CoffeeLab

Private.coffee’s office · hackerspace · workshop

A cozy hackerspace & workshop

The CoffeeLab is Private.coffee’s semi-public space for working, hacking, making, learning, and hanging out. It’s a safer space for queer folks and friends: come as you are, respect others, and don’t break the machines. (If you do, fix or replace them.)

Read the Rules & Code of Conduct

About the CoffeeLab

The CoffeeLab is a small, semi-public office, hackerspace, and workshop operated by Private.coffee. It’s a place to:

  • Work on projects, prototypes, and weird ideas.
  • Learn new skills and use shared tools and machines.
  • Host small meetups, co-working days, and workshops.
  • Build and support queer, trans, and hacker communities.

Access is by invitation or agreement with the organisers. Guests are welcome if they respect the space, the people in it, and this Code of Conduct.

Values & Safer Space Commitment

The CoffeeLab is explicitly:

  • Queer-affirming & trans-affirming
  • Body-positive
  • Neurodivergent-friendly
  • Anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-ableist
  • Kink-aware, but not a sexual space
  • A place to use your name, pronouns, and identity safely
  • A space where harassment, bigotry, and hate symbols are not tolerated
  • A community that takes reports seriously and acts on them

We cannot promise perfection, but we commit to responding seriously, fairly, and firmly when issues arise. Your safety and well-being come before anyone’s comfort about being called out.

Rules & Code of Conduct

This is a condensed version of our full Code of Conduct & Safety Guidelines (PDF). Please read it carefully before visiting or using the CoffeeLab.

Respect People

  • Use people’s preferred names and pronouns.
  • No harassment, bullying, or discrimination of any kind.
  • No hate speech, fascist or nazi symbols, or advocacy of hate ideologies.
  • Ask before touching someone, including hugs.
  • Ask before taking or posting photos of people or their work.

Respect the Space & Neighbors

  • Keep noise reasonable and respect neighbors in the building and street.
  • Leave spaces at least as clean as you found them.
  • Clean up your desk and the kitchen after use.
  • Label your food; unlabeled or old items may be removed.

Substances & Behavior

  • Follow local laws for alcohol and other substances.
  • No operating tools or machines while intoxicated.
  • This is not a sexual space. Don’t make it one.

Privacy

  • Treat conversations and work here as private by default.
  • Don’t share others’ personal details or project details without consent.
  • No doxxing, stalking, or persistent unwanted contact.

Hosts and organizers may ask you to change your behavior or leave the space. Repeated or serious violations can lead to access being revoked.

What You’ll Find in the CoffeeLab

The CoffeeLab is small but well-equipped. Most things are available to use under our regular rules and safety guidelines – if you’re unsure, just ask a host.

Electronics Workshop

  • Basic lab bench setup with power supply and soldering tools
  • Spectrometer for simple measurements and experiments
  • 3D printer (usage is free; used filament is charged at cost)
  • Assortment of hand tools, screws, fasteners, and small parts

Server Rack

  • Limited space for 19″ rackmount servers or other rack-mountable hardware (including Raspberry Pis and similar)
  • Connectivity via a modest uplink (~60/50 Mbit/s) – fine for experiments, not a datacenter

Retro & Fun Stuff

  • Pinball machine
  • Retro corner with a Commodore 64
  • PC emulating older PC operating systems

Kitchen

  • Small portafilter espresso machine and grinder (coffee included, obviously)
  • Small fridge for drinks and temporary food storage
  • Single induction cooking plate with pots and pans

Work & Seating Areas

  • Approximately three dedicated workspaces for people with laptops
  • Seating corner for around 10 people – suitable for small workshops, meetups, or discussions

Availability of specific tools and machines may vary. If you need something for a project or event, please get in touch in advance so we can confirm.

Workshop & Tools

Using Machines

  • Do not use any machine or power tool unless you have been shown how to use it by an authorized person or are under direct supervision.
  • This includes power tools, 3D printers, soldering tools, and anything marked “training required”.
  • If you’re not sure whether you can use something, ask first.

Safety

  • Follow all posted safety instructions and use required protective gear.
  • Tie back long hair, remove loose jewelry, and avoid loose clothes near machines.
  • Keep drinks away from electronics and machines.
  • Report all accidents, injuries, and near-misses to a host.

If You Break Something

Accidents happen. Being honest is more important than blame.

Things break. When they do:

  • Wear and tear is normal. If something wears out, let us know so we can replace it.
  • If you break something, you must repair or replace it.
  • Tell a host immediately so we can make sure it’s safe and plan repairs. Please also let us know if we are running low on supplies (including, but not limited to, coffee).

Projects & Storage

  • The CoffeeLab is not long-term storage.
  • You can store ongoing projects in available plastic boxes.
  • Label ongoing projects with your name, date, and contact.
  • We may move or dispose of unclaimed or unsafe items after a grace period.

Accessibility

Wheelchair & Mobility Access

Unfortunately, the CoffeeLab is currently not wheelchair-accessible.

The space is located in a souterrain level, and there are several steps both up and down between street level and the CoffeeLab itself. There is no step-free or lift access available.

We recognize that this excludes many people and we are not happy about it. As a small, rented space, our options to change the building’s structure are limited, but we are committed to exploring ways to improve this in the future, including potentially moving to a more accessible location in the long term, if financially feasible.

Other Accessibility Considerations

Visual Impairments: The CoffeeLab has standard lighting and no specific accommodations for visual impairments. There are glass doors and surfaces that may be difficult to see for some. Please contact us if you have specific needs or concerns regarding visual accessibility.

Machine Use: Use of the workshop machines may require standing for extended periods and some degree of manual dexterity. Please contact us if you have specific needs or concerns regarding machine use.

Noise: Especially when machines are in use, the noise levels can be high in all parts of the CoffeeLab. We recommend using hearing protection if you are sensitive to noise or need a quieter environment.

We are very open to suggestions and ideas on how to improve accessibility within our constraints!

If you have specific accessibility needs and want to know whether a particular event can work for you, please get in touch in advance.

Visit & Contact

The CoffeeLab is a semi-public space. Access is by invitation, membership, or explicit agreement with the organizers.

Location

CoffeeLab @ Private.coffee
Brandhofgasse 7/1
8010 Graz, Austria

Contact

Email: office@private.coffee
Matrix: #coffeelab:private.coffee
Website: private.coffee

To arrange a visit, workshop, or event, please contact us in advance.

By entering or using the CoffeeLab, you agree to follow these rules and the Code of Conduct.