The unspoken cafe rule that Aussies can't agree on

"Are they trying to give me a hint?" a tourist in Australia asked.

For me, heading to a cafe is so much more than a functional expedition to acquire a warm caffeinated beverage. 

It's about the ~vibe~. 

If I have time, I'll stay a while... soak in the atmosphere, people-watch, maybe listen to a podcast if I'm feeling particularly indulgent. 

I might even order a second beverage and cosplay as a lady of leisure with no responsibilities and nowhere to be.

But the question arises — how long is too long to hang around? Is it rude to linger if other customers are waiting for a table, or does the coffee or two you bought buy you unlimited time?

Navigating these subtle nuances of etiquette can be hard, as a tourist in Australia recently found out. 

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The innocent question that prompted a realisation

The woman took to the r/AskAnAustralian forum and asked: "Are you supposed to leave soon after you finish all your food in a cafe?"

She then explained that the waitress came over to her while he was sitting in a cafe and asked her an innocent question that made her wonder if she was overstaying her welcome. 

"Once I finished my food and coffee but still reading my book, a waitress came to take the dishes and asked me if I'd like another coffee," she said.

"Is that a hint that I should go if I'm not ordering anything more? But I did prefer to sit a bit longer to read my book. Is that okay?"

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"Go to a library"

People debated it in the comments, with the majority agreeing that context is important. 

"If it's really busy or there are people waiting for tables, then yes, it's better to leave. Or if it's getting close to closing time, or you've been there for hours and haven't bought much then it would be polite to buy something more," one suggested.

Another advised: "It's okay to hang around for a little bit but that cafe is trying to make money, not provide you a place to read. If you want somewhere nice to read, go look for a library or a local park with a big tree."

Others thought the woman was overthinking it. 

"They're asking if you want another coffee since you have finished your meal. You are reading into this far too much," one reader said.

Another shed more light on the situation: "They are trained to ask if you need more coffee. It's good customer service and more money in the register if you order another! Well-trained floor staff will kindly let you know they need your table if others are waiting."

"If the cafe isn't full, they would be more than happy for you to stay and read. A cafe with people in it looks better than an empty one," someone else concluded. 

Originally published as The unspoken cafe rule that Aussies can't agree on