Finding your favorite coffee shop is an essential activity when you move into a new neighborhood or town. Coffee dates, catch-ups with old friends, and productive work hours all occur at coffee shops — so it’s important to find the one that will serve you best. When considering your options, here are four useful qualities to look for.

1. Physical Necessities

Coffee shops today need to do a little more than merely serve coffee and provide a couple of pastry options. It’s also important for them to have plenty of seating, accessible outlets for power cords, and a variety of options for diverse dietary needs. Does your favorite coffee shop provide the right physical space and drinks for you?

2. Ethical Standards

This might not be important to all, but for some, it’s a deal-breaker. You might only be interested in coffee shops, for example, that recycle their disposable coffee cups and source their coffee from a fair trade organic coffee company in their region. You may also look at charities the coffee shop donates to and if they have washable mugs for those interested.

3. Atmosphere

If you need your coffee shop to act as a productive workstation, you might hope for clean lines, minimalist decor, and low noise levels. On the other hand, if you just pop in to meet up with friends, you might prefer a noisier, brighter, busier shop. Keep this in mind as you search for your favorite!

4. Location

Is it important that your coffee shop is within running (or walking) distance to your home, or would you rather have it be nearby a park or waterfront? Do you expect idyllic scenery out its windows, or a busy roadway for convenience?

When hunting for your new favorite coffee shop, keep these potential qualities in mind. Likewise, feel free to vary your coffee shop choice by activity — and keep searching for that one perfect fix.