Needing to fill up some time between downtown meetings today, I stopped in the coffee shop to find a madhouse - a dozen people in line at the counter, literally every seat filled, customers standing near the public computer...
I needed at least a few square feet of table, so I exited and went down the block to the newish waffle shop. I was the only customer there, so I had two people waiting on me and my choice of 11 four-top tables or eight easy chairs and two big sofas. The coffee was hot, cheap, and tasty. A few more people trickled in and out while I was there, but honestly I don't know why more Northfielders don't hit the waffle shop for a cup of coffee and a place to crash. Sure, the shop should sell more snacky stuff - pastries, granola bars, etc. - but they had oodles of comfy seats, a ton of open table space, free wi-fi, and the aforementioned coffee. It's ideal for an hour's sitting and working.