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The Cost of the Commons:
An Oat Milk Flat White

Written by Erin Thomas

For creatives who make art and community during our working hours, searching for power outlets and spaces to collaborate brings us face-to-face with the modern medieval. For me, the legacy of fuedalism and the enclosure of communal areas for private wealth-generating is alive every time I paywave $7.50 for an oat milk flat white at my local cafe in exchange for a few hours of wifi. 

 

The rhythms of city life may lead us to take this as the cost of the commons, or any semblance of an inspiring and accessible “third space.” Sociologists define a “third space” as a gathering spot outside of your home and workplace. You’re not alone if nowhere inspiring or accessible comes to mind beyond libraries and community centers, and recent budget attacks mean even those public goods are under threat. 

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The idea of restricting “commons”, or accessible spaces for groups of people to gather and do things together may just be the symbol of the modern medieval. In Western Europe during the transition from fuedalism to capitalism, remaining “common lands” that were collectively owned by communities were enclosed. Enclosure involved turning these shared lands into private property by fencing them off or passing laws to restrict access. 

 

While there are many reasons given for this strategy, this broader concept of enclosing and privatising communal resources has been a move in the playbook of colonialism, applied in different ways around the world. One effect of fencing up and appraising commonly-owned land has been the disempowerment and disconnection of the majority of working people.

Let me be clear, me wandering Karangahape Road for an open cafe with a power outlet and free wifi at 3:30pm is hardly indicative of any commoners’ revolt. However, the convenience of modernity might blur the ways in which our increasingly privatised cityscape is the modern medieval aesthetic. I sense that our search for space to create together is not disconnected from the void of inspiring and accessible commons in our enclosed urban centre. 

While I am library girl to my core, my work is fueled by caffeine and almond croissants. Crumbs and my louder-than-I-think phone calls that put me at odds with my beloved librarians have relocated me to the best of our options for low-cost “commons”: the cafe. 

 

There are many benefits to setting up camp at your local cafe. They are open early, provide a steady drip of caffeine through the day, and you can easily eavesdrop on others’ conversations when you need inspiration (or a break). 

 

However, part of our beloved coffee culture includes 3pm closing times, and even in our current economic climate, you’ll catch looks from your barista for buying only one coffee and plugging in to stay the whole day. While “commons” don’t offer any expectations of privacy, working from cafes also means others can eavesdrop on you for inspiration. (Note: this may not be a concern for the main characters among us.)

But how else will we survive these Middle Ages? 

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Creatives and entrepreneurs well understand that we’re all trying to survive, and this does include my delightful neighbourhood cafe owners who can’t survive on me being the only patron who would order a coffee at 5pm. So while we recall and reimagine our own commons to create and collaborate and bring together working people to end this fuedalist hellscape, maybe for now, the cost of the commons is an oat milk flat white. 

If you’re looking for long opening hours, delicious creative fuel, and some great “commons” for your WFC (work from cafe) days, these are my top hits in Central Tamaki Makaurau. 

Tupu’anga Coffee

Cost of an Oat Milk Flat White: 5.50 Sm, 6.50 Lg

597 Mount Eden Road, Mout Eden
 

A bright glimmer of community on Mt Eden Road, Tupu’anga Coffee, is actually not just a killer cafe. Beyond freshly brewed 100% Arabica, grown and harvested in Tonga by workers paid a living wage, and made-fresh cassava cake, Tupu’anga is actually one of the handful of cafes run through the Affirming Works social enterprise. You can ignore my tongue-in-cheek comparison of cafes to the commons because Tupu’anga is the real deal. And they’re even open until 10pm on Wednesdays to Saturdays. 

Cafe Ditto

Cost of an Oat Milk Flat White: $6.50

29A Mount Eden Road, Grafton
 

Creativity is always flowing at Cafe Ditto, and this cozy late night cafe can be your new commons. Sign the guest book, watch an old timey film, and be inspired. Their motto, “Stand Still and Love Well” breathes through the whole aesthetic, full of eccentric yet cohesive design. Think how the coolest creative in your life would design the set of a sitcom based on their life. Follow their Instagram for night-time cafe hours, and don’t be surprised if a fresh einspanner and Cafe Ditto’s mood lighting inspires your next great idea. 

Mezze Bar

Cost of an Oat Milk Flat White: $6.00

9 Durham Street East, Auckland CBD

We all take Mezze Bar for granted. This establishment has been here and iconic since 1992. It’s my favourite place to meet with people in the CBD not only because it’s central and open late, but it also has food and drink options for everyone (vegans and tea drinkers welcome). Whether it’s the treats, the company, or the I-can’t-believe-this-is-Auckland vibes, Mezze Bar has been the birthplace of many exciting ideas. Log in to the wifi, pour yourself some Moroccan tea, and give this “commons” the respect it deserves. 

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