I'll start by being honest -- I do most of my writing at my desk at home. I am so boring, aren't I? I think a lot of writers feel the same way, that writing at home at a desk or in a comfy chair is the dull, lazy way of doing things. There's a certain allure to the romantic vision of a writer hunched over his/her notebooks at a little table in the cafe, sipping a cup of hot coffee, observing with bright, narrowed eyes all the people who pass by his/her table.
"How can we make this a reality?!" you might be asking.
Well, the real trick is to find the right coffee shop. Don't just plop your computer down at the little locally owned shop at the end of your street or at a popular Tim Horton's downtown. Convenience and popularity should be low on your list of priorities.
So what should a writer look for in a coffee shop? Well, here's my advice.
- Ambiance. The place has to make you feel like that romantic writer we described above. What goes into this? Lighting, furniture, colors, music, smell. I think most of us want a place that feels warm and cozy. Warm and not overly bright lighting with more golden tones than white. Lots of wood furnishing. Warm or deep colors. Music that isn't too slow and calm but still has a beat to it. It should smell like coffee or pastries or cookies or some other cozy, comforting food smell. But you can also have a brighter, metallic, ultramodern cafe, too. Or a serious, grey, somber place. Whatever fits your writing style and mood. But no matter what, it should have character. That Dunkin Donuts on your way back from work? It is probably too commercial to have character. It shouldn't feel like a store. It should feel a little bit closer to a home, a refuge, a safe place that will take care of you while your mind is lost in your work and the deep truths and stories of the world.
- Baristas. A good barista should make you feel welcome. It's great if they know your name and what you like to drink, but it's also good if they can keep you entertained. If they want to talk with you while you're waiting for your drink, it makes you feel comfortable. If they talk and joke with each other, it lets you know that it's a congenial place. They should be happy baristas. They should enjoy their job and actually want to do it well.
- Drinks and food. If you are going to sit at that coffee shop, you want to enjoy the experience. Everything should be comfortable and soothing. Take the trouble out of your life so you have room for the troubles in your story. Don't let food and drink be a trouble for you. If you like strong coffee, make sure they have it. If you prefer tea, make sure they have that. If you like cake but hate doughnuts, choose your coffee shop accordingly.
- Clientele. While points one through three have insisted that everything should be relaxing and comforting and welcoming, this one is different. Of course, the other patrons shouldn't make you feel uncomfortable or out of place. If you like to wear shorts and flip-flops, you might not want to write in the financial district when all the business executives in suits and ties are taking their lunch break. But they should be different from you. If you are one of those executives, find somewhere else that has a few people in flip-flops, soccer moms, teenagers on awkward dates, and other busy working types like yourself. The key here is variety. Different is interesting, but different without variety is to be avoided. Also, make sure there are just the right number of people. If you and one other person have been the only customers in the store for the past hour, you should probably find someplace a little more stimulating. If the place is so packed you can't grab a napkin without asking at least five people to please move, then you should find somewhere else where there is less distraction.
- Name. I think this really adds something. No, not the popularity of the name or the prestige of it. I mean the name itself. Is it clever? How do you feel when you tell yourself that you are there? You might need to convince yourself you're that romantic image of a writer, so when you tell yourself where you are at, you need to be convinced that it is a writerly sort of place.
- Location. Okay, location is a little important. You don't want to drive three hours away to get to your ideal coffee shop. But it's okay to drive twenty minutes and pass by five others to get to your special place. The exact distance is really up to you and what you're comfortable with, but the above five considerations should be much more heavily weighed.
- Price. You don't want to pay $15 for a cup of coffee and $20 for a croissant, right? But don't go to the cheapest place you can find. If the ambiance, baristas, drinks, and clientele are all fantastic, then those things should be worth an extra dollar or two, right? If you are going there to write, those are the things you are ultimately paying for, so don't begrudge the place for charging you for all those great things that you want.
What is my ideal coffee shop? Right now, it's the Starbucks on campus in Buffalo. The ambiance has gotten worse over the years, but it's still better than many other places. The baristas are amazing, friendly, and happy workers. Most of them know my name and have an idea of the sort of drinks I like. And I like Starbucks drinks, because I don't like the taste of coffee too much. A large variety of flavors in both hot and cold drinks is wonderful for me. Sometimes it's too busy, though, and at other times the place is dead, but this mostly has to do with the fact that it's in the middle of a college campus. I can find the times which have just the right amount of traffic for me, and that's really all that matters. The name is important to me. No it's not clever, like "The Daily Grind" which used to be our coffee shop back home. But it's named after Starbuck, my favorite character from Moby Dick. Literary references for the win -- now that's writerly, isn't it?
Starbucks gets a lot of criticism, and I don't like to be the "white girl at Starbucks" stereotype which apparently exists. But my particular Starbucks is everything I need as a writer. Other coffee shops in the area don't only excel in one or two things from the list above. Every coffee shop is different, even the large chain stores. So a list like this is perfect for helping you stay objective and find the best coffee shop for you.
Go be that soon-to-be-famous coffee-shop writer!
