Cafés.. From a cup of coffee to a space for study and work

The place.. part of the task

Student Ahmed Al-Abadi says that the café gives him the feeling that he is in a place dedicated to accomplishing a specific task, away from some distractions at home, noting that he frequents it two to three times a week, especially during exams and working on projects.

Al-Abadi finds that the availability of the Internet, changing the atmosphere, and relative quietness help him concentrate, but the crowding and noise, along with the cost of orders, remain among the most prominent drawbacks of the experience.

From a psychological and social perspective, Dr. Nasreen Al-Bahiri, Professor of Sociology and Head of the Department of Sociology at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Mutah University, believes that the transition to a café may constitute a «psychological shift» from the comfort of home to the atmosphere of work or study.

She explains that the place may turn over time into a mental signal associated with achievement, while the presence of other people studying or working can enhance commitment and motivation, noting at the same time that the impact varies from one person to another; while some prefer lively atmospheres, others need quietness.

A social aftermath of the phenomenon

Professor of Sociology at Al-Balqa Applied University, Dr. Hussein Al-Khaza'leh, points out that students' tendency to cafes is also linked to the desire to meet friends, study in a group, exchange ideas, and help in completing assignments.

He explains that the home does not always provide the appropriate conditions for study due to the movement of family members, guests, or television and other influences, which makes changing the place an option resorted to by some students, but he does not prefer it to become a permanent habit, especially because of the cost involved, emphasizing the importance of moderation and the family's awareness of the whereabouts of their children.

An «office» outside the home

The phenomenon is not limited to students, as cafes have become a temporary option for some remote workers.

Employee Islam Muhammad says that working from home may blur the line between work time and leisure time, while the café gives her a sense of going to the office and sometimes helps her complete tasks that require concentration.

Muhammad works from the café for three to five hours depending on the nature of the work and meetings, but she does not consider it a permanent alternative to the office and prefers less crowded times when her tasks require quietness.

Cafes adapt

From within the cafes, worker Abdulrahman Al-Ayid observes a clear presence of students and remote workers, especially during the afternoon hours and after the end of lectures, in addition to the evening.

He says that some of them spend long hours using the computer or books, while cafes try to provide good Internet, suitable tables, and electricity outlets to meet their needs. However, organizing spaces becomes more important during times of crowding.

Between a student looking for an environment that helps him achieve, an employee trying to separate work from home, and a café reorganizing its space to accommodate this type of customer, the table gradually turns from a place to sit and drink coffee into a temporary space for study and work, the effectiveness of which is determined by the suitability of the place, the nature of the task, and the needs of the person.