Medium Cafe Bag in Ursa (brown-grey) Ballistic with Moss 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Ursa (brown-grey) Ballistic with Moss 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Burnt Orange Ballistic Medium Cafe Bag in Burnt Orange 525 Ballistic with Sangria (dark red with light red grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Burnt Orange 525 Ballistic with Dusk (greyish-purple with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Burnt Orange 525 Ballistic with Mountain Grey (grey with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Coyote (sand brown) Ballistic Medium Cafe Bag in Coyote (sand brown) Ballistic with a Mountain Grey 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic with Moss 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic with Mountain Grey (grey with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic with Moss 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Constellation (light blue) 630 Ballistic Medium Cafe Bag in Constellation (light blue) 630 Ballistic with Mountain Grey 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic with Cobalt 210 Cerylon Medium Cafe Bag in Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic with Cobalt 210 Cerylon Reverse shot of the Medium Cafe Bag in Wilderness (forest green) 525 Ballistic with Cloud (grey with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with Moss 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with Moss 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with Dusk 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with Dusk 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with Marigold 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with Marigold 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with Persimmon 210 Cerylon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with a grey label Medium Cafe Bag in Black Ballistic with a Mountain Grey interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Aubergine Ballistic with Dusk 210 Cerylon Medium Cafe Bag in Aubergine (dark purple) 525 Ballistic with Dusk (greyish-purple with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Aubergine (dark purple) 525 Ballistic with Mountain Grey (grey with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Nebulous (medium) Grey Ballistic Medium Cafe Bag in Nebulous (medium) Grey Ballistic with Marigold 210 Cerylon Medium Cafe Bag in Nebulous (medium) Grey Ballistic with Cobalt 210 Cerylon The Medium Cafe Bag in Mars Red Ballistic. The Medium Cafe Bag in Mars Red Ballistic with Mountain 210 Ceryon interior. The Medium Cafe Bag in Mars Red Ballistic with Dusk 210 Ceryon interior. Medium Cafe Bag in Cloud (light) Grey Ballistic Medium Cafe Bag in Cloud (light) Grey Ballistic with Mountain Grey 210 Cerylon Medium Cafe Bag in Saguaro 630 Ballistic Medium Cafe Bag in Saguaro 630 Ballistic with Sangria (dark red with light red grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Saguaro 630 Ballistic with Persimmon (dark orange with light orange grid) 210 Cerylon interior Medium Cafe Bag in Raspberry (pale red) Ballistic Medium Cafe Bag in Raspberry (pale red) Ballistic with Moss 210 Cerylon interior. A Medium Cafe Bag in Night Walk (blue-grey with grey grid) 400 Halcyon with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior A person using their Medium Cafe Bag at a cafe. A person using their Medium Cafe Bag at a cafe. A person with the Medium Cafe Bag while reading an e-reader. An example loadout for a Medium Cafe Bag. A Medium Cafe Bag
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The go-everywhere medium messenger bag.

8.5 liters / 520 cu. in.

Looking for the Small Cafe Bag or the Large Cafe Bag?
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$51.00 - 10A (10.5" 2021 iPad/ iPad Air/Pro)
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TLDR

The Medium Café Bag is our timeless crossbody bag with a distinctive asymmetrical flap that is designed to help you carry and organize your everyday gear. Like the name says, this bag is perfect for any trips to the café, whether for work or just to chill with a cup of coffee, but this bag is also ideal for daily use and travel. 

  • Perfect for an iPad Air, water bottle, and small journals and books
  • Main compartment with 4 organizer pockets and 3 O-rings
  • Front zippered pocket to secure important items
  • Slanted open-top pocket in the back for quick-access items

Think the Medium Café Bag is too small for you? Check out our Large size Café Bag. Want to size down? Check out our Small size Café Bag. 

Full Description

Main Compartment

Under the asymmetrical flap is an open-top main compartment. It's a good space for a medium-size tablet, e-reader, books, water bottle, or foldable jacket.

On the front interior wall, you'll find four organizer pockets. One of the pockets is sized to fit your iPhone or a Nik's Minimalist Wallet and the three other pockets are sized for pens.

The main compartment has three O-rings, with an 8" Key Strap attached to one. The Key Strap is useful for tethering on your house or car keys as well as our organizers, such as the Cubelet or Ghost Whale Organizer Pouch.

Front Zippered Pocket

On the front exterior of the main compartment, behind the asymmetrical flap, there is a zippered pocket that spans the width and height of the bag. Inside you will find one O-ring. It's an ideal pocket for storing items that you want to keep extra secure, like your wallet, passport, or other small items. It closes with a #8 YKK zipper.

Slanted Slip Pocket in the Back

The back of the Medium Café Bag has a slanted slip pocket, under a handy grab handle. It allows for easy storage and quick access to papers, phone, a small notebook, and anything that is relatively flat.

How to Carry the Medium Café Bag

The Medium Café Bag is designed to be carried as an over-the-shoulder crossbody bag. It comes with a sewn-on 1.5" shoulder strap made of high quality U.S. webbing produced specifically for us.

Please note: Because it is sewn on, the strap cannot be swapped out for another shoulder strap. From our experience, the 1.5" shoulder strap is sufficient for a bag of this capacity.

Small, unobtrusive webbing loops on the left and right sides of the bag allow you to add an optional removable waist strap to the Medium Café Bag to stabilize the bag against your body while you're riding a bike. 

What's Included

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap

As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

What's Optional

Freudian Slip

Love organizing and want even more pockets? The Medium Café Bag Freudian Slip can add 11 additional organizational pockets to your bag. One side of the Freudian Slip has a zippered pocket and two open-top pockets, one in expandable mesh; magazines, an iPad or iPad Air, papers or notebooks fit great in those pockets (they’re a bit small for file folders). The other side has two open-top mesh pockets that can fit bulky stuff: snacks, power supplies, and charging cords. Above the mesh pockets are four pen slots and one tools/flashlight pocket; there’s also a pocket for a phone, big or small.

10A Cache

The 10A Cache is sized for iPad Airs / Pros and will provide your tablet with extra protection. Put it inside the Freudian Slip or directly into the Medium Café Bag.

Gatekeeper Hip Belt

Attach a hip belt to the unobtrusive webbing loops on the back side of the Medium Café Bag to stabilize the bag against your body when you're riding a bike.

Under the asymmetrical flap is an open-top main compartment. It's a good space for a medium-size tablet, e-reader, books, water bottle, or foldable jacket.

On the front interior wall, you'll find four organizer pockets. One of the pockets is sized to fit your iPhone or a Nik's Minimalist Wallet and the three other pockets are sized for pens.

The main compartment has three O-rings, with an 8" Key Strap attached to one. The Key Strap is useful for tethering on your house or car keys as well as our organizers, such as the Cubelet or Ghost Whale Organizer Pouch.

On the front exterior of the main compartment, behind the asymmetrical flap, there is a zippered pocket that spans the width and height of the bag. Inside you will find one O-ring. It's an ideal pocket for storing items that you want to keep extra secure, like your wallet, passport, or other small items. It closes with a #8 YKK zipper.

The back of the Medium Café Bag has a slanted slip pocket, under a handy grab handle. It allows for easy storage and quick access to papers, phone, a small notebook, and anything that is relatively flat.

The Medium Café Bag is designed to be carried as an over-the-shoulder crossbody bag. It comes with a sewn-on 1.5" shoulder strap made of high quality U.S. webbing produced specifically for us.

Please note: Because it is sewn on, the strap cannot be swapped out for another shoulder strap. From our experience, the 1.5" shoulder strap is sufficient for a bag of this capacity.

Small, unobtrusive webbing loops on the left and right sides of the bag allow you to add an optional removable waist strap to the Medium Café Bag to stabilize the bag against your body while you're riding a bike. 

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap

As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

Freudian Slip

Love organizing and want even more pockets? The Medium Café Bag Freudian Slip can add 11 additional organizational pockets to your bag. One side of the Freudian Slip has a zippered pocket and two open-top pockets, one in expandable mesh; magazines, an iPad or iPad Air, papers or notebooks fit great in those pockets (they’re a bit small for file folders). The other side has two open-top mesh pockets that can fit bulky stuff: snacks, power supplies, and charging cords. Above the mesh pockets are four pen slots and one tools/flashlight pocket; there’s also a pocket for a phone, big or small.

10A Cache

The 10A Cache is sized for iPad Airs / Pros and will provide your tablet with extra protection. Put it inside the Freudian Slip or directly into the Medium Café Bag.

Gatekeeper Hip Belt

Attach a hip belt to the unobtrusive webbing loops on the back side of the Medium Café Bag to stabilize the bag against your body when you're riding a bike.

Materials

Zippers

1x #8 YKK coil zipper (front pocket)

Shoulder Strap

Nylon webbing shoulder strap and handle

Components

Duraflex®, Nexus, and Woojin buckles and related components

Specs

Dimensions

10.4" x 11.8" x 6.3" / 265mm x 300mm x 160mm

Weight

14.5 oz / 410 grams

Volume

8.5 liters / 520 cu. in. (ASTM Standard Measure)

Strap Length

1.5" / 38 mm shoulder strap extends to 54" / 1.3 m

Total O-Ring

 4 (3 in the main compartment; 1 in the front zippered pocket)

4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
Based on 517 reviews
95%would recommend this product
517 reviews
  • David
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Durable
    10 hours ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Durable
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Does what it says it will

    I've been using my Medium Cafe bag for more than a year, and people still comment on my 'new bag' because the fabric has maintained that brand-new look - and seems like it will do so for a long time. In fact, I'd never heard of Tom Bihn (they're rare in Australia) until I commented on a friend's new travel bag - she said "Oh it's not new - I've been using this bag all over the world for over 15 years!'

    So, the materials and construction are incredibly durable.

    The Medium Cafe turned out to be a bit too small for several of my applications (my mistake, not the bag's fault) so I've just ordered a Maker's Bag which will work better when I'm toting a camera, some lenses, a flute and maybe a waterproof jacket. But the Cafe Bag has been a satisfying purchase.

    I have just one quibble with the design: I use the small internal pockets for pens, my glasses, small notebook etc. These tend to get caught on larger items I'm stuffing in, like a jacket or bundle of books, and removing such items often flips my glasses or pen onto the ground. Why not put the pockets for small items in the smaller zipped section on the front of this bag? That would be more practical for my applications.

  • Kristi G.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Versatile, Great Gift
    4 days ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Versatile, Great Gift
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Perfect for travel

    Great little bag for traveling/ day trips / running errands. So well made and will last forever. Love my Tom Bihn bags!

  • Stacy B.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, Durable
    4 days ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, Durable
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Nice and Big!

    I have previously used the small cafe bag for traveling. I decided to try the medium size as we I am switching to using a Techonaut 30 backpack instead of a roller bag. I like the larger size. The quality is excellent. Easy, quick access with no zipper underneath the flap to access contents in the main compartment. I also like the wider strap--it doesn't hurt my shoulder like the thinner straps can sometimes do.

  • Michael N.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, Compact, Good Storage Size
    4 days ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, Compact, Good Storage Size
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Great bag

    Works well for my “every day carry” to office. Accommodates the occasional need to stuff my laptop: I don’t mind that it sticks out and the top flap remains open. I’d like a grab handle inside the bag for use when the bag is open. Olive color is great and like other Bihn bags I’ve had, it’s made seriously well. Would recommend!

  • Barbara M.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Good Storage Size, High Quality Finishings
    5 days ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Good Storage Size, High Quality Finishings
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Not for me, lucky for her!

    A bit too big for me, but perfect for my daughter who carries a book and a large waterbottle everywhere she goes. I’ve passed it to her and bought myself a Rogue Sacoche, which is a bit smaller and just right for me.

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Sewn in Seattle

Our bags are designed and sewn right here in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

That allows us to be control freaks in the best way possible; we have direct control and oversight of the quality of our materials, our products, and the jobs and working environment that we help create. It also offers us a unique spontaneity: when we have an idea for a new product or accessory, we can design it, figure out how to build it, add it to our website and be ready to ship it out our front door all within just a few weeks. How cool is that?

Intrigued? You can find out more about the unusual way we do business on our Company Philosophy page.

THE BIHN Guarantee

Everything you buy from us here at TOM BIHN is satisfaction guaranteed. We’ve been in business since 1972 and we stand behind what we make.

If something goes wrong and it's our fault, we'll fix it for free. Repairs due to normal wear and tear or due to other things that are not our fault will be performed, when possible, at a reasonable charge right here in our Seattle factory where your bag was made. Defects in materials or workmanship are uncommon and almost always evident while the product is still new. Keep in mind that bags and packs are often subject to extreme wear in everyday use: do not expect them to last forever. Only true love lasts forever! You can expect a TOM BIHN product to give years and years of hard service.

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