Starbucks bans printers and desktops after Korean customers turn cafes into offices

Starbucks has introduced new rules in South Korea after some customers began transforming its cafes into makeshift offices, complete with desktop computers and even printers.

The company confirmed that it will no longer allow bulky equipment in its stores, citing complaints from other patrons who felt the atmosphere was being disrupted. While laptops and tablets remain permitted, the ban targets desktop monitors, tower PCs, and peripheral devices that occupy large amounts of space or create excessive noise.

South Korea has one of the world’s most active café cultures, with coffee shops often doubling as study spaces and work hubs. However, Starbucks said the trend of customers setting up full office stations had reached a level that interfered with the comfort of others.

The move highlights the ongoing tension between cafés as community spaces and their growing role as informal workplaces. Some customers expressed frustration at the ban, while others welcomed it, arguing that Starbucks should remain a café first, not a co-working facility.