I have a research paper and I need some opinions

Q) Why do you go to coffee shops?

A) The provide an informal meeting location. I especially like the shop if it has a variety of beverages in addition to coffee and if it has WiFi.

Q) What are the benefits of going to Coffee shops for business?

A) The relaxed atmosphere is great for relationship building. Coffee shops are more comfortable than sterile meeting rooms or prestigious offices.

Q) What do you think could be improved or what would you like to see added to coffee shops?

A) It really bugs me if a shop has WiFi but not electrical outlets. Biggby normally excels at outlets and Parera does a good job (although it can be funny watching people look for them as they are normally hidden in the baseboard). Caribou lacks dreadfully in this aspect.

Q) What do you not like about coffee shops?

A) Coffee bean grinding. They may think it adds to the fresh-coffee feeling, but it is a distraction. Find a quieter way to let people know your coffee is freshly ground.

Q) If you do not go to coffee shops for business, why? and what is your alternative to them if any.

A) For some meetings a coffee shop is impractical. Brainstorming, working with a white board, or confidential conversations should not take place in this setting. Instead, these types of meetings should take place in an office or meeting room setting.

Q) Other comments, etc.

A) Coffee Shop meetings can have other business advantages. One time I was meeting with someone at a coffee shop in Bloomfield Hills. We couldn't help but overhear the two gentlemen at the table next to us. We asked if we could join them and found some great synergies in what we were talking about and what they were talking about. It was a great opportunity for all of us.

Why do you go to coffee shops?  It's a great place to meet with people other than a restaurant when all you really need is something to drink and not a meal.  It's usually more relaxing too (minus the coffee grinders)

What are the benefits of going to Coffee shops for business?  The potential to meet other business people there to network.  And there is usually one close to anybody I'm meeting with.

What do you think could be improved or what would you like to see added to coffee shops?  Less loud music (Starbucks) and some type of noise barrier by the coffee grinders, although I'm not sure that can really be helped. Bigger areas for those that hold networking meetings (some of the Biggby's have this, but not all).

What do you not like about coffee shops?  The loud music/coffee grinders

If you do not go to coffee shops for business, why? and what is your alternative to them if any.

Yes, I also find the coffee grinders annoying and the occasional obnoxious people, but like you guys said it really can't be helped.

I also find that the internet at some of the places is very slow most of the time, does anybody else find this to be an issue?

I go for the energy of the place.  When you're alone a lot, it's nice to feel the buzz of people. 

I do HATE the coffee grinder noise though. 

It's also an inexpensive way to meet with other business people.

Good luck!  THINK A!;)

Why do you go to coffee shops?

Coffee shops are great when you work from home! The atmosphere is casual, there is no need to spend a lot of money, and most have free wifi.

What are the benefits of going to Coffee shops for business?

See the answer above - also, every time I have had a meeting at a coffee shop, I have run into at least one other person I know, so there is a lot of spontaneous networking going on!

What do you think could be improved or what would you like to see
added to coffee shops?

I agree with the others - a way to lower the noise of the grinders.

What do you not like about coffee shops?

Electrical outlets along the baseboards - not very appealing for women having to get down on our hands and knees to plug in...

Adam, this could be a very interesting paper. A great deal of business is done in coffee shops. It's sort of a subculture in the networking world. Good luck, and please do allow us to see the paper when you are done.

Hi Adam,  Good luck to you.  Karen

Q) Why do you go to coffee shops?

A) I liked Rick's answers above. Coffee shops provide a meeting place for personal or business purposes.  As more and more people are working either part-time or full-time from their home, coffee shops provide an environment where you can have a short meeting, cup of coffee and get on with your day.  It is also a great way to meet up before people start their day in their office.  It is less expensive for a cup of coffee  vs. buying lunch.  Eating lunch takes more time, and your meeting is more distracting as the server takes your order, serves your food, clears the plates, etc.  Lunchtime can be noisier and more crowded to have a meeting.  Coffee shops are conveniently located throughout metro Detroit.  It is easy to find coffee shop locations on the internet.

Besides coffee, there are usually other healthy/ unhealthy snacks.  Panera has a fresh bakery section and serves lunches/ soups that are fresh and budget friendly.  Panera has WiFi and free refills on coffee/beverages.

Q) What are the benefits of going to Coffee shops for business?

A)  Low cost, time efficient way of connecting with others. Free WiFi.  Provides a change of scenery. Coffee shops have convenient locations and hours, open early in the morning.

Q) What do you think could be improved or what would you like to see added to coffee shops?

A)The availability of electrical outlets and proximity to the seating area.

Q) What do you not like about coffee shops?

A) Some shops are small and there is not much seating area. 

Q) If you do not go to coffee shops for business, why? and what is your alternative to them if any.

A) www.intelligentoffice.com is a local alternative in the metro detroit area with offices in Southfield and Troy.

Q) Other comments, etc.

A)  Some professionals prefer to meet for lunch, so as not to take time away from their work day.

Probably too late, but there's a book "The history of the world in six glasses". They have a great piece where they talk about the history of Coffee houses.

It's actually quite funny because the whole concept that coffee houses convey today is something that has been around since the 15th century when Coffee houses began to spring up around the ancient Arab world. Just like today, these were the places of intellectual discussion and even gossip. In fact the Coffeehouses of Cairo at the time became such a hotspot for political gossip that the governor made a strong attempt to outlaw coffee, by literally putting a large vessel of Coffee on trial. Islamic religious leaders also made an attempt to outlaw Coffee for the very same reasons.

Coffee houses were later popular in London, which is notoriously known for it's tea drinking. In fact Coffee was once the dominant drink as Coffeehouses outnumbered Ale-houses in London. Just like our modern day Starbucks, these 17th century Coffee houses in Europe were filled with businessmen who kept regular hours there to meet clients. Every day scientists, businessmen, writers, artists, politicians all made their way into their preferred Coffee house to discuss and debate, seek out the latest gossip...displays of commodity prices, shares prices, shipping lists, foreign newsletters from distant countries...These Coffee houses were literally like our modern internet as they were vibrant with multiple sources of information and advertisement. This information was even exchanged from one Coffee house to another as each location had a "runner" employed to flit from one location to another to give and receive breaking news such as the out-break of war or the death of a political leader.

A lot of famous occurances happened at these Coffeehouses, from the Newton's discussion of Gravity to the first ever established insurance company and many more. Now you look at today and see Starbucks, a company that began in Seattle (which coincidently is also where some of the world's largest software and internet firms are based). It's quite evident that Coffee has had an association with Innovation and networking and how the concept of Coffeehouses has long been instilled in the daily lives of human civilization.