Coffee in the Sun is a location-based app that helps users find cafés with the best sunlight using a live 3D shadow map. Instead of guessing where the sun will be, users can instantly see which outdoor seating areas are bathed in sunshine.
The app includes a time-travel feature that lets users preview how shadows will move throughout the day, making it easier to plan coffee breaks, lunches, or meetups around ideal outdoor conditions. This takes the uncertainty out of finding the perfect sunny terrace.
Designed for café lovers, remote workers, and outdoor enthusiasts, Coffee in the Sun works in cities around the world, helping users discover comfortable places to enjoy good weather. Coffee in the Sun combines mapping technology with real-time sunlight visualisation to help people spend more time exactly where the sun is shining.
Image Credit: Coffee In The Sun
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Sunlight-aware Discovery
- Live environmental overlays create new value in local search by ranking venues according to moment-by-moment comfort conditions rather than static reviews.
- Predictive Outdoor Planning
- Time-shifted shadow visualization turns weather-dependent outings into more predictable experiences for consumers coordinating meals, meetings, and leisure time.
- Contextual Location Intelligence
- Spatial data layered with real-time sunlight conditions expands mapping from navigation into personalized lifestyle decision-making.
Where This Applies
- Café Hospitality
- Outdoor seating can become a differentiated revenue driver when visibility, booking, and discovery are influenced by sun exposure and terrace comfort.
- Urban Mapping
- 3D city models paired with live environmental simulation introduce premium use cases beyond directions, including microclimate search and destination scoring.
- Remote Work
- Flexible workers gain access to location tools that prioritize ambient conditions, making cafés and outdoor venues more competitive as informal workspaces.
