Submitted by ActuaryPersonal2378 t3_121rgo0 in washingtondc
MoreCleverUserName t1_jdn6m97 wrote
>Coffee houses are one of the remaining public spaces available and it’s unfortunate how many spots in DC, while great, don’t really accommodate for sitting end enjoying your coffee.
But coffee houses aren’t a public space; they’re businesses, and they’re there to make money, not to provide a village square type of setting. DC has some fantastic libraries that are perfect choices for camping out all day with a book.
priyarainelle t1_jdnbaow wrote
Personally I’m less inclined to get coffee anywhere that doesn’t allow me to take a seat and actually enjoy it.
VulcanVulcanVulcan t1_jdoeu3a wrote
Totally. But in Europe, a lot of coffee shops want you to sit and enjoy your espresso, and then leave. Then the table is there for other people. Not to camp out all day off of a single coffee.
priyarainelle t1_jdoinrd wrote
This isn’t Europe, it’s America. Two different cultures re: coffee drinking and cafes.
It’s not some monumental ask for one to be able to sit and enjoy a latte or some other filter coffee drink (as opposed to an espresso) while reading a book or chatting with friends. Or, perhaps, just finishing the drink you just bought - which was probably $8-14 in this city.
I understand what you’re saying, but “camping out” is on the extreme end of things.
Existing365Chocolate t1_jdouc1o wrote
> It’s not some monumental ask for one to be able to sit and enjoy a latte or some other filter coffee drink (as opposed to an espresso) while reading a book or chatting with friends.
This is entirely fine and expected
However a ton of spots are taken up by WFH warriors camping at a coffeeshop all day
priyarainelle t1_jdoweg3 wrote
I’m so glad you agree with me that people “camping out” is an entirely different issue and expectation than what OP has, which makes the initial comment in this thread unnecessarily harsh and mostly irrelevant to the discussion that OP started. 🙂
GloomyPapaya t1_jdpa1m5 wrote
Exactly. Sitting down to read a book while you eat & drink is no worse than people scrolling on their phone and not near the issue as people camped out on a laptop. All cafes becoming takeout only would suck.
celj1234 t1_jdopdfi wrote
Is it? Esp with work from home as popular as it is now.
Feel like most people who “drink in” at this shops end up posting up for a long time
priyarainelle t1_jdoqxdg wrote
What would you call a long time? I do tons of computer work (writing, editing, social media, etc.) and a lot of my regular “work” is just wandering around and knowing where to go so that I can make recommendations to people. From what I’ve observed, no… People camping out at coffee shops isn’t the big issue that this comment section is making it.
Most people have things to do and, in this city especially, there are many conversations that can’t be had in public. Plus, many places aren’t really super comfortable to post up in.
There’s a small minority of people who do hog up space and sure they are very noticeable when that happens. But it is overly dramatic to pretend as though the few people who do camp out at coffee shops are impactful enough to warrant a place literally restructuring their business model - which is based on volume and add-on items, anyway. Not dine in.
GloomyPapaya t1_jdpa8ds wrote
I visit cafes a lot too and also haven’t noticed it being a major issue. Usually if I’m struggling to find a seat at a spot that has a lot of seating it’s because people are sitting around chatting, not working or (GOD FORBID) reading
lux_ehterna t1_jdoz34l wrote
> But in Europe, a lot of coffee shops want you to sit and enjoy your espresso, and then leave
Off topic, but I'm not sure that's true. IME this varies a lot by country. Italy, sure. Greece, people commonly hang out for hours.
VulcanVulcanVulcan t1_jdp5ym5 wrote
I think in Europe a “cafe” means it serves more than coffee and tea, ie, alcohol, light food, etc. Thats my perception at least. Straight coffee shops in the US are different.
Fatcat336 t1_jdplj3x wrote
I’m from a country with a strong cafe culture and it’s quite the opposite. Cafes are where you go to drink a coffee, eat a snack, and hang out for several hours reading a book or chatting with friends.
Thiemy t1_jdqv7sv wrote
Austrian here, we spend all day in coffee houses to study, work, read the newspaper (most Viennese coffee houses have all major newspapers/magazines there for free), meet friends. Noone is forced to leave if they don‘t keep consuming - same is true for restaurants, by the way.
I don‘t think we would have a coffee house culture if making money was the main incentive for these businesses. DC has better coffee than Vienna, but no coffee house culture (I‘d argue because of a pervasive capitalist mindset).
GloomyPapaya t1_jdp9ovu wrote
Good god. You’re intentionally taking the word “public” so literally just to dispute their sentence. Sub in “third” for public. This person did not indicate they are trying to “camp out all day with a book.” The book seems to be a side thought for them because they’re trying to explore and enjoy all the cafes in the city. Regardless, cafes have alwaysssss been used by people who read books, newspapers, and magazines. They’re not camping out like WFHers.
It sucks that we do not have more indoor third spaces. And no, I do not want to go eat a pastry in a quiet library. I love libraries, but it’s a complete different vibe.
MoreCleverUserName t1_jdpknwt wrote
From the OP:
>Although I realize I might just be romanticizing the idea of sitting in a coffeehouse on a rainy day reading a good book.
Sounds like they wanted to camp out and read a book, no?
df540148 t1_jdqqwuq wrote
Sub newspaper for book and you'll see the absurdity of the point you keep trying to beat.
Vazmanian_Devil t1_jdovxkc wrote
Yeah but having a cozy space to come and lounge is the draw to that business? I can easily enjoy much cheaper coffee at home or get a quick cup from somewhere with less frills.
priyarainelle t1_jdoxizp wrote
Judging by some of these comments, you are inconveniencing them just by being there and taking up breathing space for more than the time it takes to complete a transaction.
Vazmanian_Devil t1_jdoxvsf wrote
I don’t lounge at coffee shops, I was just picking apart your point. It’s somewhere in the middle. Yes, don’t stay all day and make a coffee place your WFH situation, not unless you’re being a good patron and spending a lot. But cafes wouldn’t exist as a business model unless the option to stay there wasn’t on the (coffee) table.
Messy-Recipe t1_jdovdnb wrote
Need more public spaces with tables nearby businesses where you can refill
But ofc that'd end up with the spaces turning to piss puddles & the businesses getting replaced by some giant capital firm that can pay the higher rent for park-adjacent real estate
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments