December 25, 2024
No one asked for this, but as I travel around the country I work in coffee shops a lot.
Here’s my rating/scoring system for what I value in coffee shops:
- Atmosphere
- Staff
- Seating
- Comfy Seating
- Hours of Operation
- Strong Outlet Access
- Restroom Cleanliness
- Music Volume
- Water Access
- Walkability
- Wifi
- Food
- Coffee Taste
Scoring System
Here’s more about what I mean with the things I listed above.
Each criterion matters differently to me depending on how long I plan to stay and what work I need to accomplish.
Atmosphere
Think of things like tall ceilings, building materials like marble/stone/brick instead of white drywall.
Staff
Friendlier the better, if I walk into a place and it feels like it’s run by teenagers in a sitcom, I think it’s funny/funky in the best way.
Seating
Needs ample seating, nothing sucks more than walking into a place and it’s packed to the brim with no options to sit.
Comfy Seating
I will actively seek out coffee shops with couches/cushioned chairs, because I usually pick a cafe and sit down all day, wooden chairs get uncomfortable after a while.
Hours of Operation
I actively seek out places that stay open to 8 or 9pm so I have the option of working late.
This also means brewery+cafes get thrown in the mix, but breweries can get too rowdy after 5.
Strong Outlet Access
It always sucks walking into a coffee shop knowing I’ll have to move and adjust seating just to get a charge.
Restroom Cleanliness
Cleaner the better.
I’m typically spending several hours in a coffee shop, having a clean, well-maintained restroom is essential.
Bonus points for single-occupancy restrooms and those with modern fixtures that don’t require touching handles or knobs.
Music Volume
Ideally, music is present but at a low volume so I can put on headphones or take calls without Taylor Swift blaring at me all day.
Drinking Water Access
Gotta have a self-serve water station, for most coffee shops this isn’t a problem.
Walkability
I take phone calls everyday and prefer to walk around when I do.
If the area around a cafe is nice and walkable, that’s a big plus.
Wifi
Oddly enough, most Starbucks have subpar wifi, its hit or miss.
Every local cafe I’ve been to has strong wifi, so I don’t even think about this.
Food
I rarely eat at these places, but having convenience can be nice sometimes, and ideally it’s a bit more than just baked goods and mini sandwiches.
Coffee Taste
Believe it or not, this is the last thing I care about, I like most coffee, and really can’t distinguish top 5% grind from top 50%.
Even if you get a bad cup of coffee, turning it into a latte costs an extra $1.50 and makes it taste way better.
Conclusion
As an aside, my favorite cafes are the ones where I look at a beautiful interior design, staying open late, fully staffed, not too crowded, located in a nice walkable area, where I say to myself “I have no idea how this place turns a profit. But it’s awesome.”