Does that means that kicking people out after an hour is unfair to people who want to have a long cup with someone? I don't really see it as a question of fairn

Does that means that kicking people out after an hour is unfair to people who want to have a long cup with someone? I don't really see it as a question of fairness. Not every business has to cater to everyone's preference. I suspect that they started shooing people because they found (or at least suspected) that kicking out your customers made them more money. The laptop people will just find somewhere else to get their coffee. The best coffee shops I been to have multiple spaces set aside for people with different needs, including busy main areas and out of the way quiet areas, a mix of small and long tables plus chairs and couches, books/board games/pool tables available, conference/gaming rooms, etc. I've seen coffee shops like that get so popular that they required a cover charge on Friday nights and weekends. You're not likely to find those kinds of spaces on every other street corner like a Starbucks but the versatility is really nice.