Lorraine Williamson
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become a routine part of life. Many teleworkers now use cafés as alternative workspaces. While this provides flexibility for workers, it is creating new challenges for café owners.
In Barcelona, one café has introduced an unusual solution. Café Perfetto now uses a time-based pricing system for drinks. The longer a customer stays without ordering again, the more they pay for their initial drink.
Rising frustration among café owners
Across Spain, hospitality businesses are reporting reduced turnover due to customers occupying tables for extended periods. In some cafés, people sit for hours with one coffee and a laptop. This limits available seating and discourages traditional social use of the space.
Café Perfetto’s owner, Massimo, explains the rationale. “It’s not about making more money,” he says. “We want to remain a space for the neighbourhood, not just for teleworkers.”
How does the pricing model work?
On each table, customers will now find a sign listing time-based prices. For instance, a cappuccino starts at €1.60. After 30 minutes, the price increases to €2.50, and after an hour, it rises to €4.00. Even a black coffee, which begins at €1.30, climbs to €4.00 after an hour.
The policy is designed to encourage continued orders or shorter visits.
A growing trend in Spain’s cafés
While some regular customers support the move, others have criticised it. Some argue it punishes quiet customers or those who simply enjoy a relaxed pace.
Other cafés in Barcelona have approached the problem differently. Some ban laptops during peak hours. Others designate certain tables as laptop-free zones or impose time limits for remote work use.
With the rise in remote working unlikely to reverse, cafés across Spain are searching for workable compromises. Balancing the needs of local communities with those of laptop users remains a challenge.
Business owners are adapting to a changing customer base
Massimo believes awareness is key. He says the pricing model is about setting boundaries, not discouraging business. “We are not anti-remote work,” he adds, “but we are pro-community.”
As digital nomadism grows, Spanish hospitality venues may increasingly look to innovative pricing strategies to maintain viable, inclusive spaces.
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