We were blessed to each receive a copy of Robert Schneider’s new book Café Cool. This is his third book, following Coffee Culture: Hot Coffee + Cool Spaces (2016) and Café Culture: For Lovers of Coffee and Good Design (2019), each of which has cemented his reputation as a chronicler of coffee’s intersection with design. Robert’s unique blend of analytical rigor and creative curiosity shines through in his work, and Café Cool is no exception.
If you’re a lover of coffee, design, or simply the art of a well-crafted space, Robert Schneider’s Café Cool: Feel-Good Inspiring Designs is a book that deserves a spot on your coffee table—or better yet, in your hands as you sip your next espresso. Released as the third installment in Schneider’s celebrated series on coffee culture, this book takes readers on a global journey through 39 beautifully designed cafés, coffee shops, and roasteries across 26 cities.
Café Cool is more than just a pretty picture book—though the full-color photography by professional architectural photographers is undeniably stunning. It’s a curated exploration of 39 independent coffee spaces worldwide, from Copenhagen’s April Coffee Roasters to Melbourne’s Industry Beans, and from Paris’ Coutume-Foundation to Morioka, Japan’s Nagasawa Coffee. Schneider hand-picked these spots not just for their excellent coffee but for their ability to embody modern, feel-good design that fosters community and elevates the coffee-drinking experience.
What sets Café Cool apart is its balance of visual splendor and insightful commentary. The photography captures the personality of each space—whether it’s the warm tones of San Francisco’s Andytown Coffee Roasters or the bold, modern lines of Intelligentsia in Los Angeles (which graces the cover). But Schneider doesn’t stop at aesthetics. He includes concise narratives and quotes from owners and designers, offering a peek into the stories behind these spaces.
For me, flipping through Café Cool feels like planning a dream coffee crawl. I’m already imagining sipping a flat white at Melbourne’s Bicycle Thieves Café or savoring a pour-over at Taipei’s Fifteen Steps Workshop Coffee. And even if I can’t visit them all, the book lets me experience them vicariously through its vivid imagery and thoughtful prose. Whether you’re an architect, a coffee aficionado, or someone who simply loves a good story, Café Cool: Feel-Good Inspiring Designs is a delight.
All of Robert Schneider’s books are available on Amazon.
Café Cool: Feel-Good Inspiring Designs