If you’ve ever dreamed of living your life in a quiet corner of a coffee shop, surrounded by the wafting aromas of fresh coffee (or hot chocolate), rainy day playlists (on low), and the soft rustle of pages turning (or the sight of a newly loaded Kindle), then you’re already vibing with Cafécore.
Cafécore is more than just another flash TikTok trend that will be gone in 20 minutes. It’s a whole mood that works particularly well for those of us who would also like to spend the day in the library. Clearly, these design gods understand us. Think warm lighting, vintage mugs, spooky notebooks (like the ones I used to make), and oversized sweaters.
It’s the daily lifestyle equivalent of that cozy feeling you get when you’re sipping tea on a rainy afternoon, lost in your thoughts or your favorite book (or procrastinating about rewriting that script). Who? Me? Of course not. Ahem.
Where Did Cafécore Come From?
Cafécore grew out of the internet’s obsession with romanticizing elements of daily life. And that’s a hard thing to do these days. It’s a sibling to aesthetics like Dark Academia (which you know I love) and Cottagecore, but with a more urban, introspective twist.
Imagine the vibe of a Parisian café, a foggy street in London, or a tucked-away coffee shop in Seoul. And, for a while, imagining these places was all we could do. I believe the design trend began during the pandemic. But grew slowly, and is only popping now as fall approaches, and many of us are seeking cozy comfort.
What Does Cafécore Look Like?
Visually, Cafécore is all about:
- Warm, neutral tones: Think browns, creams, and soft blacks.
- Layered outfits: Cardigans, scarves, and thrifted coats (yes, even in Southern California).
- Vintage books, journals, and typewriters.
- Mixed-and-matched plates, from daily faves to inherited china.
- Rich hot chocolate, artisan coffee, matcha lattes, or tea served in charming mugs.
- Slightly melancholy sounds or tunes that spark contemplation and inspiration, like jazz or acoustic folk. Gillian Welch is great for this. And Leonard Cohen is always a win.
Design Changes We Made
Cafécore doesn’t mean that you have to rush out and buy a luxury French press coffee maker. But it can mean setting up a coffee or tea station in your kitchen or your dining room that is dedicated to your favorite morning (or afternoon, evening, whenever) sip.
Andy is a big tea drinker. For the most part, neither one of us drinks coffee. I know. We are a rarity. He doesn’t have a ton of specialty tea accessories, but he does have a section of the counter dedicated to his electric tea kettle, the glass and bamboo loose tea holder, and his ginger, along with his mug, strainer, and sugar bowl. The station takes up relatively little room, and it feels organized and deliberate.
There is one item we might thrift to bring Cafécore to our outside space, too. We are seriously thinking about adding a bistro table to our front porch. We love sitting out in the front. It can be a social space if neighbors stop, or it can be a quiet place to work or relax.
We currently have a cast-off coffee table on the front, but it is so wide that it can be a hindrance if we have more than two people there. Of course, we already have bistro lights hanging on our back deck, so if we do go down the bistro table path, we may change our minds and go “full bistro” there instead.
The Heart of the Aesthetic
But Cafécore isn’t just about looks; it’s about slowing down. It’s about taking time to enjoy simple rituals: brewing tea, journaling in the morning, reading something we love without rushing. Mornings are cool here, but even sitting outside wrapped up in my favorite sweater is an option into December.
So, whether you’re setting up your desk with café vibes, taking yourself on solo hot chocolate dates, or just dressing for your main character moment, Cafécore invites us all to savor the quiet moments and just be.