I avoid going to certain coffee shops because of their poor acoustics and lack of variety of casual seating options. Usually there is a scattering of tables and loose chairs and coffeetables, easy chairs but there isn't much variation in regards to openness versus privacy, lively versus quiet spaces. I find making calls very frustrating with the barista machines sucking and whirring, people chatting and registers ringing. Usually the floor, walls and ceilings have extremely hard, durable and cooling looking surfaces. Then there's the sound systems pumping the sounds of the week echoing through the space. Great for keeping the shop clean, maintaining a crisp appearance but not so great from an acoustics standpoint. Does this sound familiar to you? Can you hear me? Didn't think so. What were you saying again?
