Are People in Coffee Shops Really Working?
Visit any high street coffee chain these days and you’ll probably notice the customers are working harder than the staff. You could easily think you’d wandered into the private cafeteria of a tech startup, but no; coffee shops are now the place to get work done.
There have always been poets and playwrights penning their thoughts over a latte, but in the last few years they’ve been joined by executives, developers and marketers.
What’s happening? How did coffee shops become workplaces?
Renting a desk can be expensive
The last decade has seen a tidal increase in the number of freelancers, slashies, gig workers, and contractors. Out attitudes to work have changed, and it’s increasingly down to individual workers to bear the costs of providing their services.
In London, the average price tag for a desk in a shared office is £133 per week. Maybe that’s not too much of a burden for a freelancer or small business once they’re up and running, but it’s a big expense in the early days.
On the other hand, the price of a small lunch and a few coffees can be kept around £15 per day, or £75 per week. It might seem like a lot to spend on cappuccinos, but unlike the office space it’s not a fixed expense — there’s no contract and no deposit. You probably won’t even have to ride the tube or the metrolink.
Workers can connect anywhere
Some people clearly prefer working in public environments. So, maybe the question shouldn’t be “Why have we started working in coffee shops?” but rather “Why haven’t we always done this?”
The broader change in working cultures is more of symptom than cause. In reality it’s increased connectivity that has made it so much easier to step away from the traditional office setup, and into other environments. Something as minor as cloud-based file sharing marks an enormous gain over rummaging through a filing cabinet. (Remember those?)
Likewise, instant messaging and video calling mean that staff don’t need to attend as many meetings, and now even landline telephone numbers can travel with you. Basically, the future is starting to seem quite futuristic.
Coffee shops might just be nicer places to work
The number of businesses that allow some of their employees to work from home has been growing steadily for years. This is basically good news for everyone, but one of the chief concerns for offsite workers is social isolation.
The presence of other people, and the chance to chat or even eavesdrop can be tremendously beneficial. The secondary benefits here are socialising and networking — significant aspects of growing a business.
Coffee shops also ‘sound right’. Findings from the University of Illinois have shown that background noise of around 70 decibels benefits concentration, and is preferable to either silence or loud noise. So long as you’re not sitting next to the milk steamer, you’ll be fine.
CircleLoop is a major part of the lives of plenty of off-site workers. By helping them to stay connected, we can bring the benefits of a traditional office to the coffee shop of your choice. Get in touch today to find out more.
