be it!
7. Do be aware of your surroundings
Glance up from your computer every once in a while. Smile at your neighbours. Move over if someone needs some space. Clear your dishes when you’re finished. Hold the door open for someone who needs an extra hand.
Again, this is not your private office, but a community space. Be aware of your surroundings and be a positive addition to them.
8. Don’t overstay your welcome when it’s busy
When you do occasionally glance up from your computer per #7, take note of how busy the coffee shop is. If there are no free tables and you’ve been there for a while, take a queue and head out. Make sure you’re respecting the business by allowing them to receive other business.
I personally feel like two-ish hours is the maximum time you should spend at a cafe, especially if you’ve just ordered one thing. If you’re going to stay longer, order more and make sure there’s lots of space for other patrons.
9. Do strike up conversations with other remote workers
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how eager people are to chat at a cafe. A simple, “What are you working on there?” opens up a world of possibilities. I’ve enjoyed making brief connections with other remote workers and learning about their work. It helps break up the monotony of solo work and, who knows, could lead to a new friendship!
Read the room and use your intuition—not everyone wants to chat, but probably more people than you think want to!
10. Don’t just buy one brewed coffee
Coworking space memberships cost hundreds of dollars a month to use. Why? Because they’re a business that needs to keep the lights on and pay their staff.
Same with cafes. So why would it be acceptable to spend $3.00 on a brewed coffee or tea and sit there for hours on end? It’s not. Be reasonable about the time you’re spending somewhere and how you’re paying to use that space. A cup of coffee is fine for short visits, but you’ll have to pony up for something more if you’re going to stay longer.
11. Do respect any rules in place
If there’s any signage about how to use the cafe, respect it. I’ve seen some places with notes that specify where you can use a laptop or the time limit. Even if the cafe is empty or you don’t see the point of the rule, please follow it. It’s part of building a community environment that’s comfortable for everyone and not just catered to you as a worker.
12. Don’t expect fast WiFi
…and don’t complain when it isn’t.
Most coffee shops have good WiFi these days, especially if you’re just using the Internet and don’t have to upload or download anything. But sometimes it’s glitchy or slow and, well, that’s life. Their primary business is coffee, not WiFi, so don’t get frustrated when it doesn’t work to your standard.
My advice is to always have some kind of offline work you can do during Internet outages or use your mobile data to bridge the gap.
13. Do be part of the community
If you’re at all a regular somewhere, make an effort to be part of the community. It could be striking up conversations with the other regulars or your baristas, coming out to special events, contributing to fundraisers, or offering a helping hand, cleaning up after yourself or others. I’ll leave it to you to decide how to do it, but make an effort to be present in the space and be part of the community around you.
There you have it—the dos and don’ts of working from a cafe. Is there any other coffee shop etiquette I missed? What do you think about working out of coffee shops? Yay? Nay? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for reading. If you dig my writing style and need some support writing content for your own blog, check out my services or drop me a line. I help individuals, businesses, and organizations reach their goals by providing quality written content for their websites or other online presence… I’d love to work together! 😁
Leave a Reply