Ode to Coffee Shops

In my adult life, I’ve lived in three different countries. Within the U.S. alone, I’ve lived in five different states: Washington, Idaho, Virginia, Florida, Nebraska. With every move, there’s been a tremendous amount of change. But also with each season of chance, a certain few things remain the same.

One such thing is my love for coffee. Although I gave up drinking coffee several years ago in order to better cope with the anxious thoughts that have a tendency to plague my mind, I still love the savory elixir. As such—even without drinking coffee—I have maintained what is shaping up to be a life-long habit of seeking-out favorite coffee shops.

Coffee shops are probably my ideal working location. Although I thoroughly enjoy writing from the coziness of my own home, where I need nothing more than a computer to churn out copious amounts of words, sometimes it’s helpful to just get out. You can only have so many bath robe mornings gazing out of the same living room window at the same tree beside the same barn before you start to feel a little restless… And so, caffeine avoidance aside, I always wind up having a favorite coffee shop from which to work.

For me, preferable coffee shop situation is defined by several factors:

• Atmosphere: First and foremost, the setting must possess that essential je ne sais quoi (French for “I don’t know what”). Something about the environment just sits right with my soul.
• Kind staff: If that barista doesn’t at least say hello when I approach the counter, then it’s probably not worth coming back.
• Uncrowded: This is perhaps the most significant reason why Starbucks never makes the cut for my preferred spot, and why random indie standalone businesses do.

Bonus attributes would include delicious, drinkable, affordable menu items that are non-caffeinated (extra bonus if they have some version of a spiced chai) and multiple options for window seating (for those of us who require visual daydream breaks in order to do our best work).

Are you a coffee shop person? What are the attributes of your preferred work environment? And do you fuel-up for work via coffee, chai, or an alternative means?