How can I buy a cup of coffee with LN if I don't already have a channel open?

[cryptoking555]

Hi. I'm a newbie when it comes to the Lightning Network. So say I want to buy a cup of coffee with BTC while I am travelling to a different country. But I don't have any LN channels open yet. The coffee store accepts LN payment.

I want to buy a cup of coffee just this one time at this coffee shop because I am travelling. I will never buy coffee at this shop again after I leave the country. How much would the transaction fees cost me? Would I have to open a LN channel for the current transaction cost of $30 to send BTC just to buy a cup coffee? Do I pay another $30 to close the LN channel when I am done buying my cup of coffee?

[calvinweight]

I believe how it works, is you would have channels open with many other people or companies. Hopefully one of those channels has an open channel already with the coffee store. Then you can transact without opening and closing the channel. If no one does, then you open the channel and others can buy coffee through your channel and you can collect small fees for having the channel open.

[Rath_]

Unfortunately, you won't be able to spend your money if you don't have any channel open. Lightning Network was designed to handle small transactions. The only thing you have to do is to find a LN node which has a lot of opened channels and has connection to other popular nodes. Your transaction will be routed through other channels for a small fee which is usually a couple of satoshis.

[coinycoiny]

Use cash.

Your server is on minimum wage and could do without this crap and might appreciate a tip.

[odolvlobo]

In a way, opening a channel is like buying a prepaid debit card. You pay a bunch of money up front and then spend it wherever LN is accepted.

[HashieNewb]

In a way, opening a channel is like buying a prepaid debit card. You pay a bunch of money up front and then spend it wherever LN is accepted.

When that thing starts to process payments, many people here think that the price of Bitcoin will go up.