SAN FRANCISCO — Silicon Valley has no shortage of coffee shops where sleep-starved programmers and entrepreneurs sit hunched over laptop computers and talk about ideas for launching the next Google or Facebook. Now a giant tech company is opening its own cafe for the same clientele.

German software maker SAP is hoping to draw a walk-in crowd of techies — and perhaps raise its own profile — by selling high-end coffee with a side of free Wi-Fi and programming advice. It’s opening a cafe this week inside a former cinema in downtown Palo Alto, Calif. The spot is near a slew of tech startups, Stanford University, and the headquarters of Facebook Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., and several venture capital firms that invest in new companies.

While many companies operate employee cafes, most aren’t open to the public. SAP, which sells software to big corporations, said patrons at the new HanaHaus cafe won’t necessarily be SAP employees or SAP’s usual customers.

Instead, SAP’s Sanjay Shirole says he wants to foster a creative environment where anyone can sip coffee, swap ideas, or pound their computer keyboards alongside others “who share a passion for technology.” SAP is partnering with gourmet coffee retailer Blue Bottle to sell refreshments. Mr. Shirole describes the operation as a sort of community center, with free seating for anyone who buys coffee or food. The cafe will also offer an auditorium and rentable work space for groups or individuals who want to reserve seats for an extended time. He’s also promising a desk where SAP engineers and independent consultants will offer free advice on software design or similar topics.

SAP has about 4,000 employees in Silicon Valley — mostly based in a suburban office park away from the bustle of downtown Palo Alto.

First Published March 18, 2015, 4:00 a.m.