{
  "id": 18294398,
  "title": "Buying coffee or renting table? Bengaluru cafe owner faces loss due to customers spending ₹150 and overstaying",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/buying-coffee-or-renting-table-bengaluru-cafe-owner-faces-loss-due-to",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-05T11:10:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/buying-coffee-or-renting-table-bengaluru-cafe-owner-faces-loss-due-to-customers-spending-rs-150-and-overstaying-11793873207046.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Bengaluru cafe owner is facing financial losses due to customers who purchase a single cup of coffee for ₹150 and remain seated for extended periods, sometimes the entire day. The issue came to light on social media when a user shared the story of a friend who opened a café in Indiranagar, investing around ₹60-70 lakh in the business. Despite the initial investment, the owner is struggling with customers occupying tables for hours without spending more on additional beverages or snacks. This practice is problematic as it not only reduces the owner's revenue but also deters new customers who may perceive the cafe as overcrowded and uninviting. The user emphasized that cafés like Starbucks, Café Coffee Day, and Third Wave Coffee charge higher prices for their offerings because they factor in the cost of providing seating, maintaining premises, and allowing customers to work or socialize. These establishments consider the time and space customers occupy as part of their pricing structure. To address the issue, the user suggested implementing a rule that charges customers an average of one coffee per hour spent in the café, with a polite approach to remind them of the time they have occupied the table.",
  "summary": "A man from Bengaluru's Indiranagar invested up tp ₹80 lakh to set up his cafe. However, his returns are limited due to table squatting by customers. Here's how.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}