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Coffee Shop as Creative Practice: What Kind of Coffee Shop Makes you Tick?

Writer's picture: kristina jacobsenkristina jacobsen

Zendo Coffee, facing 2nd street
Zendo Coffee, facing 2nd street

I have a favorite coffee shop in town. As I sat there on Saturday morning, with the hustle and bustle of the weekend vibe–dogs, kids, in-laws, bicycles, bagels and so much more–I began to reflect on what, for me, makes the ‘perfect’ coffee shop. This one, called Zendo Coffee, is an anchor point for me, each time I come back from a long trip out of the country.


There is a magic in a local coffee shop, embedded in a neighborhood, where dogs sit under the long tables, energetic music is playing, children come in with their parents, and patrons sit at long, shared tables, forcing (or encouraging?) some small interactions (negotiating space, moving your things, offering a smile) with a stranger, each time a new person arrives. There’s the bitter aroma of espresso in the air, and local artists are journaling, reading novels, or sketching out their next




It's one of the few places where lives intersect outside our own, respective social bubbles: low pressure, casual interactions, which can open to deeper knowings and connections, over time, as people show up, each week, sitting in the same spots, offering the same smiles, sharing the same space as you. And the baristas, many of whom are also practicing artists with fantastic senses of humor and stories to tell, who know your name and you know theirs, and there is art on the walls, and you feel like you are part of a neighborhood, a collective, a place, a small community of practice.


The physical space of it is really important, too. At Zendo, the tables are long and light wood colored (Butternut?) with a smooth, comfortable grainy finish, there is lots of light and skylights up above, plants wind their way around many nooks, windows and crannies, and twinkle lights adorn the bar.


It’s one of the few places where lives intersect outside our own, respective social bubbles: low pressure, casual interactions, which can open to deeper knowings and connections, over time, as people show up, each week, sitting in the same spots, offering the same smiles, sharing the same space as you. And the baristas, many of whom are also practicing artists with fantastic senses of humor and stories to tell, who know your name and you know theirs, and there is art on the walls, and you feel like you are part of a neighborhood, a collective, a place, a small community of practice.




The drinks are strong, and intense, and focus on lots of umami and bitter flavors: they make a great London Fog and a great cappuccino. They have a great ‘affogato’ (drowned ice cream with espresso) in the summertime, and lots of creative seasonal drinks, with fresh and original syrups made by my neighbor. The pastries are light and flaky, and the bagels are chewy and substantial, which the former bagel shop employee in me really appreciates. In short, there is a hum, a routine, and a flow to this space, which amplifies my own flow, routine and hum, as a human living in a city which still, after so many years, feels large and overwhelming to me at times (this is probably why I love my Scooter so much; it limits how far i can go and makes the city feel more like a small town, rather than the largest city in the state).


I've also written the better part of two books here, both of which are about songwriting as creative and ethnographic practice in some form (Jacobsen 2024 and 2024b), so it's been a really productive space, as well as a healing space.




What, dear readers, listeners, musicians and fellow writers, makes the ideal coffee shop for you? What elements does it need for you to feel at home and in community?





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Henrik Nielsen
Henrik Nielsen
Jan 28

Hej Kristina!

For me, the ideal small coffee shop is a place where people simply enjoy being present, without judgment, but with an open appreciation for the aroma of the space and the vibrant diversity of experiences unfolding within it. Just sitting in the background, reflecting, jotting down thoughts about real life's wonders, and observing subtle changes in the room, with a pot of coffee on the table… and perhaps a good friend or a regular suddenly appearing with the latest news, is a blend I would truly enjoy.

Of course, the coffee itself matters greatly, with diversity being a top priority… a wide range of flavors, constantly evolving, offering something new to discuss with the owner or staff. The…

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kristina jacobsen
kristina jacobsen
Jan 28
Replying to

indeed it is! i love this detailed response. i can smell the coffee from our visit to silkeborg, as you write!

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