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"I could just work from home!" says the idiot.
No. You can't work from home. Maybe if you were some kind of hyper-focused monk who doesn't have a washing machine, kitchen, bed or Netflix at home — MAYBE — you could work there. But most of us are not Jedi. That's when you need a coffee shop.
I'm not sure how we decided coffee shops were our public workplaces, but my guess is it has something to do with the rise and nearly immediate fall of Internet cafes. Remember those? I think I went to one once. Everyone there smelled funny and they were playing games where they shoot other people.
I just wanted to check some email. If you, like me, are no longer employed by The Man Inc., LCC, a Division of Corporation Corp., then it's important to have someplace where you can actually get some work done. If you're not quite ready to drop the coin on a co-working space, coffee shops are a generally reliable spot to plug in, connect to WiFi and start writing/putting together a spreadsheet/edit photos/publish your anti-government manifesto.
But what is most important to you definitely informs your choice of locale. WiFi is a must. If a coffee shop doesn't offer free WiFi, then they don't want you hanging out. And that's fine. But that's also a place I'm not likely to spend much money.
Some people are looking for peace and quiet. If that's your goal, be prepared to move around a bit. There are a few reliably subdued spots, but every once and again you’ll be faced with a rowdy group of ne’er do wells, recently released from juvie and looking for that sweet, sweet latte fix. When that happens, tip your barista, pack up your gear and check out another option.
Vintage Coffee 1101 NW 49th St. OKC, OK 73118 | 405-752-0038 | https://www.loc8nearme.com/oklahoma/oklahoma-city/vintage-coffee/4851072/
The Last Drop 5424 N. Lincoln Blvd. OKC, OK 73105 | 405-543-7033 | thelastdropok.com
The Boxcar 2100 N. Eastern Ave. Moore, OK 73160 | 405-759-7295 | theboxcarok.com
District House 1755 NW 16th St. OKC, OK 73106 | 405-633-1775 | districthouseokc.com
Full Circle Bookstore 1900 NW Expressway OKC, OK 73118 | 405-842-2900 | fullcirclebooks.com
Coffee Tree 784 E. Danforth Road Edmond, OK 73034 | 405-726-8085 | coffeetree.coffee
Aspen Coffee Company 180 W. 15th St. Edmond, OK 73013 | 405-334-6783 | aspencoffeecompany.com
Ellis Island Coffee and Wine Lounge 130 North Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 | 405-726-8831 | ellisislandedmond.com
Perk Place 1649 W. 33rd St. Edmond, OK 73013 | 405-420-3226 | perkplacecafeok.com
Maybe you love coffee but you realize that man cannot live on go-juice alone. You need someplace that serves food. Not just pastries, though that’s okay in moderation. Sometimes you want an actual meal. Just do your due diligence and find out what they serve before you connect to the WiFi.
The Lobby Cafe & Bar 4322 N. Western Ave. OKC, OK 73118 | 405-604-4650 | willrogerslobbybar.com
Elemental Coffee Roasters 815 N. Hudson Ave. OKC, OK 73102 | 405-604-9766 | elementalcoffeeroasters.com
All About Cha All About Over The Metro | allaboutcha.net
Okay Yeah 705 W. Sheridan Ave. OKC, OK 73102 | 405-652-1322
The Red Cup 3122 N. Classen Blvd. OKC, OK 73118 | 405-525-3430 | theredcupokc.com
Kamp's 1910 10 NE 10th St. OKC, OK 73104 | 405-230-1910 | kamps1910cafe.net
There are some times you need to be with people. The freelance life can be lonely. Say what you will about working in an office, at least there’s a bunch of people you’re forced to see on a regular basis. If you feed on people (socially, not on their blood, you vampires!) then it’s a good idea to find a coffee shop where customers mingle and rub elbows and hobnob and fourth example of what I’m saying.
Coffee Slingers 1015 N. Broadway Ave. OKC, OK 73102 | 405-609-1662 | coffeeslingers.com
The Underground 1621 S. Douglas Blvd. Midwest City, OK 73130 | 405-733-7720 | theundergroundcoffee.com
Cuppies & Joe 727 NW 23rd St. OKC, OK 73103 | 405-528-2122 | cuppiesandjoe.com
People get the wrong idea about coffee snobs. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with just loving a really good cup of coffee. Maybe it’s a little loud, a little crowded, a little harder to find a place to plug in your MacBook Air, but the coffee is just too good to pass up. Gourmet lovers will put up with a lot of little stuff to get their hands on the finest joe around.
Clarity Coffee 431 W. Main St. OKC, OK 73102 | 405-252-0155 | claritycoffee.com
Leaf + Bean 321 N. Oklahoma Ave. OKC, OK 73104 | leafandbeanokc.com
Blue Bean Coffee Co. 13316 S. Western Ave OKC, OK 73170 | 405-735-5115 | bluebeancoffee.com
Joe's Addiction 1806 SE 59th St. OKC, OK 73129 | 405-601-2962 | outrageous.love/joesaddiction
Evoke 103 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 | 405-285-1522 | cafeevoke.com
Gray Owl Coffee 223 E. Gray St. Norman, OK 73069 | 405-701-2929
Wild Hero Coffee Co. 331 N. Mustang Road Mustang, OK 73064 | 405-376-4700
Most of these could fall in more than one category, but if you think I’ve gotten one totally wrong, let me know which one and why in the comments and I might move it around.
