When Club Culture Meets Coffee: Exploring the Rise of Café Raves

Coffee, matcha, and house music go hand in hand.

BY KOSTA KALLIVROUSIS
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Photos courtesy of Coffee and Beats and Wells Coffee Company

“Club culture died in 2024.”

These are the words of DJ Steve Cardigan. Clubs have been in decline for years, with over a third shutting down in London since 2021. At the same time, business is dwindling at many coffee shops around the globe. Both the club space and café space are in a crisis, and many of us are left wondering: If specialty-coffee is to survive, what will its future look like?

A Growing Need for Third Spaces

In the years following the initial onset of coronavirus in 2019, many are still favoring staying home over going out. The National Restaurant Association reports that in 2023, 74% of all restaurant business came from takeout or delivery—a 15% increase since before 2020. This trend has proven to be a direct challenge to specialty-coffee shops, which consumers used to seek out as “third spaces,” or places to hang out beyond home or work.

The good news is that humans are always looking for connection, and will create new ways to find it—even if it means re-inventing old spaces. Through a curious chain of events, dance music lovers have begun to embrace specialty-coffee on Saturday mornings.

From Los Angeles to Mumbai, to Singapore and Dubai, in big cities around the world, café raves have become a widespread phenomenon.

DJs and Coffee Shops Join Forces

In the same TikTok where he laments the death of club culture, DJ Steve Cardigan also announces a “new way to rave,” stemming from his love for coffee. He’s talking specifically about AM.RADIO’s morning coffee raves in Los Angeles, Calif., which have been garnering thousands of RSVP’s.

And DJs aren’t the only ones excited about this new trend: Brandon Wells of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.’s Wells Coffee Company shares that his café has been hosting a series of events called “Coffee and Beats”—dance parties where customers can commune over caffeine and good music.

“I wanted to create something that felt rooted in our scene but tapped into what was happening around the world too,” says Dhylan “Lumi” Rivera, a barista at Wells Coffee and part of the team hosting Coffee and Beats.

Lumi also connects the rise of coffee raves to the fact that many former club-goers are now embracing sobriety and healthier lifestyles. “While trends usually come and go, I think this one’s here to stay,” Lumi says. “A lot of DJs who were once known for partying are now saying they’ve quit drinking and smoking to really connect with the music on a deeper level—in a sober state.”

Brandon echoes Lumi’s sentiments, explaining the deeper meaning behind events like Coffee and Beats. “This isn’t just a ‘little event.’ It’s a movement,” he says. “The celebration and dance that happens around these different genres of music—be it house or dubstep or techno—is real. The people who show up are invested.”

Experiences That Transcend Coffee

With the rise of coffee raves, it’s become clear that the café space is being completely reimagined. While third wave coffee shops emphasized precision in coffee-brewing. the vibe is now more people-focused, with shops drawing in crowds not just with quality beverages, but with memorable experiences.

And when selecting the music for these experiences, Lumi believes that coffee shop owners should show the same amount of care they would when crafting their menus.

“The way I see it, curating DJs for an event is similar to how a good coffee shop owner selects their beans. You can’t just pick anything—you have to be intentional,” Lumi explains. “That’s how you create something people actually want to come back for.”

The success that Wells Coffee Company has found through their morning dance parties has been palpable. So far, the coffee shop has hosted a handful of Coffee and Beats events, with the last one having over 700 people in attendance.

“One of the best feelings is hearing someone say, ‘That shop is now my favorite because of (that) event,’” Lumi says. “Or when people come up and say they’re tired of overpriced drinks at shows and love that coffee fits so naturally into the EDM and house music scene. (This movement is) actually impacting people. … It isn’t a trend. It’s a shift in how we socialize.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kosta Kallivrousis has spent over 14 years working across the specialty-coffee supply chain. His unique combination of experience as a barista, licensed Q grader, and in strategic sales at both roasted and green coffee companies has given him a 360°-view of the specialty-coffee world. Kosta is passionate about building equitable sourcing relationships between coffee producers and buyers, challenging industry norms around taste and value, and advocating for greater connection and community in the coffee industry.

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