Why Working in Cafés Is Hard: A Reality Check For Remote Work
There are three inevitable things in this world: death, taxes, and if you’re in London, a Pret within a hundred metres.
Remote work has become key to the modern career approach. With laptops replacing desks and cloud storage replacing filing cabinets, professionals now have the freedom to work from virtually anywhere. While that freedom often paints an idyllic picture of typing away in a cosy café with a flat white in hand, like always, reality is a huge disappointment.
Cafés may seem like a comfortable and convenient location to work productively, but for many remote workers, they come with a range of hidden obstacles. So, grab your venti salted caramel mocha frappuccino with five pumps of frap roast and four pumps of caramel shot, and let’s take a closer look at why cafés often fall short as reliable workspaces – and why coworking spaces are becoming the smarter alternative.
Unreliable WiFi for Remote Work
Perhaps the most critical component of remote work is a strong and stable internet connection. Most cafés offer public WiFi, but it’s rarely configured for high-volume usage. You’re often competing for bandwidth with other customers streaming videos, uploading photos, or participating in video calls.
Worse still, many cafés require customers to log in through a portal every few hours or after a session times out. These interruptions aren’t just annoying; they can be hugely inhibiting if they arise as you’re in the middle of a meeting, a file upload, or a deadline.
The Issue of Charging
You’ve ordered your overpriced latte, found a decent seat, and settled in. But when your battery dips below 20%, the anxiety sets in – because in many cafés, power outlets are few and far between. Even when you do find one, it’s often inconveniently located where it’s just too far away for your cable to reach, or already in use by someone else.
Any serious remote worker needs consistent access to power, especially during long work sessions. Constantly shuffling seats or rationing battery life by, say, dimming the brightness really really low isn’t a sustainable way to work.
Background Noise Levels
Some background noise can be pleasant – until it isn’t. At any given moment, a café can be filled with the clatter of dishes, the hiss of an espresso machine, children crying, or groups having animated conversations.
While noise-cancelling headphones help, they can’t eliminate distractions completely, and there’s no way you could wear them all day anyway without a headache. Important client calls or focused deep work demand a quieter, more predictable environment.
Limited Seating and Space
Most cafés are not designed for long-term use or productivity. During peak hours, finding a seat can feel like winning the lottery, and that’s especially the case in London. And even when you do find one, tables are small, wobbly, or poorly lit. There’s almost definitely bits of gum with yellowing old saliva stuck to the table bottoms just waiting to rub against your trousers as you sit.
It’s not even just other remote workers, you’re up against students studying, couples on dates, or friends catching up. The pressure to give up your table can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not constantly ordering something.
The Cost of “Free” WiFi
Just like how “free healthcare” just forms part of a larger tax bill, the “free WiFi” offered at cafés has strings attached. Let’s be honest, most café owners expect customers like you to order something every hour or so. The unspoken rule of café etiquette dictates that a seat comes with a purchase. Over the course of a full workday, that £5 coffee every couple of hours quickly adds up to a hefty bill.
What’s more, there’s often limited food variety. If you’re working from morning to evening, surviving on caffeine and pastries isn’t exactly a recipe for sustained energy or health. After all, Starbucks coffees sometimes contain more sugar than a can of Coke.
Inflexible Hours for Remote Work
Unlike coworking spaces, cafés have rigid operating hours. Many close in the early evening or limit seating during quiet periods. Some even discourage long stays outright, with signs requesting patrons limit their time during busy hours. This lack of flexibility makes it difficult to structure your day around your most productive hours. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, you’re bound by someone else’s schedule.
No Office Essentials
There you are, with your £5 cappuccino, wobbly table, dodgy WiFi and rationed battery life. Maybe you can put up with that. But, say you want to do something as simple as print a document? Checkmate. You see, cafés lack the fundamental tools remote workers often need: printers, whiteboards, private meeting rooms, or even ergonomic chairs. It’s hard to stay organised and productive without them. Need to take a client call in private? There’s nowhere to go. Need a second screen or comfortable seating for a long editing session? Good luck.
Coworking Spaces Are Built for Remote Work
Cafés might be fine for a quick email check or an occasional change of scenery, but they fall short as full-time work environments. With their unreliable internet, limited seating, background noise, and hidden costs, they can actually hinder productivity more than help it.
So next time you’re eyeing that café corner seat, ask yourself: Wouldn’t it be better to work somewhere that’s actually designed for working?
…coworking spaces, on the other hand, are purpose-built for remote work. A flexible, shared workspace could be the smartest move you make. If you’d like to know more about Venture X, explore our flexible memberships, premium amenities, and thriving business community – all designed to help you grow and collaborate. Contact us to find the right plan for you.
