# Wi-Fi-Free Coffee Shops This Coffee Shop Hopes to Take Back Control of Coffee Culture By Mary Van Puymbroeck | Published 2017-05-11 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wififree-coffee-shop References: [nytimes](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/technology/coffee-shop-wifi-access.html?_r=1) & [hotblack-coffee](http://hotblack-coffee.com/) In the age of connected retail and dining spaces, imagining a Wi-Fi-free coffee shop is unfathomable. The ability to sit in a coffee shop and do some work with a hot beverage is deeply entrenched in cafe culture, but Toronto cafe 'Hot Black Coffee' is hoping to shift this cultural norm. The brand wants to build a cafe with a strong sense of community, a social place where human interaction is the tertiary benefit. It's not often people go to a pub and do work on a laptop. The pub functions as a [social watering hole](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/simply-coffee-caf). It is a place to meet friends, make new acquaintances and unwind. This same cultural function is what Hot Black Coffee is hoping to achieve by making a Wi-Fi-free coffee shop. While the shop does not offer Wi-Fi, it does provide blankets to those who wish to linger outside on the patio on cooler days. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 25% | Activity: 33% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Human Interaction-focused Spaces:** Opportunities exist for businesses to build community-driven, human interaction-focused spaces that prioritize socializing over work or productivity. - **Digital Detox:** The digital detox trend is providing consumers with spaces where they can disconnect from their devices and focus on in-person communication and relationships. - **Analog Experiences:** Analog experiences, such as enjoying a cup of coffee with friends, are becoming increasingly sought after in today's technology-driven society. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Coffee Shops:** Coffee shop owners can consider creating a unique atmosphere that prioritizes community building and socializing, rather than offering Wi-Fi for work or productivity. - **Hospitality:** Hotels and resorts can offer digital detox packages for guests who want to disconnect and enjoy analog experiences, such as communal dining or outdoor activities. - **Retail:** Retailers can create spaces that prioritize in-person customer experiences, such as hosting community events or workshops that encourage human interaction and socializing. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cafe Workspace Finders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cafewofi.md) - [Spaciously Modern City Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brandor-coffee.md) - [Remote Workspace Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cafe-hunt.md) - [Retro Phone-Free Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/before-the-internet.md) - [Hyper-Personalized Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-free-coffee.md) - [Micro Workplace Cafe Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moments-by-lavazza-professional.md) - [Social Experiment Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/simply-coffee-caf.md) - [Daytime Coffee Mixers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-coffee-party.md) - [Coffee Shop Video Calls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coffee-video-calls.md)