5 Playlists That Make Amazing Coffee Shop Music

in business insights, business music

When was the last time you sat at a coffee shop and sipped on a steaming latte surrounded by utter silence? Probably never, right?

Good coffee shops are synonymous with sound. Over the years, the coffeehouse genre has developed into a combination of music for business that is conducive to this type of setting. Ensuring your coffee shop’s unique sound matches your business goals and overall ambiance is crucial to developing a sustainable and cohesive brand.

Finding the right music — that doesn’t sound exactly the same as your competition — isn’t easy. But the right background music partner can help. 

Companies like Cloud Cover Music can curate playlists that are just right for your brand, and they can arm you with tools to help you control the sound in your facility. Your partnership ensures all the music you play is legal too.

The Psychology of Music on the Brain

Various studies have found that playing in-house music set to a carefully considered tempo, volume, genre, and valence can influence behavior and decision-making.

• One study found that music at a slower tempo encourages customers to linger and spend more money. Conversely, fast-paced music led to a quicker exit.
• According to a study from Texas Tech, customers want the genre of music to “fit” the context. By playing music for business that complements other elements of your establishment, customers will value your efforts and be willing to spend more money.

Now that the benefits of overhead music are abundantly clear, it’s time to dive into the type of music you should play in your coffeehouse.

Picking the Right Music for Your Coffee House

While there are many factors to consider when selecting your coffeehouse playlist, the style of music you play is paramount to success. (Rage Against the Machine? At a coffee shop? At 8am? We think not…)

Here are six common genres that are best suited for java-fueled overhead listening.

1. Modern Folk

2. Alternative rock

3. Electronica/Chillwave

4. Classical

5. Classic rock

6. Jazz

We curate stations with the best coffee shop songs!

Whether you’re just opening a coffee shop or you’re ready to make a change to your current café music selection, we’ve got you covered with these top five coffeehouse-inspired Cloud Cover Music stations.

1. Coffee Shop

Cater to a wide demographic? Our original Coffee Shop playlist has a little something for everyone, for every cup of coffee. You’ll encounter only the best coffee shop music – indie tunes like “Marathon” by Tennis, singer-songwriter sounds like “Young” by The Paper Kites and soulful pop tracks like “Strawberry Bubblegum” by Justin Timberlake.

2. Coffeehouse Neo-Soul

Laidback rhythms and soulful lyrics make for calming coffeehouse music. Groove to slow to medium tempo sounds by contemporary soul and R&B artists such as Alicia Keys, Jamie Lidell, Jordan Rakei, Beyoncé, Leon Bridges, and more.

3. Folk Modern

Folk Modern is guaranteed to have both patrons and staff humming along. Blending the latest and greatest of acoustic, folk-rock, Americana, and alternative bands, you’ll hear introspective tunes and mesmerizing vocals from the likes of Amos Lee, Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Xavier Rudd, and Bon Iver. These coffee shop bands won’t disappoint.

4. Classical Mornings

Let’s face it: coffee shop businesses and relaxing instrumentals go hand in hand. If you want to bring a peaceful atmosphere to your business, our Classical Morning playlist boasts soothing sounds from renowned composers like Bach, Chopin, Mozart, Brahms, and Debussy.

5. Electronica Chillwave

Hipster crowd frequent your establishment? Our Electronica Chillwave playlist is exactly what you need. Patrons can relax to a soothing combination of ambient and chillwave electronic tracks such as “Emkay” by Bonobo, “A Walk” by Tycho, and “Fantasy” by DyE. Your mornings will be better with coffee and music.

Ready to create the ultimate coffee shop music playlist?

Cloud Cover boasts over 100+ curated stations so you can create the atmosphere and songs you want. Try us for free today and see why thousands of businesses trust us for their streaming business music solution.