This post was updated Feb. 25 at 9:49 p.m.

Coffee shops are often the location for long study sessions or conversations with friends.

Cafes have become an increasingly popular location for students looking for a dose of caffeine while studying or socializing. With their psychological and cultural benefits, these spaces bring students with shared interests and study habits together.

Since their creation in the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s, coffee shops have served as places for social gatherings and productive work. Caffeine consumption across America has spiked during times of economic productivity such as the Industrial Revolution and the 1940s when the “coffee break” was created to help increase worker output. In the 1960s and ’70s, major coffee chains such as Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee emerged to cater to the rising caffeine demand.

In recent years, getting work done at cafes has become a cultural phenomenon, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic because of the rise in remote work and schooling, according to Forbes. Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have further promoted cafe culture by circulating viral content about the appeal of noteworthy cafes such as Community Goods in Beverly Grove, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hailey Somphone, a third-year music education student, is a barista at Upside Down, a donation-based coffee shop in Westwood. She said her favorite aspects of working there are learning the art of roasting and watching the cafe bring people together.

“Week one and two, we’ll have some events, and then at midterm week or finals week, we’ll have study nights, and it’s cool to see how a community has been built from just that,” Somphone said.

Student organizations on campus also foster communities of coffee lovers. For example, the Coffee Club at UCLA takes members to local cafes to enjoy drinks and study together. Rachel Alazar, a third-year nursing student and secretary of Coffee Club, said the club collaborates with local cafes to host workshops educating members about the history and art of making coffee.

Kimia Kamal, a behavioral neuroscience doctoral candidate, said some may be drawn to cafes for the caffeine present in coffee, which help with alertness. Caffeine is a stimulant that blocks receptors of the sleep-inducing neurotransmitter adenosine, which can cause a temporary increase in wakefulness and energy, according to Sleep Foundation. A study published in the journal Nutrients found that consuming caffeinated drinks elevated mood and enhanced cognitive performance, an experience enjoyed by more than 85% of consumers aged 18 to 25 years old.

Bruins may also go to cafes to explore new places off campus. Kamal said students can benefit from finding a place where they can regularly study.

“If you want to create this habit of studying, it’s recommended that you designate a specific spot for that,” Kamal said.

The “third place” – a concept created by Ray Oldenburg in 1982 – refers to a public space separate from the home and workplace where people can voluntarily socialize. According to Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning, cafes are a common third place for many people, as they encourage casual social interactions that create a sense of belonging within a community. Other examples of third places include urban parks, restaurants and grocery stores, according to the same source.

Kamal said cafes provide a sense of community for those who prefer to study alone, as students are able to sit at the same table and study in the presence of others without having to directly communicate with them. She added that the busy atmosphere of cafes can help students feel more comfortable compared to quiet libraries.

In fact, test takers in an environment with a noise level of 70 decibels – typical of a bustling coffee shop – scored higher on a cognitive test, according to a Harvard Business Review article. Although complete silence increases focus, it can limit one’s abstract thinking, according to the same source.

The distinct ambiance and aesthetics of cafes are another reason why some students may prefer to study at cafes over libraries. For example, some cafes in East LA have integrated East Asian culture into their design, creating a serene atmosphere with minimalistic decorations and cultural drink flavors such as yuzu, matcha and ube, Alazar said.

The variety of aesthetic and sensory experiences at cafes has created a trend called cafe-hopping, which is the act of moving from one cafe to another. Kamal said many students engage in cafe-hopping due to a desire for novelty.

“If you go to this cafe over and over again, to the point where it has nothing new to offer to you, if you switch your cafe to somewhere else, you can see new things that get you excited,” Kamal said.

Alazar added that cafe-hopping can also stem from the desire to try new spots to eventually find a place that you can call your own.

For others, that novelty can be found at home. Somphone said cafes have extended beyond their traditional settings with the growing popularity of cafe pop-ups, which are temporary cafes created in a nontraditional space, such as a home or apartment. Somphone added that she hosted her own home cafe pop-up last summer and enjoyed seeing people from all different parts of her life come together.

Whether for productivity or socializing, cafe culture continues to create new experiences for Bruins.

“It’s a great way to also connect with friends – you’re together, but you’re both working or coexisting in that space,” Somphone said.