Cars and Coffee is an organized car/owner meet-up where beautiful classic cars and their owners come together. Along with this, thousands of spectators usually join in for the sights and sounds. These events happen almost every week in countless locations, with new people joining each time.
Every single Saturday and Sunday of every single weekend there is a Cars & Coffee event somewhere in the United States.
Thousands of automotive diehards are waking up at the crack of dawn to secure the best parking spots for their pride and joy and “talk cars” with other like-minded individuals with gasoline running through their veins.
Where are your local Cars and Coffee locations?
We have provided the link below to give you the resource to find the most comprehensive list of every single event in the US that we could find. 200+ cities in almost all 50 states. From Alabama to Wyoming, you will find all the information you will need to know about each location.
Cars and Coffee Locations: All 200+ in the US! (americaonwheels.org)
Everyone is welcome to attend, but being a novice at these events can be somewhat intimidating, so, to alleviate this struggle, here are a few things you need to know about attending a Cars and Coffee event…
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
A big part of the Cars and Coffee events is, obviously, their cars. However, the importance of early-morning coffee along with that make the world of a difference. Therefore, being there on time will be an important goal to strive for.
People who can usually afford something like a Ferrari or Lamborghini, often wake up early to work hard, get ahead of the market, and so on. As such, it is a good philosophy to have in general: Be up early and get the first bite. This principle seems to extend to the Cars and Coffee style, with those who sleep in missing the best that the car community has to offer.
Moral of the story, be there on time or be square.
They Have Some of The Nicest Cars at Their Shows
If you want to look at million-dollar hypercars, you could, of course, go to a high-end dealership or even a racetrack. Although, these options do not always yield impressive results (Depending on your tastes). What does always seem to have a litany of jaw-dropping cars, though, are the Cars and Coffee events.
Of all the car shows and car meets there are to attend, few have the same standard, quality, and cost of their vehicles as does those at Cars and Coffee. If you go to one of these events, especially in a large/affluent city, expect to see at least a few Ferraris and Lamborghini’s, and possibly a million-dollar car like Bugatti’s and so on.
The Rich and Famous Often Attend
As mentioned beforehand, the Cars and Coffee shows have some of the coolest cars on the planet in attendance. These cars, however, are not loaned by dealerships or rented for the weekend but bought and owned by wealthy individuals. As such, you will probably meet some famous/rich drivers while you are there.
Of those to attend, more than a handful have had a few million Instagram followers, successful business, and tons of fans. Maybe bring a few business cards too while you are there!
It is A Social Club
The car community and car culture appear to be misunderstood by a vast majority of the non-car-obsessed population. Many believe that all we want is to go fast and be a nuisance, but the opposite is true. Car enthusiasts just want a place to hang out and be around those with a like mind. This is where Cars and Coffee comes in…
Before Cars and Coffee, car meets were usually smaller, with few attending on a regular basis (Let alone a standardized planning system). With Cars and Coffee’s inception, though, car lovers can finally have a frequent and consistent place to make friends, socialize, and have fun. After all, the Cars and Coffee club is not just to see vehicles, but to function as a social club, as well.
They are In Nearly Every Country
Although Cars and Coffee is a new creation (In the grand scheme of things), they have still grown substantially as a business and brand. With this growth, they have been able to expand their reach around the globe, now with hundreds of C&C locations.
Whether you are in the United States, Europe, Chile, or just about anywhere else, odds are you are not too far away from a future Cars and Coffee meet-up. They frequently change venues and post information, so to best see what is near you, check their website or Google.
No Illegal Activity
Car meets and get-togethers are supposed to be a calm, relaxing, and fun experience for everyone involved. Individuals should feel safe and surrounded by friends, but some make this much harder. Especially those who do illegal activities like burnouts, speeding, dangerous driving, and use of illicit substances.
At a normal car meet, you may see someone do a burnout or two, however, police do not like this activity. As a result, with Cars and Coffee’s strict adherence to the Rule of Law, acts like those are banned and will not only make you look the fool and get kicked out, but you will probably get a ticket too. As far as the dangerous driving and illegal drugs, those are no more welcomed at Cars and Coffee than they are anywhere else.
Look, Don't Touch
With so many beautiful, jaw-dropping, and “Only in a dream” cars, it can be tempting to open the door, get inside, and feel what it is like to be behind the wheel of such a machine. Nonetheless, this is not something you should do without the owner’s approval. The motto “look, but don’t touch” still applies at Cars and Coffee, as well.
Since these cars are, usually, awfully expensive, owners can find themselves waking-up in a cold sweat at night, terrified about whether their vehicle is alright. Please, do not make it any worse by putting your hands all over the cars. The last thing anyone wants to deal with is a needless cosmetic repair, especially if it is on a Ferrari or something much more costly.
Mind The Photographers
When you have tons of multi-million-dollar cars packed into one place, it is going to draw a lot of attention. After all, these cars attract more than just car enthusiasts, but people from all walks of life. Some of these individuals are the photographers.
With the rise of social media and technology, more and more people are finding careers in social media marketing and vehicle photography. As such, you will probably see tons of photographers trying to earn their way at the event. It is best to be courteous around them, as they are not just here for the fun, but for a potential paycheck too. Just do not get in the way of any good shots!
Lastly, Be Kind
This piece of advice can extend to multiple aspects of life, not just etiquette for attending car meets. Nonetheless, it is an important lesson to learn when interacting with others: Just be kind to people.
Since the Cars and Coffee events are, basically, a huge social gathering of like-minded people, it is best to not stir things up with attendees. If you are frequently breaking rules, interrupting photographers, and being a rude/nuisance to everyone else.
Simply put, be courteous and you will have an undoubtedly great time.
There are plenty of cruise nights as well as cars-n-coffee events across the country; the link below provides a resource to a long list of weekend morning events:
Cars and Coffee Locations: All 200+ in the US! (americaonwheels.org)
