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Ask HN: Do you work in coffee shops?

8 points by dglass ↗ HN
What do you like about working in coffee shops? What don't you like about it?

I'm fairly new to remote working and have started exploring my neighborhoods coffee shops. I'm curious to hear others thoughts on why they like (or don't like) it.

For me, I like switching up my environment. It helps with creativity and I feel better than sitting at home alone all day.

I don't like the fact that if I'm going to a coffee shop I've never been to, I have no idea how good the wifi is or if I will be able to find an outlet.

12 comments

[ 2.5 ms ] story [ 41.9 ms ] thread
Havoc
Never.

Work gives me a laptop & wireless connectivity & nobody cares where I am. So I could...

...but office is just way more productive. 2nd screen, better ergonomics and all my seniors & juniors are there.

I'd take a sizable hit on effectiveness if I'm not in office.

That said - I lean more towards the office work / manager side than most of hn though.

dglass
makes sense. Sounds like you're more involved in management / decision making then?
Havoc
>you're more involved in management / decision making

Senior manager. Bit of both...large amount of autonomy on my turf...very limited influence on big picture.

So yeah...half the time my word is law...and half the time nobody listens I guess. (Exaggerating ofc)

Havoc
edit: lol @ whoever downvoted that
markeddown
Never.

I take plenty of meetings in coffee shops; but unless the business makes it clear they accommodate laptop work (e.g. long communal table with power outlets), it's an anti-social behavior.

dglass
Never heard anyone describe working in a coffee shop as an anti-social behavior before. I'm curious why you think that?
Porthos9K
People trying to chill or get laid don't want to see you working. It makes them uncomfortable.
jimmyvalmer
I've been waiting for someone to ask this.

Please, someone tell me: how did flipping bits in a coffee shop, or even more puzzling, the wework desk, make more sense than flipping them at home (assuming you can afford the $50/mo for broadband).

The cons are endless, chiefly noise, food crumbs, having to number 2 in a public restroom, and a pointless commute. Wework one-ups the coffee shop by making you pay for all of the above.

People: do you realize how wonderful it is to take a dump in your own bathroom, or pop a zit whenever you want?

detaro
Many people don't like bringing work home, but prefer having separate spaces for it to keep it mentally separated.

Some people find it more pleasant to have at least some superficial exposure to other humans during their work day, and find that they get totally withdrawn if they also work from home.

Working at home also brings other distractions, be it things to do, family, ...

jimmyvalmer
Fair. But I'll deal with all manner of home distractions if I can avoid having to pack up all my gear to go number two (and having everyone around me see that I'm preparing for number two).
stnmtn
The extremely simple answer is I'm more productive when there's other people around me being productive. It's a weird social thing, but when I'm at my house it's a lot easier to open up a new tab and go to some distracting site without realizing it, whereas at a coffee shop I catch myself and tend to focus a lot more.

You could argue "develop self-discipline" and, sure, you're right. But for me I just enjoy working more in those kinds of spaces.

letitburn
Once you have been on the other side of the coffee shops' router, you'll learn to bring your own hotspot/SIM card in the laptop. I once found a sniffer effectively pulling a man in the middle. I wiped the router's firmware.