So you want to go to your first cars and coffee?
If you are a budding car enthusiast that is planning to attend your first cars and coffee event, congratulations! Pulling up to your first event like this can be the gateway to a fulfilling welcome to your local car community. As an enthusiast, you can gain valuable knowledge and insight into the kind of cars you’re into and or curious about, while owners of certain “cool cars“ can find their tribe fairly locally.
At the same time, events like these can feel like a real icebreaker for you and/or the friends/family that you plan on pulling up with. After all, you are technically an “outsider“ at what is a really social event. However, going to your first cars and coffee shouldn’t have to feel like finding a table at the cafeteria at a new school.
These are a few unwritten rules when it comes to cars and coffee, which should not only help you be a great attendee, but help you have fun and possibly make new friends and connections through a mutual interest on four wheels.
James Ochoa
Do: show up on time
Cars and coffee events typically take place early on weekend mornings during the spring and the summer, which may be a bit of a challenge if you are the type of person who likes to sleep in on the weekends. Arriving late to cars and coffee means that you could risk missing out on the fun, as you might not be able to secure a good parking spot or get caught up in the crowds.
In addition, owners are not obligated to stay at the event the entire time; they’re people too. As a result, owners of some of the best cars at these kinds of events tend to arrive early and sometimes leave well before the event is supposed to end. Arriving prompt and on time can guarantee that you see everything, and more.
Do: bring your cool car
What’s the point of owning a cool car if you don’t want to show it to the world? After all, events like cars and coffee act as a public, in real life forum for those who not only want to look at cool cars, but connect and share with other like-minded owners.
However, you shouldn’t feel left out if you don’t own a flashy or “cool” car; it shouldn’t be a problem showing up with what you got. Whether you drive an older classic, a modern sports car, or even a weird, quirky hatchback or subcompact, you’d be surprised to find “your people.” The true spirit of the event is about building community, enthusiasm, and discovering something new together.
Don’t: be nervous to talk to owners and other enthusiasts.
Besides being a place to see a whole bunch of cool cars in the same place, Cars and Coffee is an informal third place for car enthusiasts, as it can be a regular place to grow your cohort, socialize, and have fun. But, for many people, the idea of talking to other people may be a complete non-starter.
However, engaging in conversation and interacting with other owners can be a vital resource if you own or admire a certain car. You might admire a singular detail like a certain paint scheme or a set of wheels on someone else’s rig, and might want to do the same thing on your own car. While you can admire from afar, it doesn’t hurt to ask or strike up a conversation with another owner; they might be able to offer tips, tricks and support for what you might do or plan to do.
Do: take lots of photos.
With a whole bunch of cool cars packed into a parking lot and neighboring streets, it shouldn’t be a surprise that many, if not all of the people in attendance are going to snap as many pictures as possible of their favorite rides. Taking pictures is an essential part of attending a Cars and Coffee event; one of the biggest regrets that you could have coming out of one is that you forgot to take photos of a cool car you saw, there may be a good chance that its owner may not bring it out again.
Whether it be phones, pro-level DSLRs, or even gimbal-mounted cinema cameras, there won’t be a shortage of people gathering footage for their camera rolls or social media.
James Ochoa
James Ochoa
Don’t: touch any of the cars.
Although Cars and Coffee is an event that is open to the public and takes place in accessible venues like parking lots or city streets, the cool cars that owners bring there should be treated as if they’re displayed in a museum: look, but don’t touch. While you can admire the lines and the ethereal beauty of the cars at the event, it is important to treat other people’s cars how you’d want other people to treat your own and not touch them without permission.
Watch out if objects on your body, such as jewelry and clothing zippers, fall on the paint, and never lean on someone else’s car or open their doors without explicit permission. If you plan to bring your kids to a Cars and Coffee, you should know that not all owners will let kids sit inside their cars. Always ask and everything establish consent first, even if your kid insists.
Do: buy some coffee and/or pastries.
Many of the establishments that may regularly host Cars and Coffee events in your area are independent, small businesses and not big multinational chains like Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts. Playing host to a big event like Cars and Coffee could be a great driver for these kind of local businesses that specialize in artisan and specialty blends, and may be a factor towards repeat visits, even on days that Cars and Coffee isn’t happening.
Even if the line may be insanely long during the event, buy a cup and/or a pastry or two. A cup of coffee goes a long way and there’s a good chance that you might discover your new favorite coffee spot.
Don’t: do or encourage bad behavior.
Cars and Coffee is intended to be a calm, relaxing and cordial atmosphere for everyone, whether they be owners and spectators. As such, bad behavior, including burnouts, excessive revving, speeding, hard launches out the parking lot and other forms of dangerous driving has absolutely no place at this kind of event.
You may have seen clips of reckless stuff like this all over your social media feeds and on “fail compilations” on YouTube, but this stuff is not only dangerous, it will attract the attention of law enforcement and can prevent events like cars and coffee from taking place in your local area in the future. On the flipside, spectators are discouraged from egging owners of fast cars to engage in this type of behavior; nothing is truly worth it for the shot or for the ‘gram.
Do: have fun.
The most important part of attending Cars and Coffee is to have fun. It’s not only a cool and exciting way to get out of bed on eventful weekends, but following these dos and don’ts will help you get the most out of your experience. Respect the cars and other attendees, get to know your local car community and enjoy some awesome coffee.
While it may feel intimidating to get yourself out there and meet new people through a mutual interest, the car community is a welcoming one. Your first Cars and Coffee can be the perfect place to start off your car enthusiast journey and help you establish lifelong connections and friendships along the way.
About the author
James Ochoa
Senior Editor, Autoblog