I have a couple of reasons why I always choose coffee shops as my second workspace for my online business.
The first one’s a practical reason.
Did you know that for a 1.5 USD coffee, you can stay as long as you want in a coffee shop in our country? It’s free air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and sometimes free use of power outlets all day. That’s a steal compared to a 2 USD-per-hour co-working space, which can get noisy too.
My second reason is personal.
Coffee is life! I will always be a coffee lover, even if my acidic stomach says, “never drink coffee ever again.” Jokes aside, coffee helps us focus and stay awake. It helps us be productive. To me, that is a big deal.
Oh, let us not forget the warm, inviting vibe and those gigantic windows. Ah! I like how they let my mind breathe and wander to collect new ideas. Gone is the writer’s block a few minutes after staring at the adventures on the wall or the trees through the glass.
This is why I don’t mind spending 1.5 or even 4 USD on a cup of coffee most of the time.
The coffee shop experience, though, is not complete without the inconveniences and distractions.
The ear-wrecking, hyena-like laughter of a group of strangers?
The new barista’s inescapable, nightmare-ish playlist?
And the Karens who keep unplugging your laptop charger with their heels like it’s no big deal?
These are only a few of the struggles that come with working from coffee shops.
Coffee shops have been my second workspace since mid-2022. If you’re curious about the hassles that come with it, get ready. I’ll also share some solutions. These are workarounds I’ve come up with to stay productive in such a sometimes chaotic place.
If you’re someone who works from a coffee shop every now and then, these tips will definitely come in handy.
Before we dive into the details of these tips, I just want to share something real quick:
Hi, I’m Eljon, and welcome to my blog. This is my little corner of the internet where I share tips (like this post) to connect with people like me. Bloggers, online business owners, creatives, and anyone searching for meaning and freedom. If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place. You can learn more about my mission here.
Time Lost Searching for the Right Coffee Shop
Here’s an interesting fact. People can start encountering issues working from coffee shops even before they arrive.
Sounds odd? It’s true! At least in my case.
Most of the time, before I leave, I overthink which coffee shop to go to. And that costs me a significant amount of time. Sometimes, I take half an hour only to pick where.
Wait… what!? Is that serious? 30 minutes? It’s embarrassing to admit… but yeah. Haha! Well, there’s plenty to think about, consider, and check. Like the day of the week. I often ask myself, “Is it Friday? Weekend? Yes? For sure there’s no seat available at the Starbucks in our mall. So, to the next café we go!”
But I also check the time. This is why I’m like, “It’s only 12 PM. Should I go already? Students might be swarming the coffee shop by this time. I can’t focus there. Better check other coffee shops.”
On top of that, I also check the traffic condition. I spend a few minutes scouring our local city and nearby cities on Google Maps almost every time before I leave. You could hear me murmuring, “Hmm… is it worth it to travel to this cozy café? It’s only 2 kilometers away but… there’s a 20-minute travel time? Heck, no!”
Can you imagine how much time I’ve wasted?
I go to coffee shops usually 5 times a week. That’s 2.5 hours per week or 10 hours per month. Enough time for me to write a 1,500-word blog post from start to finish!
Once it hit me, I knew I had to stop wasting time. I started taking steps to be more efficient with my time and began creating a solution to avoid wasting any.
If you can relate to my story, this solution is for you. It’s simple: plan a weekly schedule.
I can’t plan your schedule for you, but I can help you create one.
Decide which coffee shop to go to on a particular day of the week or time of day. Having a set coffee shop for a specific time will stop you from overthinking like I used to and wasting time.
When deciding, consider different factors like location. Pay attention to when they’re usually packed and what the vibe is like. And if you’re budget-conscious, you might also want to consider the price of the coffee they sell.
Why the price? Well, sometimes dropping 6 to 8 bucks on a single cup simply isn’t worth it. Yes, even if it has the best velvety texture. And the boldest taste. And the most brain-stimulating aroma!
As someone going to a coffee shop to get work done, coffee is nothing more than a productivity catalyst. I don’t see the point in spending more when a lower-priced option gets the same result.
Here’s an example. If your tasks today involve updating old blog posts or editing photos, is there a need to spend that much? For me, nah.
That said, it’s worth it when I need to finish mind-intensive tasks like writing or content planning.
It might take a bit of trial and error to dial in a weekly schedule that actually works.
Give yourself at least a month to try different coffee shops. Observe and take note of your experiences. Then, use what you discover to pick your preferred coffee shop and adjust your schedule.
For me, it took about three months to lock in a routine that worked. Since then, I haven’t had to waste time figuring out where to work. No more overthinking. No more delays.
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The Productivity Killer in Coffee Shops
Once you start going to coffee shops to create content, build your business, or work, you’ll realize one thing. Coffee shops could be one of the most ironic places out there.
In coffee shops, you buy and drink coffee to be productive. Yet, also in coffee shops, you stay to get your focus thrown off all the time.
Yes, coffee shops are that kind of workspace, both cozy and chaotic.
And those things that make them chaotic? They’re our main problems. Absolute productivity killer. They’re also one of the main factors that pushed me to choose which coffee shops to include in my weekly schedule.
Anyway, the real problem I’m talking about are the distractions. And if you’re thinking that noise cancelling earphones can save you, you’re wrong.
They can only block out the irritating Cocomelon music blaring from the iPad kid’s iPad beside you.
They won’t stop the mouthwatering scent of Sausage & Bacon Flatbread from hitting your nose. Yummy!
They won’t shield you from the person who stares while sipping with pouty lips through their straw. Weird!
And don’t get me started on the coffee friends taking group pictures—with you included in the shot. Bruh, hide me!
To be honest, I sometimes catch myself hoping the coffee shop gets fewer customers. I wish for it, then take it back right away. I don’t want the place going bankrupt either.
With all this in mind, distractions in coffee shops can seriously drain your productivity if you don’t manage them well. Which, by the way, is the only real solution to all the distractions in a coffee shop.
Start by managing your tasks. Bring work that doesn’t demand intense brainpower or deep focus.
Then, manage your time. Go during off-peak hours. You’ll get the best spot, away from the blabberfest crowd, and you’ll be working in a much better environment.
Manage your expectations, too. Remind yourself that coffee shops aren’t the perfect workspace.
Having the right mindset will help you stay cool when things around you get annoying. Once frustration kicks in, your productivity takes an even bigger hit. Nobody wants that!
Take a look at how I’m building an online business without a proper workspace, and how I’m dealing with the challenges.
Of course, what you bring with you can make a big difference too. If you’ve got noise-cancelling earphones, lucky you. Your ears are safe.
In my case, regular wired earphones get the job done. I just play white noise or low frequency ambient sounds, and most of the noise disappears.
A cap can help too. Wear one and pull the visor down while you work. It blocks your view of the people in front, so it’s easier to stay focused on your screen.
One last tip… my secret move. It’s a simple, harmless way to say, “please be quiet, I’m trying to focus,” without saying anything at all. All you do is this: let out a loud sigh every two or three minutes. Haha! Give it a shot. It works for me every time.
Actual Work from Coffee Shop Setup Bummer
Managing distractions while working from a coffee shop can be tough.
But let’s say you’ve handled them. Or maybe you walk in, and by some miracle, the place is calm and quiet. Does that mean you’re all set to be productive? Most likely, yes.
But there are still a few more challenges waiting. The good news is, these ones are easier to deal with because they’re in your control.
Take your internet connection, for example. Always bring a phone with a data plan. That can keep you going if the coffee shop’s free Wi-Fi stops working. You know, when there are too many people using it at once.
I want to emphasize how important it is to bring your own Wi-Fi hotspot. You’ll need it, especially if you’re using an app that syncs your work to the cloud. Like Notion.
I used to draft my blog posts in Notion. It was clean, easy to organize, and it saved everything without asking. But one time, because of a bad connection, Notion ruined my whole afternoon.
The stuff I wrote from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. never synced. When I got home to continue the work, it was all gone. That mess got me so pissed, I moved my entire knowledge base to Apple Notes.
By the way, I’ve dealt with some work-from-home challenges too. I’ve come up with unique solutions. Check them out!
Another problem that’s easy to fix is your devices’ battery life.
Bring a power bank with Power Delivery. The one that can charge your laptop, tablet, and phone. It comes in clutch when the only available table is far from a wall socket.
In my case, I also bring a 2-meter USB-C charging cable. It helps when the socket is nearby but too far for a regular 1-meter cable. With that extra length, I can also charge my devices straight from my power bank without pulling it out of my bag. It keeps my table clear, which, according to some studies, helps with focus.
Speaking of focus, screen peepers can ruin it.
For me, they’re some of the worst people in coffee shops. Sometimes I want to look them in the eye and say, “Hey, mind your own effin’ business.”
LOL. Of course, I don’t say it. I don’t want trouble.
When I notice someone staring at my screen, I pretend I need to pee and turn off the display. When I get back, I turn it on again but dim the brightness. That way, I avoid making things more awkward by doing it while they’re watching.
If you’re the type who hates screen peepers too, try using a privacy film. It’s a plastic sheet that sticks to your screen and limits the viewing angle. It helps a lot, especially if you’re doing something private. For example, an income review.
That said, if you’re only working on creative tasks, using privacy film might not make sense.
Wobbly tables are another annoyance, right up there with screen peepers. I can’t work when the table keeps moving. The movement keeps pulling my attention away and makes it hard to focus on what I need to do.
To be honest, it’s kinda stressful. Especially when even a slight nudge feels like it could send a tsunami of coffee across the table. Alert, alert! The keyboard must stay dry at all cost!
But sometimes, you’ve got no choice. It’s the only table left.
When that happens, I take the seat, but I don’t settle right away. I scan the room and keep an eye on people who look like they might be getting ready to leave. If I’m lucky, someone leaves soon and I grab their spot.
But when it feels like no one’s moving anytime soon, I accept the fact… that… “hey, this is your reality for today. Wobbly table. Deal with it.”
I’ve had more than a dozen experiences with wobbly tables. And I’ve realized it’s something I can’t 100% deal with. Promise, I can’t.
So I had to come up with a solution. It’s a very simple fix, and nope, it’s not stuffing tissue paper under one of the table’s feet. That might work, but I prefer this method:
I use an iPad or laptop with its own stand, paired with a Bluetooth keyboard. The screen stays on the table. The typing happens on my lap. This way, I don’t have to touch the table and make it move.
Problem solved!
Final Thoughts
Working from coffee shops can be frustrating at times, but it’s something I plan to keep doing, at least for now.
Aside from the boost I get from coffee, I like how these places support me in other ways. As a blogger building a site on my own, working in coffee shops helps me feel less isolated. When I see others also working there, it gives me a quiet sense of company.
One time, I visited our local Starbucks. People were working on their laptops and iPads, taking up the entire length of the sofa, from the window to the wall.
It was actually amusing to see! Though part of me also felt bad for the branch. Their electric meter must’ve been spinning faster than a clock!
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