I love coffee shops. I love sitting in them, reading, working, writing in them. There’s something about the quiet hum of the grinders, the steamers and frothers buzzing, and the feeling of sonder that sinks in as you take in the space. People coming and going with their own lives and you are just there, a passive observer as the random passerby goes about their day. The culmination of dozens of people each with their own objective, be it work, meeting with friends, or simply enjoying the space creates a wonderful white noise that has the same effect as silence, allowing you to focus.
Personally, cafes are my favorite place to sit and read a book. My ADHD mind is content to be bombarded with the background noise, which leaves me able to actually focus on the material in front of me for a time. I find focus in the noise. Left to my own devices in a quiet room, you’ll find me jumping from task to task intermittently, making very little progress in any one thing. But in a cafe, surrounded by chaos, I’m able to lock in to a singular task. It’s counterintuitive, but it works.
Going to a cafe also allows me to escape the monotony of my home. Not to say that I don’t love my apartment, but remaining in the same place for too long gets stale. I feel the urge to wander and discover new places, and seeking out a new cafe fills a part of that desire.