The perfect coffee shop

“What’s the perfect coffee shop?”

‍

An impossible question when you're AuDHD and struggle with sensory overload in most public places. I’ve learnt to get around this by asking myself “What’s the perfect coffee shop for me right now?”

‍

Today, I realised that I need somewhere:

‍

- OPEN NOW. A lot of my favourite specialty coffee shops only open at 9am during the week. Because I usually start my day quite early, this eliminates my usual go-to places. 

- QUIET. I don’t like places that are too crowded, because this generally means that it’ll be too loud. And unfortunately, even if it’s not too busy, the acoustics in some coffee shops are just plain terrible. 

- FAST & EFFICIENT. I love it when a coffee shop has a menu that’s clearly visible and easy to read. To be honest, I don’t have the best eyesight, so this really helps me! I also like supporting places with quick service and well-trained, friendly staff. A warm smile or just a friendly greeting can make a huge difference to me, it makes me feel welcome.  It sounds simple, but in Vienna it’s actually difficult to find places like this! 😅

- COMFORTABLE. I know I’m picky when it comes to chairs, but I’ve realised how much it affects my mood when I’m not comfortable. I need decent chairs with good back support and enough space to move around.

- WITH OPTIONS. I really love coffee, and I find it difficult to start my day without it. But in an effort to cut back, I’ve switched to decaf. Surprisingly, it’s not easy to find at good coffee shops! 

‍

Wandering the streets of Vienna at 7am and contemplating what I need to start my day off as best I can, I found the perfect solution: McCafé.

‍

‍

‍

It was open, calm, and soft classical music played in the background. There were no queues so I could order right away, and the staff were really friendly. They offered decaf americano on the menu, and I was sitting at a table with a cup of hot coffee in under 5 minutes. The McCafé is separate from the rest of the McDonald’s eating area, so it’s usually less busy. They offer comfortable seats and there was more than enough space for me to sort out my backpack and do my journaling. I even got a free little chocolate wafer with my coffee, which made me feel happy and nostalgic. 

‍

Although McCafé‍ might not be a popular choice, and some people will probably judge me for going there, it ticked all of the boxes for me. I’m okay with not going to the best thirdwave coffee shops and fancy cafés, if it means I can manage my AuDHD a bit better today.

‍

Let’s unmask and make the world more inclusive,

Pete

‍