Mitigating risk in coffee shops
September 26, 2020 9:10 PM Subscribe
One of the hardest things for me since Covid is not being able to go to coffee shops since I used to write there all the time. I am trying to figure out the safest way to make a brief visit to one.
I know the basics of indoor dining safety though I have not dined indoors since Covid. A couple times I've had my coffee on an empty patio, but cold weather is coming. And also my spirit is crying to do this.
Aside from the CDC guidelines, are there other helpful precautions?
I would get there first thing in the morning, sit distanced from the staff, and leave when more people started to come in. I know ventilation is an issue and I'm not sure if it's best to be near the door or what.
If I followed all of these things, how much risk would be involved? Are there factors I'm not considering? If anyone could link me to relevant articles, that would be great. I won't be going there a lot, but I need a plan so I can at least go once for a little bit and have a sliver of normalcy return.
I know the basics of indoor dining safety though I have not dined indoors since Covid. A couple times I've had my coffee on an empty patio, but cold weather is coming. And also my spirit is crying to do this.
Aside from the CDC guidelines, are there other helpful precautions?
I would get there first thing in the morning, sit distanced from the staff, and leave when more people started to come in. I know ventilation is an issue and I'm not sure if it's best to be near the door or what.
If I followed all of these things, how much risk would be involved? Are there factors I'm not considering? If anyone could link me to relevant articles, that would be great. I won't be going there a lot, but I need a plan so I can at least go once for a little bit and have a sliver of normalcy return.
If you're still in a small college town, I just wouldn't right now. The rates there are increasing dramatically and college students just aren't showing restraint right now.
If your Etsy location is accurate, you can consider it, but to me the risks aren't really worth it. What we know, or think we know, from the Chinese restaurant study is just being downwind (via the HVAC system) of someone that's infected is enough to get infected - the 6 foot idea is a guideline, not a measurement of actual protection. At the same time, from the Korean Starbucks story, there's good evidence that wearing a mask provides pretty good protection if worn continuously, even inside.
Unless drinking liquids is part of your creative process too, if you must do this, I'd wear a mask continuously while inside. Order some baked goods to go (and get a coffee on the way out the door) so the staff knows you're not just there to mooch.
posted by Candleman at 10:05 PM on September 26, 2020 [5 favorites]
If your Etsy location is accurate, you can consider it, but to me the risks aren't really worth it. What we know, or think we know, from the Chinese restaurant study is just being downwind (via the HVAC system) of someone that's infected is enough to get infected - the 6 foot idea is a guideline, not a measurement of actual protection. At the same time, from the Korean Starbucks story, there's good evidence that wearing a mask provides pretty good protection if worn continuously, even inside.
Unless drinking liquids is part of your creative process too, if you must do this, I'd wear a mask continuously while inside. Order some baked goods to go (and get a coffee on the way out the door) so the staff knows you're not just there to mooch.
posted by Candleman at 10:05 PM on September 26, 2020 [5 favorites]
From what I hear on restaurant dining, hanging out for hours to linger and sip coffee and write is not a thing any more, it's "move 'em in, move 'em out."
I know you say empty patio isn't doable and winter and all, but that is what I would still try to do. I would rather actually go find an empty picnic table in a park and work there instead if you want to sit for long periods of time. I kinda assume that some places may try to get outdoor heaters under the circumstances in the future, though.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:56 PM on September 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
I know you say empty patio isn't doable and winter and all, but that is what I would still try to do. I would rather actually go find an empty picnic table in a park and work there instead if you want to sit for long periods of time. I kinda assume that some places may try to get outdoor heaters under the circumstances in the future, though.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:56 PM on September 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
Unfortunately I don't know if there's a way to do this that's both safe and conscientious. If you're in an area where people are taking mask wearing and other precautions seriously, then the people who work in the coffee shop will be, at best, very uncomfortable with you sitting there for a long time, and at worst will actively kick you out. If you're in an area where the workers at the coffee shop are not fussed about you being there for a long time because people in that area tend to not take precautions as seriously, then being in the shop for any more than a few minutes is probably a bad idea.
Personally, I'm right there with you on missing this part of my work life. I've been writing in the park with a camp chair, and I'll be investing in clothing warm enough to sit outside in for a long time and fingerless gloves I can type with.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:05 AM on September 27, 2020 [15 favorites]
Personally, I'm right there with you on missing this part of my work life. I've been writing in the park with a camp chair, and I'll be investing in clothing warm enough to sit outside in for a long time and fingerless gloves I can type with.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:05 AM on September 27, 2020 [15 favorites]
The risk would be, are you sharing a space with someone who is symptomatic with this illness? Secondly, are you sharing a space with someone with any illness? I’m starting to get a bit concerned about #2 as I don’t want to catch any cold or flu and deal with possible impacts of that and I’m curious if my immunity is low, having been so isolated. If there is a more open or less confined place you could take a latte and a pastry and go, you might also put on headphones and check out Coffeetivity. It puts the din of various coffee shops in your headphones. I use it occasionally to force focus and an attitude shift.
posted by amanda at 6:40 AM on September 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by amanda at 6:40 AM on September 27, 2020 [3 favorites]
You may find this helpful, too: "How to Make the Most of Covid Winter: Don’t write off the darkest season just yet. Even with colder weather and shorter days, it’s still possible to plan for pandemic-safe outdoor fun."
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 9:38 AM on September 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 9:38 AM on September 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Maybe get your coffee and pastry to go and set up to write in some non-customary part of your dwelling with coffee shop white noise in your earbuds.
posted by lakeroon at 10:09 AM on September 27, 2020
posted by lakeroon at 10:09 AM on September 27, 2020
Many coffee shops have set up window only services. Are there any in your city like this?
posted by Young Kullervo at 3:09 PM on September 27, 2020
posted by Young Kullervo at 3:09 PM on September 27, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by xo at 9:28 PM on September 26, 2020 [5 favorites]