A bit like owning stocks on the stock market then I would guess. Which begs the question of whether to take a higher paying job with no options and invest the difference.
With the title "The far-reaching effects of air conditioning" I didn't immediately think "Yup ... that's handy: frozen peas" even though the technology underlying them is the same.
Sounds like for the OP the coffee isn't the product, but rather a space to work and think.
Having to choose a coffee show, see if they have wifi, charging, not to noisy etc. is an inconvenience if you want to just get started on something quickly. You might only have an hour before a meeting if you are travelling for example.