Urban Dictionary defines a coffice as “a coffee shop one makes into an office where non- coffee shop work is performed.”

These days, a lot of entrepreneurs, self-starters, freelancers, and many more work on the move – with the mobility afforded by laptops, smart phones, and tablets, their office space is wherever they are.

From the cubicle to the coffice

Writers have been turning to coffee shops to cure writers block for years, but its only with the advent of modern technology that the rest of the cubicle community has cottoned on. Many coffee shops nowadays offer free Wi-Fi access, which is a huge drawcard in attracting corporate clientele.

Coffee shops are the perfect place for meeting clients, interviews, business lunches, and working on your tablet or laptop. Some people find more inspiration working out of a non- traditional office – it?s a more relaxed and neutral meeting ground, and work can seem more casual and fun. It?s also less of an effort to get down to business.

Working from home offers too many distractions if your kids are home, or if there are unwashed dishes in the sink, and many people who work from home end up feeling isolated and even alienated with the lack of human contact.

The benefits of coffice work

At first glance, working from a coffee shop may seem like a distraction – people going in and out, music playing, general noise… In actual fact, people tend to work harder and focus better in coffee shops.

When working in a coffice, you?re highly visible – people feel more self-conscious and therefore compelled to work harder. It?s also just enough distraction to be able to tune out, but not so much that you can?t focus, and not so silent that you can hear yourself think.

There are some benefits to coffice work though – it comes with your own personal barista and chef, the location is always convenient because it could change depending on where you are, and the rent is really quite affordable considering it only costs what you drink, eat and tip.

Whether you?re an entrepreneur getting into the coffee shop business, or an office worker looking to break out from behind your desk, there are some important points to consider though when looking at coffices…

The rules of engagement

For coffice workers:

1. Be polite to the staff.
2. Don?t choose a coffee shop that?s too popular or crowded, or where people are likely to wait for tables – you won?t feel welcome when the manager?s giving you the evil eye because they could have turned your table three times since you?ve sitting been there sipping on that one coffee.
3. Don?t hog a seat for hours and just order one drink.
4. You need the right level of noise – too loud and concentration will be hard to come by, never mind trying to hold a conversation over the phone or in a meeting. And if it?s too quiet, you could feel conspicuous speaking on your phone, or find yourself trying to whisper in a meeting.
5. Make sure you tip well – you?ve hogged their table for hours and at the end of the day, it?s cheaper than paying rent.
6. Don?t abuse their hospitality by only asking for a glass of tap water, and not placing a food order if you?re there during the lunch rush.
7. Don?t ask them to turn the music down – if it?s too loud, find another coffice to work from. It?s not your place to impose your ideal work environment on general coffee shop clientele.
8. Put your phone on vibrate rather than expecting the whole coffee shop to listen to your ringtone while you fish around for your phone or finish that sentence.
9. Keep your voice down when making phonecalls.

For coffee shop managers:

1. Welcome coffice workers with open arms – a table that may have sat empty all day will now generate at least one, but most likely more, cup(s) of coffee.
2. Create a relaxed atmosphere where people can get their work done in peace.
3. Provide comfortable seating.
4. Have additional plug points to power laptops. If their batteries are dying, coffice workers are leaving.
5. Offer free Wi-Fi that won?t break down if more than 3 people are online.
6. The music should be at a comfortable level in the background – blaring music not only makes it difficult to carry on a conversation, but will prove a huge distraction for those trying to work.
7. Make sure you have an enticing menu.
8. Don?t make coffice workers feel unwelcome with unfriendly stares or by demanding they leave.

A coffice worker is likely to spend around R15 every few hours, totalling around R30 – R50 at the end of the day, and that?s if they haven?t ordered something to eat. These regulars could add up to at least R75 per week, and around R6,800 per year – this is definitely a relationship you want to nurture.

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net