What is a Death Cafe?
At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to discuss death.
Our objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'.
A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.
Our Death Cafes are always offered:
On a not for profit basis
In an accessible, respectful and confidential space
With no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action
Alongside refreshing drinks and snacks!
Ypsilanti Death Cafe
The Ypsilanti Death Cafe, based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, was started in 2021 by Hanna Hasselschwert, a Death Doula and founder of Acacia - End of Life Services.
Media coverage:
From end of life doulas to opera, Ypsilanti embraces unconventional approaches to death and grief, On The Ground Ypsilanti
This Ypsilanti café offers a safe space for conversations about death & dying, Mlive
Death Cafe Model
The Death Cafe model was developed by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid, based on the ideas of Bernard Crettaz.
Death Cafes have spread quickly across Europe, North America and Australasia. There are an estimated 18,778 Death Cafes in 90 countries since September 2011. If 10 people came to each one that would be 187,780 participants. There are many people who are keen to talk about death and are passionate enough to organize their own Death Cafe.
Death Cafe has received some lovely media coverage, including:
Death Be Not Decaffeinated: Over Cup, Groups Face Taboo, New York Times
Death Cafes Breathe Life Into Conversations About Dying, NPR
The death cafe movement: Tea and mortality, Independent
'Death cafes' normalize a difficult, not morbid, topic, USA Today