I’ve previously complained about internet tarrif’s in coffee shops (and here and here), but I think Caffe Nero may have cracked it.
We’re over in Edinburgh for the day, as Frances makes one last attempt to secure further funding for the project she is on. This time at The Royal Society of Edinburgh, who offer scholarships for commercialisation of academic projects, such as the one she has been involved with this last year. Whilst she does her presentation (she’s in the middle of it now, as I type: I’m thinking of you honey! But she doesn’t read my website much, so she’ll never know 
) I’m camped out in Nero and have forked out £5 for all-day access. The shop is on Rose Street, Edinburgh, and the tariff strikes me as at least reasonable value for all-day access. It means I’ve been able to check out a few e-mails, write a few website entries, and log in to a couple of machines as part of work: Not bad all said.
There’s still a long way to go. A voucher with every cup-of-coffee for 30 minutes access might be a good next step, to prevent us from hanging about and saving us getting all worked up about politeness, but free would be best: You’d get my custom more often!
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January 11th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Ahahaha!
You’ve got to laugh really. Just as I was reviewing and tweaking the above post after the inevitable HTML screwups, a scarf endowed nosy-boots of an employee turns up and takes a deliberately long time to clear the table I’ve been sat at the last hour or two.
A protracted stare at my computer screen (no doubt thinking: That’s not a PC, and/or That doesn’t look like real work), and an even more protracted clank clank as cups are stacked up and put on a tray (which they were on anyway).
So my original posting/thoughts (The Coffee Shop Dilemma) about how long it’s polite to stay in a coffee shop are still up in the air.
However, dear reader, I’m not affected by such. I’ve forked out a good £12 for the privilege to be here (that’s coffee & sandwich for two, and all day internet access), so Mr Scarf, go blow.
There, I feel all warm and glowy inside now.
January 11th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
Quite right, Richard - stay as long as you like.
The opinion of the chairman of Coffee Republic (mentioned in your previous entry on this topic), that 10 minutes is a reasonable amount of time to spend in a coffee shop, is ridiculous. The extremely high price of a cup of coffee in one of these places (in relation to the cost of what goes into making one) reflects the fact that you’re not just paying for the coffee itself - you’re paying for the whole ‘coffee experience’ including the atmosphere of the coffee shop. 10 minutes is barely enough time to get your coat off and get comfortable.
When I worked for Starbucks a number of years ago, we were shown a training video explaining the Starbucks philosophy of “the third place” - a place (after home and the office) where people can feel perfectly welcome and at ease. There was no time limit on this feeling of being welcome.
And I don’t think there’s any need to feel guilty about staying in the place after you’ve finished your coffee, even if it’s busy. I don’t remember ever going into a busy coffee shop and feeling that I had more of a right to a seat than the people who were already sitting there. You’ve paid your money - you’re as entitled as the next person to sit there. If I see a coffee shop’s busy when I go in, then I’ll simply walk back out again if it doesn’t look like I’ll get a seat - I won’t hover over other people and expect them to leave as soon as they’ve sipped the last of their coffee.
When I lived in Germany last year I would often spend up to 5 or 6 hours at a time in a coffee shop, and maybe only spend 4 or 5 euros. I remember one night in Berlin I sat in a coffee shop from about 9pm to almost 3am and only had one coffee and one beer. I watched the place get busy and then get quiet again. At one point the barman came over to replace the candle that had burned out on my table, and there wasn’t the slightest hint that I had outstayed my welcome or that he was eager for me to buy something else. Perfect.
So, pay for your coffee, get comfy, and enjoy.
January 11th, 2006 at 9:20 pm
Really very interesting. These highly commercialised (and often fairly cramped) coffee emporia ought to be politely encouraged to take a leaf out of Central Europe’s books. In Vienna and Budapest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries sumptuous surroundings were provided for the groups of intellectuals to spend the entire day imbibing, writing, debating and thinking. They did not have to spend a fortune for the privilege and their association with the respective venues invariably included in guidebooks means that the present-day proprietors still profit handsomely. Indeed, the tradition of spending unmolested hours at a table whilst sipping Melange has by no means died out. So why not import something other than “Polish plumbers” from a part of Europe that could run rings around us in terms of spohistication and how to enjoy life’s compensations.
January 11th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
Excuse the typo (I’m tired!): sophistication.
July 11th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
[...] If only that were the case here. Here in the UK it’s nigh on impossible to find anywhere that offers free - or even “just” reasonably priced - WiFi, especially in coffee shops. See my previous comments on the problem. And there’s me still thinking I’d be the ideal target with my home workin’, MacBook Pro usin’, coffee lovin’ take on things. [...]