The Rise of DJ X Coffee Culture
“Every great coffee deserves a good soundtrack.”
Coffee shops have long been the heartbeats of neighborhoods—places to gather, reflect, and connect. But in recent years, a new rhythm has emerged: the fusion of live DJ sets with the café ambiance. This blend of music and coffee culture is transforming cafés into dynamic community spaces.
Pioneering the Scene: Beans & Beats by Common Room Roasters
Before the DJ-coffee crossover gained global traction, Common Room Roasters introduced Beans & Beats—an experiment in reimagining what a café could offer. Launched way back in 2016 at our Newport Beach roastery. Our Founder Ed Moffatt (originally from Melbourne Australia) wanted more than just music in the tasting room. “Do we have to just listen to algorithm playlists? Let’s make it live…” The following Saturday, records were spinning in the roastery. The event challenged the conventional idea of how hospitality spaces could function: not just places to chill and consume, but places to truly connect with others through live music,
Now a staple at our Long Beach roastery, Beans & Beats continues to explore this idea—offering a space where music is more than background noise. It’s a cultural signal, a rhythm that brings people together. We sat down with Ztrip - big time global DJ and long time Common Room ambassador and asked him for his take on it, “A good coffee spot isn’t just about the drink, it’s also where creativity gathers and people share ideas. The music playing in the background is the heartbeat that keeps it all moving.” In a time when third spaces are more vital than ever, this monthly series reminds us that cafés can be stages for local culture, not just service counters. These events break down barriers, inviting diverse groups to share in a collective experience.
Over in Venice, a Common Room favourite; Boulevard Neighborhood Coffee has also reimagined the morning café experience with its AM.RADIO series. These supercharged sessions feature DJs like Babsy and edapollo delivering party vibe DJ sets that transform the sleepy café's atmosphere into a festival like event with people connecting, socialising and often dancing all in an alcohol free environment.
The fusion of DJ culture and coffee is not just a local trend—it’s a global revolution reshaping how we experience cafés. In Nagpur, India, Corridor Seven Coffee Roasters has hosted high-energy sets by legendary DJ Nikhil Chinappa, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Across the globe in Tokyo, cafés like Fuglen and Café Obscura subtly integrate live music and analog aesthetics, curating sonic experiences as carefully as they brew their pour-overs. In Berlin, renowned for its deep electronic roots, coffee spots like Hallesches Haus occasionally host ambient DJ sessions that mirror the city's experimental spirit. Even in Australia, cafés like Everyday Coffee in Melbourne and Single O in Sydney have embraced music-driven events, offering rotating DJ sets that reflect the laid-back yet culture-rich café lifestyle of the region. From the coffee trucks-turned-dance-parties in Charlotte, North Carolina to sunrise house sets in Austin, and from South Korea’s stylish vinyl cafés in Seoul to rooftop café decks in Mexico City’s La Roma, it’s clear that this isn’t a niche—it’s a movement.
As we continue to explore the harmonious blend of coffee and music, we invite you to join us in the movement wherever you are located. Whether you're a coffee aficionado, a music enthusiast, or someone seeking connection, there's a seat—and a beat—waiting for you.
