I love coffee.
I love working and reading in coffee shops with nice spaces.
You’d think that would be a win-win. And it usually is.
But not lately.
You see, due to COVID, many of my favorite coffee shops are still take out only. Or their small outdoor spaces are always full. And given the nature of most of my time spent in my small downtown living space, I’m itching to get back to the coffee shop working routine.
Enter a brand new coffee shop. Yes, open inside and out! And it’s in the building just yards away from mine
My friends and I were so excited. A place to gather again. A place to work. We did gather. And then I did go over by myself to work. The outside space is shaded with different seating options, including a large and comfortable sectional as well as two swinging chairs suspended from the patio roof. The indoor is broken into several different areas, some with tables, some more “living room” style. All very, very sleek and very, very comfortable.
There’s just one hitch: I’m not crazy about their coffee! It’s just not as good as some of the other places I tend to go.
However, my favorite of those other places is not the most comfortable to work in. Backless stools. Hard benches. Small tables. When they are open inside, that is. Which they haven’t been since March. But their coffee? The. Best.
And therein lies the problem. Do I get good coffee and come back up to my place to work–or sacrifice work comfort when they do open? Or do I work in a great environment and endure mediocre coffee?
Truly, it’s my conundrum these days.
What would you do?
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I can live with so so coffee… good friends and comfy chairs are a must! 😊
That’s certainly true! I think it’s more of an issue when I am working alone.
I would purchase the “good” coffee and take it the “good” workspace – really it’s the only option lol.
Lol! I’m guessing they wouldn’t appreciate that, but it would be the best solution! 😉
Ha! I’m with Mattie. My tastebuds aren’t so refined that I can’t handle mediocre coffee in favor of a cool ambiance. Have you tried their Americano? I find that gets to the heart of the coffee bean and makes so-so coffee taste its best. FWIW. 🙂
That’s an idea. My go-to is usually a latte, but I’m not opposed to the pure coffee of an americano!
What a dilemma LOL! Maybe you could simply try to make your home a good workplace and then buy good coffee powder to make at home… I have been wishing the library had a room called the ‘drawing room’ though, where there are sofas and good working tables and where food and drinks are allowed ~ wishful thinking!
We do buy the good coffee for home, but living in 750 sq ft makes it hard to find a good workspace here. Our library (just down the street!) had a cafe and lots of comfy chairs throughout and you could take drinks as long as they had lids, but like so many things, it’s been shut down since March. 🙁 That was a great place to work. I miss it!
Drink coffee at home. Be safe.
I’m a comfort person but if the coffee is not the best I wouldn’t make it a habit to go there.
Ha-ha! I do that, too! But my tiny four walls close in fast. 🙂
This is a tough one. If I were going to be sitting working for an extended period of time, though, I would have to go with comfort. I find it difficult to be very productive if I’m in an uncomfortable environment.
Very true. Although sometimes uncomfortable makes me work faster. But then again, comfort makes me work longer!
I would probably split time between both places depending on the mood I’d be in on each day.
I’m probably in your camp. The mood determines so much of what I can deal with–comfort-wise or coffee-wise.
What a dilemma! Sounds like the workspace is more important than the coffee quality. If they have another option besides coffee, get that? Or could you enhance their coffee with Starbucks Via? I’ve done that when my brewed Kcup wasn’t up to snuff. Good luck!
That’s a great coffee trick! Thanks for sharing! I might need to try other coffee drinks and see if they are an improvement over the latte.
Only just read – we lost broadband for weeks.
Sadly, not even takeaway from tomorrow, and I miss the library coffee shop most of all – two major/minor griefs.
While this was still allowed, I bought beans from a high street shop, found our cafetiere;s, and started work,at last, on turning the garage into covered outdoor space.
If we are ever allowed to meet again, our own wayside coffee shop – we live in the hills, and just offer coffee to passing hill walkers.. No charge. Books too..
An old armchair, .
If this is ever allowed again.