Typewriters clicking in a modern coffee shop may seem like a contradiction. But lately, you might find a young adult sipping an iced oat milk latte while pounding away on a vintage Smith-Corona. At first glance, it feels like performance art or another Instagram aesthetic. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find something more meaningful—something that says a lot about Gen Z’s relationship with technology, identity, and creativity.
The return of the typewriter isn’t just quirky nostalgia. It’s a quiet rebellion against constant connectivity and an embrace of slower, more intentional living. So why is Gen Z bringing typewriters to coffee shops now? Let’s see.
Escaping the Digital Overload
Generation Z is the first generation to grow up fully immersed in the internet, with smartphones in their hands before they could walk. They’ve spent their lives inundated with screens, notifications, and social media expectations. While millennials may have watched the digital world evolve, Gen Z was born into it, and that has come with consequences.
Burnout, anxiety, and doomscrolling are common buzzwords among Gen Z. They’re seeking ways to unplug and reclaim a sense of peace. Enter the typewriter: an object with no pings, no alerts, no battery to charge. It’s the ultimate tool for analog escape. When you’re typing on a typewriter, you’re not switching between tabs or checking TikTok. You’re just writing. In a world of overstimulation, that’s powerful.
Craving Authentic Creative Spaces
There’s also a deeply creative side to this trend. Writing on a typewriter is messy, imperfect, and raw. You can’t delete a sentence with a backspace key or endlessly revise your thoughts mid-paragraph. That kind of restriction forces creativity to flow differently—more honestly.
Many young writers are finding that using a typewriter helps them bypass their inner editor. Instead of obsessing over a perfect Instagram caption or blog intro, they’re letting their thoughts hit the page without a filter. For artists and poets, this has become a way to connect with the kind of unpolished, emotional expression that feels increasingly rare in the digital age.
Coffee shops, with their ambient hum and soft clatter, provide the perfect backdrop for this analog ritual. They serve as semi-public creative spaces, safe havens for focused energy and quiet ambition. The typewriter becomes part of the soundscape, a rhythmic counterpoint to milk frothers and indie playlists.
Embracing Nostalgia with a Twist
Gen Z may be the most forward-thinking generation yet, but they’re also deeply nostalgic. Their fashion, music tastes, and aesthetic choices often borrow from decades past, like 1990s baggy jeans, Y2K flip phones, and even ‘70s color palettes. The typewriter fits right in with this revival of vintage cool.
But unlike simple nostalgia, typewriters carry an emotional weight. For many, using one feels like tapping into a different era of thoughtfulness and romance. It’s writing love letters instead of sending DMs. It’s the sound of keys hammering out a story without any help from Grammarly. That contrast appeals to a generation hungry for depth.
And let’s be honest: there’s a visual appeal too. Typewriters are just plain cool-looking. They’re tactile, mechanical, and full of character. In a world where most tech is designed to be sleek and silent, typewriters are delightfully loud and charmingly clunky. They draw attention, spark conversation, and feel uniquely personal.
The Influence of Aesthetic Culture
It would be impossible to talk about Gen Z and typewriters without mentioning the role of aesthetics. Whether it’s “dark academia,” “cottagecore,” or “vintage vibes,” this generation loves curating identity through visual storytelling. Typewriters hit the mark in more than one aesthetic category.
TikTok and Instagram have played a big role in spreading this movement. Videos featuring vintage hauls, analog writing routines, and typewriter ASMR have racked up millions of views. But unlike other trends that flash and fade, this one seems to be sticking, likely because it’s grounded in a real emotional need.
It’s not just about looking old-school; it’s about feeling different while doing it. Gen Z isn’t rejecting technology altogether. They’re just being more selective about how and when they use it. The typewriter, in this case, isn’t anti-tech; it’s pro-intention.
A New Kind of Rebellion
There’s something a little punk rock about carrying a typewriter into a coffee shop in 2025. It challenges norms. It makes noise—literally. And it doesn’t fit into the sleek, hyper-efficient mold of modern tech.
That kind of resistance is part of what draws Gen Z to this practice. They’re not trying to be productive in the traditional sense. They’re trying to be present. Typewriters force you to slow down, commit to your words, and maybe even embrace mistakes. In that way, they reflect a larger shift happening within Gen Z culture: a movement away from perfection and toward presence.
In a hyper-connected world, the typewriter represents a beautiful contradiction. It’s old, slow, and loud, and it just might be the most Gen Z thing yet.
What Do You Think?
Would you ever write on a typewriter in public? Or do you think this trend is more about the aesthetic than the writing itself? Share your thoughts below—especially if you’ve tried it or are tempted to give it a go.
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Riley is an Arizona native with over nine years of writing experience. From personal finance to travel to digital marketing to pop culture, she’s written about everything under the sun. When she’s not writing, she’s spending her time outside, reading, or cuddling with her two corgis.
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