A-Z: The Art of Creating in Cafes: A Millennial’s Reflection on Modern Cafe Culture
It’s clear to see, an office not,
a single, double espresso shot.
Place oft an afterthought,
where coffee flows and thoughts are brought.
More often calm, but busy gets,
an office space for you to set.
Temporary, it is so,
transient this creative flow.
So anchor set, a brief respite,
for writer’s block willn’t bite.
Flowing liquid in a cuppa,
Desk with crumbs, remains of supper.
Many years ago, almost five now, I met an incredible person here in Toronto named Peter. That meeting marked the beginning of a beautiful, interesting, and sometimes challenging journey — one that ultimately felt liberating. It allowed me, after years feeling stifled by corporate drudgery, to reach back into the depths of my soul and truly create again.
Part of that creative rediscovery involved revisiting ideas I’d explored during post-graduate study, particularly the Theory of Spaces. I was always fascinated by the unique nature of places like cafes and restaurants — how they function as fascinating public-private stages. As thinkers like Habermas might note, they historically served as crucial parts of the public sphere, yet on an individual level, they facilitate intensely private acts within that public gaze. We perform aspects of ourselves, choosing how much to reveal or conceal while surrounded by the anonymous bustle of others doing the same. It’s a space where solitude and community coexist.
This dynamic isn’t new. For centuries, certainly in the West, coffee and tea houses have been vital crucibles for culture. They were the original incubators for news exchange, philosophical debate, political discourse, literary creation, and artistic expression. Think of the coffee houses of 17th century London birthing newspapers and insurance markets, or the Parisian cafes fostering existentialism and artistic movements. These weren’t just places to get a beverage; they were essential third places — distinct from home (private) and work (often public/structured) — where ideas could ferment and creativity could flourish, fuelled by caffeine and conversation.
