Why the Coffee Shop Is the Worst Boardroom

An hour ago, I watched a financial advisor try to walk a prospective client through a plan at a crowded coffee shop.

Steam hissed from the espresso machine. Music pulsed overhead. People bumped elbows at tightly packed tables. The environment was chaotic. And in the middle of it all, this poor client was nodding along, straining to hear, clearly trying to follow a conversation that deserved more space.

It reminded me of something I’ve seen again and again, across industries. People are trying to have serious, personal, even life-changing conversations in the noisiest rooms in town.

The other people at the table

When you’re the one delivering the information it’s easy to feel in control in almost any environment. But for the person on the other side, the experience can be very different.

They’re being asked to absorb something technical. Something emotional. Something personal. Maybe all three. And they’re doing it with strangers two feet away.

That moment may feel normal to you. It doesn’t feel normal to them. It can feel exposing, uncertain, and rushed. And it’s not just about their comfort. It’s about their decision-making ability.

People don’t think clearly when they feel watched. They don’t open up when they feel rushed. They don’t absorb details when they’re wondering whether this is the right place to be talking about this at all.

There’s no way to predict when that moment will come. What starts as a quick financial check-in turns into a conversation about a divorce. What starts as a proposal walk-through becomes a career crossroads. These things unfold in real time. That’s why the environment matters.

You don’t get to know in advance where the line is. The safest thing you can do, the most professional thing you can do, is to choose a setting where there’s space for the unexpected.

You owe them that

Every professional, especially those in sales, owes their clients and prospects a duty of care. That duty includes providing an environment that supports clarity.

This isn’t about control or formality. It’s about removing friction. It’s about creating a space where someone can feel confident being fully present without worrying who might be listening, what might be overheard, or whether their life is being reduced to a talking point in someone else’s day.

There’s no gold standard for what the right environment looks like. But there is one for what it feels like. It should be private enough to be honest, quiet enough to think, and intentional enough to show this moment matters.

What coffee shops are good for

This doesn’t mean you should avoid coffee shops entirely. They’re a fantastic place for certain types of conversations:

• A quick catch-up with someone you already know

• An intro meeting to build rapport

• A casual reconnection over shared interests

That casual energy is part of what makes them valuable. In short, they’re great for relationships. They’re not great for decisions. And increasingly, they’re not even that relaxing.

Today’s coffee shop is often chaotic, crowded, and designed for turnover, not trust.

The false choice

Some people argue that insisting on a more private setting limits accessibility. They say, "What if this is the only time that works?"

But that’s a false choice. You don’t have to choose between a coffee shop and no conversation at all. You just need to raise your standards.

It’s okay to say, “I don’t talk about those things in public spaces.” In fact, it’s more than okay. It’s what professionals do. You’re not rejecting the meeting. You’re elevating it.

Not just about advisors

This isn’t just about financial professionals. Every person reading this has had moments where something deeply personal was shared in a setting that didn’t quite feel right.

You felt distracted. You felt rushed. You wanted to go deeper, but the space didn’t let you. That’s not about the coffee shop. That’s about being human.

The truth worth remembering

You don’t need a private office. You don’t need a soundproof booth. You just need to care enough to choose a better space.

Because when it comes to the moments that matter, you’re not just having a conversation. You’re setting the stage for someone else’s clarity.

And that starts with the room you choose to meet in.