When was the last time you sat at a coffee shop and sipped on a steaming latte surrounded by utter silence? Probably never, right?
Good coffee shops are synonymous with sound. Over the years, the coffeehouse genre has developed into a combination of music for business that is conducive to this type of setting. Ensuring your coffee shop's unique sound matches your business goals and overall ambiance is crucial to developing a sustainable and cohesive brand.
Finding the right music — that doesn't sound exactly the same as your competition — isn't easy. But the right background music partner can help.
The Right Music for Your Coffee House
Companies like Pandora CloudCover can curate playlists that are just right for your brand, and they can arm you with tools to help you control the sound in your facility. Your partnership ensures all the music you play is legal too.
Choosing music for your coffee shop is nuanced. We have genres for every mood.
Custom Coffeehouse Playlists
We curate stations with the best coffee shop songs!
The Psychology of Music on the Brain
Various studies have found that playing in-house music set to a carefully considered tempo, volume, genre, and valence can influence behavior and decision-making.
- One study found that music at a slower tempo encourages customers to linger and spend more money. Conversely, fast-paced music led to a quicker exit.
- According to a study from Texas Tech, customers want the genre of music to “fit” the context. By playing music for business that complements other elements of your establishment, customers will value your efforts and be willing to spend more money.
- Studies show that background music may benefit learning, potentially improving memory and cognitive performance. Since so many people frequent coffee shops to work on their computers, this could be an added benefit for clientele.
- In a study published in 2023, researchers examined the impact of different types of music on coffeehouse purchases. They examined the data from four published studies and found a deep connection between music arousal level and the likelihood of a coffee purchase, regardless of the type of music played. As the researchers explained, fast-paced music that increased energy levels made people more likely to buy coffee. People bought energetic drinks to match the mood coffee delivers.
- In a study published in 2021, researchers examined the impact of environment on the taste of coffee. In a section about auditory influences, researchers explained that sounds people identified as either loud or unpleasant can interfere with the way the coffee tasted. Specifically, loud background music leads to higher rates of participants saying the coffee tasted bitter or smelled bad.
- In a study published in 2020, a researcher went to 20 coffee shops in Japan and took notes about the artists and songs played. The genres varied significantly. The researcher selected a representative sample of the songs and played them to study participants and asked them to rank how appropriate they were for a coffee shop. The researchers found that the beats-per-minute of songs, regardless of the genre, was the most influential factor. People liked songs with slow beats best.
Now that the benefits of overhead music are abundantly clear, it’s time to dive into the type of music you should play in your coffeehouse.
Music for Different Types of Coffee Shops
As you consider the right playlists for your coffee shop, think about the overall aesthetic and clientele. Write down some adjectives to describe your frequent customers. As you do, an overall picture will become clear.
For example, if your coffee shop is in a busy metro area with executives buzzing through for their regular morning cup on the go, you might choose a playlist full of classic rock or top 40 hits. If your coffee shop draws more of an offbeat, chill crowd, you might opt for indie songs or modern folk music.
Brunch cafés might boast a trendier feel, and some electronic or chillwave music can fit this crowd well. For upscale coffee houses or tea shops, classical or jazz music might be a pleasing choice for customers.
Picking the Right Music for Your Coffee House
While there are many factors to consider when selecting your coffeehouse playlist, the style of music you play is paramount to success. (Rage Against the Machine? At a coffee shop? At 8am? We think not…)
Define Brand & Audience
Start by defining your shop’s brand and target audience. Digging into your brand’s core values and the lifestyle of your customers is a good first step.
Is your café a cozy retreat with book-lined walls and low light? Your playlist might lean hard on classic coffee shop music like acoustic covers of pop or Brazilian jazz.
Is your coffee shop crisp and clean with minimalist artwork designed for creative professionals? An indie or alt-rock playlist featuring artists like Bon Iver or The Lumineers could set the perfect tone.
Consider Tempo & Volume
Many people use coffee shops for study or work, so your songs shouldn’t be so loud or so peppy that they break concentration or block conversation. Electronic chillwave artists like Tycho or Petit Biscuit provide a calming yet modern backdrop that isn’t too distracting.
As a general guideline, the music shouldn’t be louder than a soft conversation. People should be able to hear one another over your music. The ideal volume can shift by the size of your space and the time of day. Watch your customers and listen closely to determine if you need to turn the songs up or down.
Creating and Customizing Playlists
Tailoring your playlists ensures that the right songs are available for your customers and staff all around the clock. Each part of the day comes with different needs and expectations, and the music should change accordingly.
In the morning, customers often reach for coffee for a burst of energy and positivity. You can meet that need by playing uplifting, mid-tempo tracks with a bright tone. Examples include “Budapest” by George Ezra or “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.
In the afternoon, your coffee shop may fill with students and professionals who are working or studying. The music you play can enhance their concentration and productivity. Tracks such as “Awake” by Tycho or “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck help maintain a calm, focused environment.
In the evening, customers may look for opportunities to relax and unwind with friends and family. A cozy and inviting playlist can soothe and please them. Songs like “At Last” by Etta James or “Blackbird” by The Beatles provide a relaxing yet sociable vibe.
Some music platforms allow you to schedule playlists that align with different parts of the day. Managing the sounds is really easy.
Common Music Genres for Coffee Shops
Here are six common genres that are best suited for java-fueled overhead listening.
1. Modern Folk
What: Anything from Americana and acoustic to folk-rock and alternative styles
Popular artists/bands: Amos Lee, Iron & Wine, Mumford & Sons, Xavier Rudd, Bon Iver, The Head and the Heart, Joshua Radin
These songs can help you get started:
- "Sky Full of Song" by Florence + The Machine
- "Reverend" by Kings of Leon
- "The Way You Used to Do" by Queens of the Stone Age
- "My Blood" by Twenty One Pilots
- "Mountain at My Gates" by Foals
2. Alternative Rock
What: Blending elements of conventional rock with influences from other musical styles
Popular artists/bands: Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Foster the People, Cold War Kids, Young the Giant, Arcade Fire, Grouplove, Muse, Death Cab for Cutie
These songs can help you get started:
- "Take a Walk" by Passion Pit
- "Spaceman" by The Killers
- "Electric Feel" by MGMT
- "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People
- "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye feat. Kimbra
3. Electronica/Chillwave
What: Low-to-moderate tempo music characterized by mellow vocals or ambient sounds
Popular artists/bands: Bonobo, Royksopp, Massive Attack, Jon Hopkins, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Flying Lotus, M83, Tycho, Washed Out, Sigur Ros
These songs can help you get started:
- "Sunset Lover" by Petit Biscuit
- "Midnight City" by M83
- "Youth" by Daughter
- "Talamanca" by Bonobo
- "Go" by The Chemical Brothers
4. Classical
What: Peaceful piano ballads, lush symphonies, relaxing instrumentals
Popular artists/bands: Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Brahms, Debussy, Khatia Buniatishvili, Yo-Yo Ma, Glenn Gould, Isaac Stern
These songs can help you get started:
- "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy
- "The Four Seasons: Spring" by Antonio Vivaldi
- "Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2" by Frédéric Chopin
- "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Erik Satie
- "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber
5. Classic Rock
What: Psychedelic rock, funk, soul, and pop tunes of the 1960’s and 1970’s
Popular artists/bands: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Supremes, Led Zeppelin, The Ventures, The Rolling Stones
These songs can help get you started:
- "Hotel California" by Eagles
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
- "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones
- "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty
- "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd
6. Jazz
What: Classics of the 1920’s swing era to contemporary songs of the 2000’s
Popular artists/bands: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Sade, Kenny G, Dexter Gordon
These songs can help you get started:
- "Hotel California" by Eagles
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
- "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones
- "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty
- "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd
We Curate Stations with the Best Coffee Shop Songs!
Whether you’re just opening a coffee shop or you’re ready to make a change to your current café music selection, we’ve got you covered with these top five coffeehouse-inspired Pandora CloudCover stations.
1. Coffee Shop
Cater to a wide demographic? Our original Coffee Shop playlist has a little something for everyone, for every cup of coffee. You’ll encounter only the best coffee shop music – indie tunes like “Marathon” by Tennis, singer-songwriter sounds like “Young” by The Paper Kites and soulful pop tracks like “Strawberry Bubblegum” by Justin Timberlake.
2. Coffeehouse Neo-Soul
Laidback rhythms and soulful lyrics make for calming coffeehouse music. Groove to slow to medium tempo sounds by contemporary soul and R&B artists such as Alicia Keys, Jamie Lidell, Jordan Rakei, Beyoncé, Leon Bridges, and more.
3. Folk Modern
Folk Modern is guaranteed to have both patrons and staff humming along. Blending the latest and greatest of acoustic, folk-rock, Americana, and alternative bands, you’ll hear introspective tunes and mesmerizing vocals from the likes of Amos Lee, Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Xavier Rudd, and Bon Iver. These coffee shop bands won't disappoint.
4. Classical Mornings
Let’s face it: coffee shop businesses and relaxing instrumentals go hand in hand. If you want to bring a peaceful atmosphere to your business, our Classical Morning playlist boasts soothing sounds from renowned composers like Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Brahms, and Debussy.
5. Electronica Chillwave
Hipster crowd frequent your establishment? Our Electronica Chillwave playlist is exactly what you need. Patrons can relax to a soothing combination of ambient and chillwave electronic tracks such as “Emkay” by Bonobo, “A Walk” by Tycho, and “Fantasy” by DyE. Your mornings will be better with coffee and music.
Legal Implications of Playing Unlicensed Music in Your Coffee Shop
You can’t just plug in your phone and play songs from your personal Apple Music, Spotify, or SiriusXM account in your coffee shop. You can only play properly licensed music since this is considered a public performance. While you can contact performing rights organizations (PROs) to get annual licenses to play songs in their libraries, it’s much easier to use a commercial streaming account, like what we offer here at Pandora CloudCover.
If you get caught playing unlicensed music in your coffee shop, the penalties can be severe. Federal fines range from $750 to $30,000 or even more per song. If you did so willfully, and this can be proven, fines can go up to $150,000. It’s just not worth the risk.
Ready to create the ultimate coffee shop music playlist?
Pandora CloudCover boasts over 100+ curated stations so you can create the atmosphere and songs you want. Try us for free today and see why thousands of businesses trust us for their streaming business music solution. Terms and conditions apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the questions we hear most about music for coffee shops:
Can I play music from Spotify or Pandora in my coffee shop?
Not without a public performance license. You can’t use your personal streaming accounts to play music in a business setting, like a coffee shop. You need a dedicated commercial music streaming account, like what we offer here at Pandora CloudCover.
What happens if I play unlicensed music in my business?
You can face steep fines, up to tens of thousands of dollars per song played. If it can be proven that you played the music willfully, meaning you knew what you were doing when you played it, fines can quickly get astronomical.
What is the best music to play in a coffee shop?
It depends on the overall vibe of your shop. Indie, alternative rock, classic rock, and modern folk music are popular genres for coffee shops. More upscale coffee houses might choose classical or jazz music.
References
Using Background Music to Affect the Behavior of Supermarket Shoppers. (July 1982). Journal of Marketing.
The Influence of Background Music on Shopping Behavior: Classical Versus Top-Forty Music in a Wine Store. (January 1993). International Journal of Research in Marketing.
The Influence of Background Music on Learning in the Light of Different Theoretical Perspectives and the Role of Working Memory Capacity. (October 2017). Frontiers in Psychology.
17.35 Copyright—Damages—Statutory Damages (17 U.S.C. § 504(c)). United States Court for the Ninth Circuit.
Does Classical Versus Pop Music Influence Coffee Purchase Likelihood. (March 2023). Psychology of Music.
Sonic Seasoning and Other Multisensory Influences on the Coffee Drinking Experience. (April 2021). Frontiers in Computer Science.
Appropriate Background Music in Japanese Coffee Shops Assessed via Autocorrelation and Beats-Per-Minute Analyses. (July 2020). Journal of Temporal Design.