One cup of tea or coffee is generally acceptable for a brief stay of one to two hours. If you plan to stay longer, it is courteous to make an additional purchase—another drink, a snack, or water—roughly every 90 minutes to two hours. This reflects the unwritten rule that you are renting table space, and the café relies on turnover and sales to remain viable.

The distinction between busy and quiet periods is critical. During peak hours (morning rush, lunch, weekends), limit your stay to 60–90 minutes on a single drink. In quiet or slow periods (mid-afternoon, weekday mornings), staying 2–3 hours with one drink is usually acceptable, though a second purchase remains a considerate gesture. Always check for posted policies—some cafés have explicit laptop limits or reservation rules—and ask staff if you are unsure what is reasonable.

For etiquette, order something when you arrive and keep your workspace tidy. Keep noise low, use headphones, and take phone calls outside. Do not spread out across multiple tables or use bags to reserve seats. If you use power outlets, ask permission first and avoid monopolizing them; bring a fully charged battery as backup. Clear your table when you leave. In regions with a tipping culture, leaving a tip or making an additional purchase for a long stay shows appreciation for the staff's tolerance of reduced table turnover. Most importantly, remain attentive to staff cues and be ready to leave if the café becomes busy or if staff politely ask you to free the table. Independent and community-oriented cafés tend to be more flexible than busy chains, but courtesy and awareness of the business's needs apply everywhere.