Coffee Shop Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules

Buy something every 90 minutes if you are working. Do not spread across a four-top table alone during peak hours. Keep your calls quiet enough that the people around you are not involuntarily participants. Those three rules cover the vast majority of coffee shop conflict.

364,333 independent coffee shops worldwide. Each one depends on table turnover to pay its staff.

Independent shops do not have the Starbucks corporate margin. A person sitting at a table for four hours after buying a single $4 drink is not a neutral presence. That table represents revenue the shop is not earning. Buying a second drink is not obligatory, but it is a way of acknowledging the relationship. Good shops make you feel welcome. Treating them well keeps them open.

"The best work coffee shops in the world exist because enough regulars buy enough drinks to make the math work. Being one of those regulars costs a second latte."

The seating rules nobody writes down

One person should not occupy a table for four unless it is the only seat available. During a morning rush, sharing a table if asked is normal behavior. Do not save seats for people who are not there yet when the shop is filling up.

Headphones signal focus. Wearing them is a reasonable signal that you are not available for conversation. Talking loudly into your phone or on a video call without headphones while others are clearly working is the fastest way to create silent resentment in a crowded cafe.

Tipping: when and how much

Tipping is covered in full in how much should you tip at a coffee shop. Short version: $1 per drink is appropriate for standard orders. More if you asked for something complicated or if the service was genuinely good. At specialty shops in Denver or Seattle where baristas have serious training, tipping generously is good form.

Read best practices for working from cafes in how to find the best coffee shops to work from. Find shops known for a welcoming atmosphere at Coava in Portland and in Chicago.

Related: How much to tip, Best shops to work from, Why specialty coffee is expensive.