My headphones remained in my bag as I easily settled into the soft buzz of chatter and lively background. The conversations carried across the air, connecting one corner of the room to the other—each table entranced in their own work. From behind the counter, the baristas mixed, poured, and served, resembling the well-oiled machines that prepare the beverages. Their brewing filled the space with a bitter, but rich scent of coffee. As I gazed to my left, two men conducted an interview, disapprovingly looking at each other once the interviewee left. To the right of me, a woman was absorbed in her book, not moving a finger unless to turn the page. Hours had passed before finally deciding to leave. Maybe it was the caffeine addiction, my excruciatingly long to-do lists, or a combination between the two, but somehow, I always returned there—at a table in my local Heine Brothers. 

Whether to study, drink coffee, or catch up with friends, coffee shops have remained diverse establishments of interaction throughout history. The first coffeehouses, more commonly known as cafés, emerged from the Ottoman Empire in the early 1600s. They are the earliest form of a “social network.” They later became extremely popular in 1652 in England, often used as educational centers for lectures or facilitating discussions on scientific discoveries. Now, while they rarely continue to be hubs of innovation, their other uses still live on. 

Sierra Morris, 24, a dental student at the University of Louisville, studies for her upcoming finals in Starbucks.

“I personally just like some background noise and the library’s usually too quiet, but we also live in a house. There’s four of us in our class, so when we’re all there studying, I can get distracted really easily. I feel like I can definitely focus the most at a coffee shop,” Morris said.

Kelly Brown, 25, also a dental student at the University of Louisville, shares a similar sentiment to her productivity in a coffee shop.

“Yeah, I kind of am the same. [I] like background noise and I like to have things going on around me so I don’t go on my phone and stuff as much,” Brown said.

Onno van de Groen, a neuropsychology researcher at the Edith Cowan University, calls this the “Coffee Shop Effect.”  His research suggests that background noise boosts productivity by stimulating sensory signals in the brain and enhancing your mood. Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research showed that a low-to-moderate level of background noise in a place like a cafe can actually boost your creative output. 

Contrary to popular belief, noisiness can actually help one focus better. Not only does the atmosphere of a coffee shop welcome studying, it also facilitates a space for socialization. 

Sydney Ley, Lanie Colvinn, and Gabby Taylor –freshmen at Sacred Heart Academy – discuss why they like going to the Starbucks across from their school.

“We come here if we don’t have anything after school and we just kind of like to socialize and  talk and stuff. Like recapping the day,” Ley said.

Regardless of if you’re in graduate school or if you’re in high school, coffee shops are a community for individuals looking to be in a different environment, separate from school and home. Whether you are there to meet up with friends or to be by yourself, the space can feel just as comforting. Interaction isn’t even needed to feel as though you aren’t alone. The exchange of small smiles, the laughter that carries in the background, and the mutual respect between tables establish an inclusive and judgment-free zone. No matter what you’re there for, everyone sticks to doing their own thing, leaving you the freedom of peace.

In my own home, studying is a constant battle between my work and my phone. Sitting in a place with a vibrant ambiance and others with a similar purpose motivates me to focus and be productive. 

However, besides studying and socializing, my favorite thing to do in coffee shops is people watch. I observe the different people, their different destinations, and their different purposes for being there. 

From the playlist in the background to our strikingly similar coffee orders, there are several aspects in a coffee shop that connect us as a community.  While they serve to be intergenerational places, they’ve consistently housed a large portion of the youth community. For other youth, going to coffee shops sometimes serve to be an escape away from the stress and pressure that can come with being a teenager. For me, it’s my go to place whenever I need a break away from being social while also existing in a cozy and calm space where I’m not isolated. Ultimately, coffee shops have evolved to have numerous purposes. Coffee shops are places where I will be a forever customer.