When are the best times to work in a coffee shop? And what strategies can help you navigate peak times and busy periods?
We have all suffered from the horror of walking into a coffee shop ready excited for a day’s work and finding that every single seat has been taken. Every. Single. One. What a nightmare!
Working in a coffee shop requires a range of skills that you need to master. One of the most important skills is navigating and anticipating busy and quiet periods.
Now, we all go to coffee shops to work so that we can be around noise, ambience and people. However, if there are too many people, we won’t be able to get a table that is suitable for our working needs.
That’s why we need to understand the best times for our working style and our ability to get a seat. Whether you are a freelancer or full-time home worker, this article will help you to navigate these busy times.
When are coffee shops busy?
This is the million-dollar question. When are coffee shops busy? Each coffee shop will have its own rhythms and variations. This won’t always be predictable, but there are trends that most follow:
- Lunchtimes are generally busy: This makes sense as people meet for coffee and lunch.
- Early morning and late afternoon rushes: These can be more pronounced in chain coffee shops.
- Fridays tend to be busier: More people have the day off work and feel more sociable toward the weekend.
- Customer demographics change during the day: Every coffee shop will have different types of customers at different times.
- Early mornings (9am–10am) are usually quieter for seated customers.
From my own experience, I know that my favourite coffee shop is full to the rafters between midday and 4pm. It’s quiet every morning between 9am and 11am, except on Fridays when it’s generally busy by 9:30am.
These are some general observations of mine through years of working in and around coffee shops as a laptop worker.
Join the Home Working Henry Newsletter? It’s packed with all our latest content each week.
What about your coffee shop?
Your preferred place to work as a 'laptop and latte' warrior will, of course, depend on the particularities of your own coffee shop. Factors such as location, town size, and clientele all play their part in how the coffee shop operates.
Visiting often will help you to understand when your favourite coffee shop is busy.
What are the best times to work in a coffee shop for you?
If you’re looking to work in a coffee shop, knowing which times are best for you is important. Whether you prefer the afternoon or the morning, identifying your preferences will help you navigate busy times.
Strategies to Navigate Busy Times at the Coffee Shop
Get there early
Arriving around 9am is the easiest way to ensure you get a good seat and table to work from.Have a backup coffee shop
Having a second option helps you manage the days when your favourite spot is full.Log trends
Record the shop, time, crowd level, and seat availability. This will help you spot patterns and avoid peak times. (I personally use a spreadsheet for this!)Understand your working preferences
Knowing when you work best helps you choose the right time and location.Trial and error
Test different coffee shops at different times of day to figure out what works best for you.
Final Thoughts
All coffee shops have busier and quieter times. Knowing when these occur can help you manage your workday and ensure a happy, productive experience, sipping lattes and getting things done.
👉 If you found this article useful, why not join the Home Working Henry Newsletter? It’s packed with all our latest content each week.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We appreciate it.
We have also written a number of books, which you can view here.
We have also created a number of digital resources, which you can view here.
You can also connect with me on: