Why I Never Skip a Coffee Meeting—And You Shouldn’t Either

Many years ago, my friend Rich in Dallas confidently told me that Starbucks would never make it in Texas. His rationale? He believed Texas wasn’t a coffee place; it was an iced tea place. Boy, was he wrong. Today, there are thousands of Starbucks locations across Texas, along with countless other independent coffee shops. Rich completely missed the point: yes, the coffee itself is important, but it’s only a part of what makes coffee culture so powerful. The ritual, the conversation, and the connections it fosters are even more significant.

That’s why I make it a point to get together for coffee with colleagues at least twice a week. No matter how busy things get, I carve out that time because I’ve learned that some of the most valuable conversations happen in those moments. There’s something about sitting down in a relaxed setting, away from the distractions of the office, that allows for deeper, more meaningful discussions. People open up in a way they simply don’t in a formal meeting.

Some of the best ideas I’ve been a part of didn’t come from a structured strategy session but from an offhand comment over a cup of coffee. When there’s no agenda looming over the conversation, creativity flows more naturally and a casual setting fosters the kind of honesty and transparency that can be difficult to achieve when people feel the weight of office hierarchies.

It’s not just about ideas, though. Relationships in business are built on trust, and trust is built through real conversations. Coffee meetings allow me to get to know people as individuals, not just as job titles. I’ve found that these personal connections lead to better collaborations, stronger partnerships, and even new opportunities that wouldn’t have come up in a strictly professional setting.

Typically, I am the one who initiates these coffee meetings and sends out the invites. I’ve noticed that meeting outside the office signals to my colleague that I value the relationship and unless someone beats me to it, I always pay. It’s easy to schedule a quick call or shoot off an email, but setting aside time for an in-person conversation shows that I see someone as more than just a contact in my network. That kind of effort is noticed and appreciated.

The bottom line is this: coffee meetings aren’t just about the coffee. If they were, then Rich would have been right. Coffee meetings are about the connections, the ideas, and the opportunities that come from real, human conversations. The only folks who should avoid these coffee meetings are folks who do not value these connections, ideas or opportunities.