What Coffee Shop Owners Won’t Tell You… Where We Go for Coffee

Where do coffee shop owners go for coffee when they’re off the clock? An honest look at convenience, hospitality, and what really matters.

There’s a strange assumption that coffee shop owners only drink their own coffee—or that when they don’t, they quietly judge whatever cup ends up in their hand.

The truth is simpler than that.

Sometimes, we’re just tired.

Not tired of coffee.

Tired of deciding.

Tired of performing care when what we really need is to receive it.

When coffee shop owners choose convenience

On days when I’m not near Pike House Coffee Shop, or we don’t have our Old City Coffee Cart set up, I’ll choose convenience without overthinking it. I usually drink black coffee, but every now and then I want something softer—sweet, layered, topped with things I don’t bother making for myself at home or at the shop. Soft top (my favorite extra), flavored syrup (not always sugar free😉), and some sort of fun drizzle or sprinkle! Something indulgent and a little unnecessary.

That doesn’t mean we don’t believe deeply in what we serve—we do. We care about our coffee, how it’s sourced, how we  roast it, how it’s prepared. That belief doesn’t disappear just because we step away from the bar.

Why hospitality matters more than “the best coffee”

And when I do that, I often end up at Dutch Bros Coffee.

Not because it’s better coffee.

But because of how it feels to be there.

Before I even reach the window, the energy is already set. The staff looks genuinely happy to be there. Not performative or rushed even when there’s a line.  They don’t seem inconvenienced by my order or distracted by the cars behind me. They ask about my day. They offer a compliment. They smile and always make me smile in return. 

It matters more than people realize.

Being a customer again as a Coffee Shop Owner

When you run a coffee business, you spend most of your time anticipating needs—reading faces, managing timing, adjusting tone, staying warm and present even when your body and brain want quiet. Being on the other side of the counter, even briefly, takes the pressure off. You don’t have to accommodate. You don’t have to please. You just get to receive what’s offered.

That’s something we don’t talk about enough.

Seasonal drinks, curiosity, and why we still try new things

I don’t order the same thing every time. I try the seasonal drinks. New combinations with small variations. That concept shows up in our own menu too. We like keeping things fresh, inviting curiosity, and reminding people that routine doesn’t have to mean stagnation. Our customers are always eager to see what the new specials are going to be! 

Supporting local coffee without guilt

Do I feel guilt sometimes? A little. I still seek out small, local coffee shops whenever I can. That’s never stopped being important to me. Choosing a drive-through on a tired day doesn’t undo that—it just acknowledges reality.

And I know this truth might make some people uncomfortable.

But it’s real.

Coffee shop owners don’t always chase the “best” cup when they’re off the clock. Sometimes we chase kindness and ease.  It’s nice to just be handed a coffee without getting out of your car by a smiling face. 

Which brings me to the next thing we rarely say out loud.

Because if friendliness is what we crave most as customers…

There’s a reason it’s so hard to deliver consistently behind the bar.

And if friendliness is what we crave most as customers, there’s a reason it’s so hard to sustain behind the bar—especially day after day.