Perfect coffee shop

[V8mate]

Great coffee is a given.

Thinking about a place you'd visit to 'consume on the premises' rather than take away, what elements of decor, other things which create ambience, availability of certain foods, etc. makes a cafe/coffee shop perfect for you?

Maybe reflect on places you've enjoyed here in the UK or abroad, or simply what your fantasy perfect cafe would be like?

[miniman]

Reliable, free WiFi
Clean
Clean khazi
Tables that don't wobble
Friendly staff

Above all, though, a lack of pretentious coffee house tts. There's a coffee shop near the office which calls itself a "coffee collective". Good grief.

[jaybirduk]

Free wifi and mobile phone charging equipment! Used one in London that had induction loops built into coffee tales and you borrowed a clip on loop for your phone (deposit returnable)

Loyaty scheme is nice too, free coffee every 6 purchased?

[Odie]

Thats a rather interesting question and a rather interesting way to ask it

but to answer the question, segmented, soft seating, cooked to order warm sandwiches (blt with freshly fried bacon for example), muted TV with a news channel on with subtitles, a good view, unpretentious.

Edited by Odie on Friday 6th April 21:49

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

For me, the only two criteria are:

Soft, comfy easy chairs or sofas (I go to a Coffee shop to lounge and relax - how the Feck can I relax on a hard, upright wooden chair, sitting at a table???

And the aforementioned comfy seating in front of a vast expanse of window, so I can indulge in the sport of 'people watching' outside, while I relax.



The quality of coffee is a bit secondary to those things TBH. I've been in all and every coffe shop round here, and all the coffee tastes good enough to me. I am not enough of a snobby Barista to notice the difference

[Podie]

Comfy chairs and sofas. Different rooms in which to choose to sit, rather than one universally "styled" room.

My favourite coffee shop has 5 rooms (inc basement) so you can pick somewhere you feel like sitting at that particular time.

[cqueen]

I'm often on my own when I'm in the city centre. So I like to be able to blend into the background and not stick out like a billy no mates. So, random seating with stool/worktops is always a plus. If the place only has tables for 2+ seating I wouldn't go in to sit (unless I was with company of course)

I like unpretentious and helpful staff that actually know how to use the equipment (Very few places can boast these 3 things).

Most importantly I want somewhere I can relax, consume, day dream and people watch.

Why do you ask?

[thehawk]

So coffee aside, most of you have described the Starbucks model

[crmcatee]

I've always fancied running a coffee shop.

My thinking has been - good choice of coffee and wide range of teas available.

Newspapers a plenty (don't read them myself).

Selling proper German cakes mmmm cafe and kuchen.

Comfy chairs (but not that comfy that customers would want to sit there all day with single cappuccino whilst they write their thesis).

Internet access.

[V8mate]

How does music affect your enjoyment? What do you like to hear?

Classical music, 'easy listening', contemporary pop, local radio station, or just glory in silence?

[V8mate]

thehawk said:

So coffee aside, most of you have described the Starbucks model

Fair comment.

What alternative format would tempt you/others?

[Shaw Tarse]

[V8mate]

Why are you sloping off with your coat? I'm not familiar with the photo... what's it of?

[Shaw Tarse]

Central Perk, go google

[V8mate]

Ah ok - I even watched the programme - doesn't align with my memories of it at all. I recall a big gap between the sofas and the counter, with the counter parallel to them.

[Hackney]

getting the lighting right is important.

Good, natural light would be best. Failing that bright, but not laboratory conditions.
As posted people go to read, work on laptops etc. Too often the chains are too dark, particularly away from the main area.

[condor]

V8mate said:

How does music affect your enjoyment? What do you like to hear?

Classical music, 'easy listening', contemporary pop, local radio station, or just glory in silence?

I prefer the gentle hum of conversation or silence

A nice selection of cakes/pastries and cream teas

eta toasted teacakes too

[GarryA]

Free Wi-Fi - perhaps you get 1hrs use per drink purchase?

Toast / cakes

Loyalty scheme

Make a decent cup of tea for the non coffee people

And somewhere where people aren't shouting can I have a Double Ristretto Venti Nonfat Organic Chocolate Brownie Frappuccino Extra Hot with Foam and Whipped Cream Upside Down Double Blend.

[Roger645]

In the week I tend to use coffee shops as a temporary office for usually a maximum of an hour so for me I would like

Decent tea and coffee
Tap water without a frown
Decent free wi-fi (without some sign up process that makes joining MI5 seem easy)
Access to power for charging
Ideally a quiet area away from piped music
decent table to work at that doesn't rock and can hold more than a coffee cup and a plate
Nice clean toilet.

At the weekend nice comfy chairs and decent pastries.

[Podie]

Ban Macs.