Atmosphere

[canta_brian]

On the basis that most of us make better coffee at home than we can get out I hardly bother with cafes these days unless I see a place that looks really independent and seems to have a lot of atmosphere. I have had some truly awful coffees because of this technique but will never regret it. The only thing that I miss when I sit down with a good shot at home is having some music on that I have never heard before and being served by someone with a piercing.

BBC 6 music is now on and I have just found the stapler...

[bruceb]

Probably just a sign of my being a cranky old f*rt, but the "atmosphere" and "music" and piercings are exactly the reason that I don't even try coffee anywhere else anymore.

[psychomansam]

On the basis that most of us make better coffee at home than we can get out I hardly bother with cafes these days unless I see a place that looks really independent and seems to have a lot of atmosphere. I have had some truly awful coffees because of this technique but will never regret it. The only thing that I miss when I sit down with a good shot at home is having some music on that I have never heard before and being served by someone with a piercing.

BBC 6 music is now on and I have just found the stapler...

Well said, i cling to some faint hope of finding somewhere with coffee to match the ambience, tho i rarely risk it(i'm a poor student). I love a good atmosphere, and nothing beats an old cracked brown leather sofa. And a smile is always good...

Ah well... i'm hoping there's a gap in the market for me to take up sometime...

[Gadders]

If a coffee shop has any sort of latin american salsa playing, im in

[CakeBoy]

I don't mind what they look like as long as they can make decent coffee and the music is chilled.

[Skippy]

I love the cafe atmosphere, does go some way in making up for the terrible coffee

[Glenn]

BBC 6 music is now on and I have just found the stapler...

I just about wet myself

The original post is such an accurate reflection of todays cafe society.

I get so many compliments about my coffee I'm considering putting an OPEN sign above my front door - it'd put Nero (just up the road) out of business.

Even my Aeropress coffee gets ooh's and aah's from those who visit the Nero beneath my office.

[kingseven]

It is amazing how many cafes seem to forget how important this is. So many identikit cafes in the UK - same chairs, same sandwich fridges, they feel cheap and aren't particularly nice places to linger. In our roadtrip in the US it was one of the things that we were looking for and found in abundance - lots of places I wished were in my neighbourhood.

[bruceb]

It is amazing how many cafes seem to forget how important this is. So many identikit cafes in the UK - same chairs, same sandwich fridges, they feel cheap and aren't particularly nice places to linger. In our roadtrip in the US it was one of the things that we were looking for and found in abundance - lots of places I wished were in my neighbourhood.

I guess you weren't traveling through Missouri.

[johnny]

I do love Cafe atmosphere ..... even to the point that I love wandering around Clifton on a sunday, popping into a coffee shop ordering a latte and bit of cake, sitting there watching the world go by, listening to Manu Chao and complaining how crap the coffee is.

Its ideal

[creamscone]

Hey...i own/work in a coffee shop in oxford and up until a couple of weeks ago we had a great relationship with Fopp, and could get some awesome music. But they are no longer open! Any suggestions? We are currently playing the Weepies, which is great, but always on the lookout for some great atmosphere setting music!

[CakeBoy]

Jazz . Welcome to TMC. It's great to have a local indie cafe owner onboard

[creamscone]

Thanks, its great to be here (most days, lol!). What kind of jazz....I have often tried to find some good jazz, but being more of a rock chick have struggled to find anything appropriate!

[BazBean]

a good idea IMHO and experience is to position a playlist with differing artists depending on time of day as well....
we get a lot of comments on the music and should now get commision or royalty on the new Josh Groban CD as 4 people have nipped over to HMV and bought it immedietly.

[Gouezeri]

Maybe try last.fm or pandora for ideas, start with something that seems popular in the cafe, then work from there.