In general, it's a struggle for me to find places to study. I can’t concentrate with music playing in the background or when others are having a conversation near me. In order for me to focus and get things done, I need to quarantine myself into a space of silence.

Lately, I have begun to notice that so many people study in coffee shops. I walk by coffee shops every day, and I see people with a laptop on the table or a book on their lap. I know I could never be productive in that sort of environment, but I became interested in learning why people opt to study there.

One day, I decided to investigate why people did this myself. I went to The Daily Grind, a coffee shop on campus, and began to ask people why they study there. Once I started asking around, I began to hear the same answers over and over again. It became clear to me why people generally study in coffee shops, rather than other places.

Coffee shops have a lot of things that your average study space can’t offer. You have easy access to study snacks and drinks if you feel your energy dip, and you also have the option to sit outside if the inside is too crowded or noisy.

Patrons also like working in an environment that isn’t stressful. In comparison to the library, coffee shops offer a more laid back atmosphere to students. People there are smiling and enjoying good conversation. No one is fraught with anxiety about the test they have the next morning.

The noise is a steady, drone of muddled conversations and the clinking of cups in a coffee shop. Students claim the background noise isn’t distracting since its volume remains at a consistent level while they do their work.

The main reason why people study in coffee shops, however, is that they enjoy running into people they know. Students see their friends coming by, and they can chat with them for a nice study break.

Despite all the positive reasons I received about why people study in coffee shops, I learned that there are some downsides. Students who study there admit that trying to do work at a coffee shop is not that productive, and the environment itself can be distracting. Some did say, however, that if they really need to complete a paper or study for a test at the last minute, they opt for the library or another quiet location where they know they can concentrate.

Although coffee shops are not the optimal location for studying, I now understand why so many people like to work there. Coffee shops are great places to hang out with friends, drink lattes, and potentially get some work done too.