Is It Still Cool to Work from Coffee Shops in 2025?

There was a time, circa 2018, when working from a coffee shop meant something. It said, “I’m creative, I’m self-directed, I definitely don’t have a manager breathing down my neck.” You’d rock up with your MacBook, settle near a plug socket, sip a flat white, and pretend you were finishing a screenplay when really you were toggling between emails and ASOS.

But it’s 2025 now. Remote work is mainstream. Everyone’s got a laptop. Everyone’s “between Zooms.” So… is working from coffee shops still cool, or is it the productivity equivalent of bringing a typewriter to Starbucks?

Let’s unpack it.

The Golden Era of Café Co-Working

Back in the mid-2010s, the coffee shop was the spiritual home of the freelancer. It was your office, your meeting room, your therapy space. It was where startups were born, novels were started (but never finished), and social media managers learned the dark art of scheduling posts during brunch.

When the pandemic hit, everything shifted. Suddenly we were all working from home, hunched over ironing boards and wondering if our neighbours were okay (they weren’t). And as soon as the world reopened, coffee shops reclaimed their throne, not just as caffeine stations, but as escape pods from dodgy Wi-Fi and the soul-sapping glare of the spare bedroom.

But now? Everyone's doing it. And like any trend, saturation brings questions.

So… Why Are People Still Doing It?

Let’s be honest. Coffee shops still hit different, and there are reasons they remain the go-to work spot for remote workers.

For starters, there’s the ambient noise, which science says can boost creativity and focus (unless you’re next to a screeching toddler or a barista with a passion for grinder volume). There’s no rent, no desk fee, and the Wi-Fi is usually just good enough to support Slack, but not so good that you’ll end up doomscrolling.

You’re not isolated, but you don’t have to talk to anyone. The introvert’s dream.

And then there’s the holy trinity: caffeine, croissants, and curated playlists. Try replicating that vibe at home, your kettle and Spotify Discover just won’t cut it.

…But Is It All Just a Bit Performative Now?

Here’s the thing: coffee shop working has started to feel a bit like remote work cosplay. Everyone’s got the same setup: laptop on a stand (ergonomics, darling), AirPods in, oversized hoodie, iced oat latte to the left, Moleskine they never write in to the right. At this point, it’s not a workspace, it’s an aesthetic.

Worse still, there’s a creeping guilt. The unspoken rule that you must order something every hour or risk being glared at by the staff (and yes, they do know you’ve been nursing that cold brew for three hours, don’t forget your coffee shop etiquette). Not to mention the existential panic when someone asks if they can share your table and you’re not sure if it’s a date or a duel for the plug socket.

It’s hard to feel cool when you’re crouched over your screen, frantically clicking “connect to guest Wi-Fi” while your Teams call spins into oblivion.

Coworking Spaces Are on the Rise — Should You Just Give In?

Let’s talk competition. Coworking spaces, from the slick minimalism of The Office Group to the East London jungle aesthetic of Second Home, have exploded across the UK. They offer standing desks, filtered water, ergonomic chairs, and, crucially, toilets that aren’t shared with toddlers.

They’ve become the grown-up version of the coffee shop setup: cleaner, calmer, and about 87% more likely to have someone named Hugo working on a wellness app.

So if you’re serious about productivity (or just want guaranteed plug access), these third spaces might tempt you away from your usual window seat at Pret, considering the cost to set up a home office!

Verdict: Is It Still Cool to Work from Coffee Shops?

Cool? No. But useful? Absolutely.

The truth is, working from a coffee shop in 2025 isn’t about looking trendy. It’s about escaping the monotony of your flat, getting a cheeky dopamine hit from human proximity, and tricking your brain into thinking you're doing something important.

Just be intentional about it. Bring the right kit (laptop stand, headphones, keyboard, you know the drill). Don’t overstay your welcome. And maybe skip posting it on Instagram unless your cappuccino foam looks like the Mona Lisa.

And if all else fails, there’s always Black Sheep Coffee. No one's judging, we’re all just trying to get our emails done and feel something.