We'll Continue Working at Coffee Shops, Thank You Very Much

(SPOT.ph) Scottish travel vlogger Dale Philip caused quite a stir on social media for complaining about the Filipino (or universal?) culture of studying and working in cafés for hours at a time.

Philip was hoping to get a Matcha Frappuccino at Starbucks in SM Baguio but had his plans thwarted when he saw a long queue with no available seats in sight. In the video he posted on November 5, he was visibly irked at Starbucks’ full capacity, putting the blame on the local patrons who use the coffee chain as a personal workspace.

“Look at all these guys on their laptops, just sitting, using it as their personal office,” Philip said, pointing his camera at several patrons from outside Starbucks, including one that smiled sweetly back. “I would hate to have a business where people just come and use it as their personal office. I don’t understand why they let people do that [and] why people want to do that.”

He goes on to say he doesn’t understand the whole concept of wanting to do work in coffee shops when there are other places where people can be “less disturbed” to complete tasks in, even mocking “digital nomads” in the process.

“Just sit in your house, just sit in your condo, just sit in your hotel room. Do your work. Why do you need to be sitting in somebody’s coffee shop to do your work?” Philip said.

He has since removed the video from TikTok, but that hasn't stopped Filipinos from reuploading it on other social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where one of the posts has gotten over eight million views and counting.

Also read: 10 Instagrammable Cafés With Actually Good Coffee

Are Filipinos staying too long in coffee shops?

In the Philippines, coffee shops are more than just a place to grab a quick cup of joe. We often integrate other unique activities in coffee shops to make the place a little livelier, a little more worth the visit. Some of our best cafes have culture, great views, karaoke, libraries, and even an indoor Go-Kart race track. It’s no secret that the local coffee scene is highly vibrant, which is why people will continue to flock to them even with inflation in the picture.

But why camp out in chain coffee shops like Starbucks? 

Several patrons claim the lack of a proper third space like public libraries, parks, and community centers leave them with no choice but to stay in coffee shops that tick the three boxes: Wi-Fi, electric sockets, and air-conditioning. There’s also the fact that many don’t have a conducive environment to study or work at home, where there is often a lack of privacy in the household.

Others aren't so convinced. They believe that even with ample third spaces in the city, people will still loiter in well-known coffee chains like Starbucks, not for the environment, but to exhibit a certain image or status.

It's glaringly clear many Filipinos share Philip’s frustration.

What once was a communal space where family and friends can chat over a cup of coffee is almost always transformed into makeshift offices for remote work. After all, who one wants to hear keyboard clacking and phone calls in a place that is originally meant for social and leisure purposes?

There’s also the perception that these patrons are monopolizing the space without contributing to the cafe’s revenue. 

Also read: These Unique Coffee Shops Double as a Tattoo Parlor, Pottery Studio, and More

What does Starbucks Philippines have to say?

Several coffee shop owners have previously expressed being fine with this practice, especially since they are already anticipating that customers will be spending extended periods of time on the premises to begin with.

Even the coffee shop in question—Starbucks Philippines—has repeatedly stated it wants to become a reliable third space to those in need of it.

“That was my first experience in Starbucks when I stayed for so long nursing one cup of coffee, and I was so amazed… So I don’t want to deny anybody that. That’s the Starbucks experience,” Starbucks Philippines President Noey Lopez was quoted as saying in 2022. “Why would I deny that to anybody else? That was the magic I felt so to this day, we let people stay as long as they want. It’s part of our business.”

In a 2009 report in The Wall Street Journal, Starbucks wrote: “We strive to create a welcoming environment for all of our customers. We do not have any time limits for being in our stores, and continue to focus on making the Third Place experience for every Starbucks customer.”

There we have it. Regardless of whether you share Philip's opinion, Starbucks Philippines has no problem with its patrons overstaying, even if it entails angry white men vlogging about it.