Working from a coffee shop can be productive and energizing, especially in a post-lockdown world where more people are working apart from one another more than ever. Whether it’s a remote job or being self-employed, there are ways you can enjoy working from shared space while being mindful of your impact to others while doing it. And even if you are part of the new generation of people working in coffee shops, the phenomenon itself isn’t new, so we have years of experience to reference for best practices. This article covers the unwritten rules of etiquette working in a coffee shop with some of my personal recommendations from first-hand experience.
Prepare
Before even going to a coffeehouse, it’s important to know what to expect pack a bag of things accordingly.
Understand how to setup a hotspot with your phone
Some cafés like Northstar and Fox in the Snow don’t have Wi-Fi networks, so plan beforehand around what work can be done offline, or learn how to setup a hotspot with your phone if you need an internet connection on your laptop.
A hotspot utilizes your phone’s wireless carrier connection for internet access, and essentially turns your phone into a wireless router, like the one you have at home to access Wi-Fi.
I recommend setting this up and testing before you leave the house because you might need to call your wireless carrier to understand your phone plan and get this feature activated. You’ll also want to understand your data limits and overage costs too since data will be flowing through your phone plan.
Here are guides to setup a hotspot for my Android users and here is a link for iPhone users. You may also want to inform yourself on how to make your hotspot secure, and you may even consider connecting to your hotspot exclusively if you have concerns about public Wi-Fi. At the very least, set a password to prevent others in range from connecting to your hotspot.
Arrive with charged devices
Depending on how busy the place is, people may have already claimed the seats near outlets before you arrive. If your goal is to work at a coffee shop for a few hours, you might be left frustrated if your phone or laptop batteries won’t last the duration without being connected to a charger.
Research the vibe beforehand
Read some Google or Yelp! reviews or Reddit posts about the coffee shop you’re visiting and how busy or loud they are. Fox in the Snow tends to get packed and is quite noisy, which might be overstimulating if you’re trying to study or complete a task that requires a lot of focus. On the contrary, Bada Bean Bada Booze in Quarry Trails tends to attract a quieter group. Doing this work beforehand will better help you understand if this is appropriate environment to work in and how long you might be able to stay.
Buy something
The first respectful thing you can do when entering a café you plan to work in is to buy something. This is easy if you’re going in around breakfast or lunch time and want to make a meal out of your visit. Just buying a coffee is fine too. Walking into any establishment and sitting down without buying something is typically frowned upon.
Prefer bar seating over tables
Occupy a seat that works for one rather than a table that seats 4. Bar seating is great for this, or if that isn’t an option, consider going for a table that seats 2. If you do sit at a table for 4 when it’s busy, keep an eye out for people looking around for a seat, and offer the empty seats at your table to them. I’ve found that most people are unlikely to sit down next to me if it looks like they will be invading my privacy or social bubble, so approaching them first can go a long way. If you meet up with another person, two separate parties can often sit comfortably at the same table without feeling like they’re eavesdropping on each other.
Be aware of your belongings
Avoid placing a backpack in the seat next to you if it is busy and be aware of any tripping hazards associated with cables you might have plugged in. The last thing you want is for someone to clothesline your charger and send your laptop flying!
If you are using your phone as a hotspot, you might want to leave it out on the table rather than in a pocket to avoid overheating. Just avoid spreading out papers and books too much since tabletop space is often limited.
Mind your volume
Always use headphones when listening to music or watching videos. Taking a brief call quietly here and there is fine, but consider your venue if you are planning to attend and speak in a lot of meetings. Some shops are friendlier to remote workers than others, so do your research ahead of time and read the room. NEVER use speakerphone or have audio come directly out of your computer for the world to hear. It’s annoying on buses and trains, and it’s no different here.
Don’t overstay your welcome
Look up and scan your surroundings every once in a while to see how busy it is and compare that with how long you’ve been occupying a seat. Are familiar faces still here? Is there a wave of new people coming in?
In cities like Columbus, you can probably get away with hanging out at most places for extended periods of time, but busier cities like New York and London tend to be packed or may even have limits for how long you can stay to make way for new customers wanting to sit in. This is probably the most ambiguous unwritten rule since it’s based on feeling and context. I tend to arrive in the morning, have a coffee and a pastry, stay until lunchtime, then take my leave to get lunch elsewhere. You might consider doing the same if you live in a busier city to give a seat to someone that arrives during the lunch rush.
If an employee respectfully asks if you might give up your seat or gives something like a 15 minute warning, don’t argue with them; assume positive intent that they are just making space for new customers (this establishment is a business after all), so don’t take it personally. You can always offer to buy something else or make your way to another coffee shop in the area if you’re not ready to return home.
If employees are stacking chairs, dimming lights, and cleaning tables, they’re likely getting ready to close, so consider wrapping things up. This is why it’s important to break your focus occasionally and take notice of what’s going on around you.
Clean up after yourself
Clear crumbs, wipe down tables where possible, and take dishes to bins before leaving. Staff are often busy, so pay it forward for the next customer by making it easy for them to sit down where you were. This can go a long way if you plan to be a regular at this location and want to be in good standing with the staff.
Consider tipping
If the café has been your office for hours, tipping on your way out can show your appreciation for the space and accommodation.
Other shared spaces for working
Looking for a dedicated space to call your own? If you’re not into the nomad experience of cafés, coworking spaces like COhatch and WeWork might be more your speed. Brick House Blue is the local coworking space in my area, so I do recommend supporting these local businesses over large chains where you can.
Working from a coffee shop can be a great change of pace, and it works best when everyone using the space is considerate. With a little preparation and courtesy, you can stay productive while contributing to an environment that others can enjoy too. Treat the café like the shared space it is, support the staff, and be mindful of your footprint so you’re always welcome to return.
