If your barista can’t keep an indoor plant thriving, are they even really your barista? Devil’s ivy snaking across the walls and propagating in little glass jars is a guarantee for a hip cafe.
Indoor plants
8 things you'll find in every inner city hipster cafe around the world
You’re not experiencing déjà vu, inner city cafés really do all look the same. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing but the curious case of the replicated coffee shop has some interesting links to The Algorithm. Instagram is a great place for inspiration but it’s hard to deny the influence of the influencer. #inspo leads to #imitation which inevitably leads to #unification. Here we cover the features you’ll find in any hip café worth its weight in coffee beans.
Scandi blonde wood
Reclaimed golden-blonde wood is the mainstay of the inner-city coffee shop. Blonde wood counters, blonde wood floating shelves, blonde wood tables.
Bespoke hot sauce
We love a hot sauce as much as the next average Joe but seriously, how many of these cafe owners have a side hustle in the spice trade? Oh well, pass it here, it’s delicious.
A stack of recipe books
A stack of cookbooks is a no-brainer for the cool cafe, bonus points if there’s at least one Ottolenghi (what did 30-somethings even eat before Ottolenghi?).
Alvar Aalto stool 60 replicas
Are they comfortable? No. Are they practical? Maybe. Are they everywhere? You betcha!
Tiny little water glasses
These teeny tiny water glasses are very chic. They are also very easy to stack. And you only need to fill them up sixteen times over the course of your avo toast to feel a whisper of hydration.
Polished concrete flooring
Don’t run with scissors, no running at the pool, and absolutely, under no circumstances, are you allowed to run in the cafe with the polished concrete floors. These industrial-chic finishings look great, are practical to clean, and become Teflon the second a drop of water hits the ground.
The communal table
A long table – blonde wood, obviously – is the answer to the question nobody asked. Why would you sit on your own table to enjoy your company when you can avoid eye contact with the four strangers you’re suddenly having coffee with?
