Dear Helena,
I often work on my laptop in a coffeehouse. I usually stay for three or four hours, and buy one latte. I feel like the barista starts giving me dirty looks after a while, like I should buy more stuff, or vacate my table for paying customers. Is there some kind of unspoken contract that you can’t work on your laptop in a café without ordering something every few hours? —Gotta Get Out of the House
Dear Gotta Get Out of the House,
Laptop users often are not big spenders, says Megan Lyall∗, a barista at an independent coffeehouse in Hollywood. “They get one small coffee and stay for five hours and then don’t tip. ... Sometimes two people working together buy only one Diet Coke between them.”
Some coffeehouse owners are over it, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. These businesses are limiting the hours when laptops may be used or shutting off the Wi-Fi during lunch. But laptop users are also repeat customers, the core of any business. Consequently, the coffeehouse owners I spoke to said that these customers are only a bother when they’re taking up tables needed for those who are buying food and drink. In that case, the owners may ask you to share a two-top, and they expect you to agree. Basquali (he has one name only, like Cher), owner of Smooch in Brooklyn, says: “People are fine with it. I usually ask my regulars. A couple of people have been offended and my attitude is … I don’t want you to ever come back to my café again.”
So if you notice the place is jammed and people are hunting for a table, it’s good etiquette to offer to pair up with another solo customer, before a staff member has to ask. As to how often you need to order something, the baristas and managers I spoke to said that buying a fresh drink every three hours or so is acceptable. However, “refills don’t count,” says Scott Walker, a barista at Coffee Bar in San Francisco, “because they only cost 50 cents.” As for feeling the need to subsidize the cost of the Wi-Fi itself, know that it isn’t actually that big of an expense, about $135 a month, Basquali says.
Then there is the question of ambiance. When Four Barrel Coffee opened last year in San Francisco, it didn’t offer outlets or Wi-Fi, going purposefully for a more old-fashioned atmosphere complete with a vintage hi-fi playing vinyl, animal heads on the walls, and a chandelier in the bathroom. If you’re slaving over a PowerPoint presentation in the corner, you are not creating a Rive Gauche–like ambiance. But not all café owners feel laptops hurt their vibe. Basquali says: “I have music playing all the time … it doesn’t feel like Kinko’s.”
So refresh your latte and share your table during peak hours. Otherwise, linger as long as you like, and buy something small every three hours. If the coffeehouse owner resents you working on your novel, he has an easy option: get rid of Wi-Fi. People can go for hours without food and drink, but no one can last long without an Internet connection.
∗Lyall asked that her real name and place of work not be used, for fear of alienating customers.
I love the unspoken rules that must be abided by in these so called classy coffee house establishments. Back when I would take a bus to work I would often sit in the local star bucks if I got there early and do work on my laptop or read a book(there was a bookstore across the street). Now I would often buy a small snack and a coffee and sit at a table away from everyone but never was I given evil...+READ
I love the unspoken rules that must be abided by in these so called classy coffee house establishments. Back when I would take a bus to work I would often sit in the local star bucks if I got there early and do work on my laptop or read a book(there was a bookstore across the street). Now I would often buy a small snack and a coffee and sit at a table away from everyone but never was I given evil looks or hounded by staff to buy anything especially since they were usually chatting anyway. Why do people feel that it is your God-given duty to buy something every hour, a paying customer is that a paying customer and everyone no matter how small should be treated with equal respect, that is your job. While I do think that courtesy should be given from customer to customer and to staff( don't take up a big table if your the only one and try to tip if waited on personally) people need to remember that much like opening the door for someone a courtesy is just that and judging customer service on how well you like your costumer is bad service.-COLLAPSE
I've stopped going to coffeehouses for this very reason. The ones around here are usually quiet and even has a upstares portion for people who want to sit and socialize. I don't understand why they offer FREE Wi-fi and then glare at us when we have been there an hour and not bought another item when you have just loaded up on Coffee and in some cases (like i usually do when I first get there) a...+READ
I've stopped going to coffeehouses for this very reason. The ones around here are usually quiet and even has a upstares portion for people who want to sit and socialize. I don't understand why they offer FREE Wi-fi and then glare at us when we have been there an hour and not bought another item when you have just loaded up on Coffee and in some cases (like i usually do when I first get there) a Muffin,Scone, or even a sandwich if your coffee house offers such things. I mean I just spent close to 10 dollars because your stuff is expensive let me enjoy my internet for a couple of hours before you start ringing your change jar for more of my money..
I know this may seem like a rant and it probably is but Coffee houses need to realize that they are offending potention regulars as well as harming the environment that those regulars might possibly invite MORE people to come to because its such a awesome place. If they are badgering you to buy more are you really inclined to come back?-COLLAPSE
hmm. As a person who used to use tips to pay her rent each month.........I'd say that since most are there for the free wi-fi or to eye the opposite sex .... that they should tip AT LEAST $4. dollars per hour, just keep getting refills of coffee if you feel like you have to have service to justify the tip. If you think that $4. dollars per hour is too much perhaps you should finally just get that...+READ
hmm. As a person who used to use tips to pay her rent each month.........I'd say that since most are there for the free wi-fi or to eye the opposite sex .... that they should tip AT LEAST $4. dollars per hour, just keep getting refills of coffee if you feel like you have to have service to justify the tip. If you think that $4. dollars per hour is too much perhaps you should finally just get that discounted wi-fi hook up at your house/office or if you're really a cheapskate just hang at your friends place who has wi-fi and let them tend to your refills. Otherwise your just a free-loader and annoyance at the coffeehouses,,,, MR GRINCH!!! :P-COLLAPSE