I am one of those people that can not comprehend how people work in coffee shops, I have tried it in the past, and have trouble even figuring out what I wanted to work on. Every time I see something move out the corner of my eye I need to look at what is going on. Every time a new sound starts or an existing sound stops I take notice. I am constantly afraid someone will sit down at the same table as me and try to take some of the precious little space I have sprawled with notes. This happened once and I tried to keep working but then there was a persons face like 3 feet away from mine over a tiny table and I lasted about 5 min before just leaving.

I can do crap like respond to emails, make todo lists, read documentation, write specifications, and google for the solutions to known problems. I am however fortunate enough to have a job where all that makes up a minuscule fraction of the work I do, most of my work is in solving new problems by developing and implementing algorithms. And that requires thinking on my part which is something I am completely unable to do with new thoughts about my changing surroundings constantly entering my head. My work provides two person offices with enough space to be comfortable. As well as common areas where you can work if you so choose to be out in that type of noisy environment. Only a handful of people make use of the common areas for anything besides eating lunch or having scrum.

I believe it is because nearly everyone's work involves either thinking or being in meetings all day. And while I will not be supporting it I believe if you give someone who needs to think the choice between a nice quiet office where it is accepted that if their door is closed you don't bother them, or a nice common area with the noises of people walking by and milk being frothed, they will eventually realize they are more productive where there are fewer distractions. (Not that everyone wants to be more productive)