You know the type: the guy at the Starbucks who has been planted in his chair for hours, noshing on a mega-sized bag of Doritos he brought from home while guffawing at some YouTube clip. While getting your work done at a coffee shop is a much cheaper than renting out a sleek yet pricey co-op working space, one must be careful as to not be an annoyance. And as you trek over to your nearby coffee shop with the intent of zipping through projects for your clients, the last thing you want to do is be that guy. Here are some tips to prevent getting blacklisted among the baristas:
Get to Know Your Barista. By no means should you approach it like an intense round speed dating, but take an interest in those who are serving up your java. Get to know the baristas on a first name basis, as you’ll be seeing them every day after all. It couldn’t hurt, right?
The 3:1 Rule. General life rule: Don’t freeload, dude. For every three hours you spend working, buy one thing. If you buy cheaper items such as a bagel or roll, or get a refill on the cheaper items such as the iced tea or regular coffee, you can spend a good six hours working while spending about five bucks. Also don’t forget your own cup. Most places give you a BYOC (Bring Your Own Cup) Discount.
To Brown Bag or Not to Brown Bag It? There’s nothing wrong with bringing a lunch or snacks to get you through the day, but if you can, eat it outside the store on a bench. That will ensure your non-freeloading status.
Charge Up Your Equipment Beforehand. As you’ll be using the store’s Wi-Fi, you can use less electricity by making sure the battery on your laptop is charged to the max. This will not save the store a little bit of dough on their utility bills, but you’ll free up a coveted outlet for someone else to use. It also makes it easier for you to find a decent spot to work in as you’ll have more options.
Mix It Up. The adage “House guests are like fish: they stink after three days” applies here. Find 2–3 coffee shops in your ‘hood that you like, and rotate them. That way you’ll be getting a bit of variety in your workspace and not overstay your welcome at one particular java spot.
Great tips! I for some reason always feel like a freeloader, so I always make sure to buy something. I know a few people who just go in ALL THE TIME and never buy a thing.
Thanks Michelle! I agree,I buy something if I plan on staying at the coffee shop to do some work.
Hi Jackie! Great tips and rules of thumb here. At Starbucks, I once saw a guy bring in his PC–not laptop–like, the whole tower and everything. It was hilarious. Rude, but hilarious.
Kristin: Are you serious?! That is pretty hilarious. I wonder if he had a designated cart he used to lug all that stuff. Can we get a tumblr feed for “Rude People at Starbucks?” Anyone?