What Makes A Good Coffee Shop?
Ted Chiles -- June 12, 2005
Sometimes it's good to get out of the house and banish the truth that writing is a solitary activity. This is the first of a series by Ted Chiles and Chella Courington about finding alternative place to write.
I sit at my desk trying to concentrate, but abandoned chores distract me. The fast growing mountain of unread books rumbles imminent collapse. My orange cat wanting an upgraded cuisine begins a nonviolent protest on my lap.
What can a writer do?
Pack up the computer, grab the manuscript and head out in search of a place to write.
But what is the best place to write? For me, it's a coffee house. That oasis of caffeine where I find decent lighting, muted music, comfortable chairs and tables for my laptop. A place where I can turn off the cell phone and get to work. A place where management doesn't hove over my empty cup.
What characteristics define the perfect coffee house? Give it the perfect literary atmosphere? The answer will differ for everyone, but I can tell you what I seek.
First, I evaluate the seating. I write on a laptop and need that table for my computer and enough extra room for my mouse, coffee, scone and manuscript. The chairs should be high enough in relation to the table to protect me from carpal tunnel syndrome.
Next, I listen to the ambient noise level, hoping for good writing music. Nothing heavy, jarring or so catchy that I find myself tapping my toes, and singing along instead of working. For me instrumentals are more conducive for writing. But, if I'm stuck for a word, an eclectic blend of singer-songwriters can inspire me.
Obviously, foot traffic generates noise. You can't complain about all those bothersome customers, so what's the writer to do? Choose a coffee house with a good acoustic design. Also avoid one where all the tables form a column from the door to the espresso. Children are cute and fun to watch but fall into the noisy category. Finally, I favor a coffee house that doesn't make a disproportionate share of its sale in frozen drinks. A blender approaches a leaf blower in annoyance.
Lighting sets a mood and illuminates the task at hand. I desire enough light to read my notes but don't want the intensity of fluorescent bulbs. Most coffee houses offer varied lighting conditions. A writer can hide in the dim of a corner or bask in the light by a window
The coffee has to be acceptable, but good ambience trumps a middling cappuccino. Bathrooms should be relatively clean, and two are better that one since coffee is a diuretic. I haven't settled the issue of the wired coffee house. Email distracts me, but the ability to Google can be a useful resource for the writer. Access should be free. I refuse to sign up for thirty minutes for $9.95.
I seek a place where I am sheltered from the outside world and offers me a flat space to write.