I can walk into several coffeehouses and be greeted by my first name. That feels good. 🙂 I also know several of them by name. At some locations I can even have the baristas call out and say, ‘The usual, Monte?” These young people and the coffeehouse can easily become an extended family. We will almost always have some sort of conversation whether started by them or me, asking questions such as, “How was your weekend?” or “What have you planned for the day?” I find it comforting when they let me know I’m a person and not just a customer with money in his wallet.
They are a community. As I sip on my mocha latte I look around the coffeehouse. Every coffeehouse has piped music. Sometimes the music can be enjoyable and sometimes quite annoying or loud. The baristas, as well as the customers, all have a ritual, their own routine. There are all ages of baristas and customers. You’ll find the student working on homework, professors from campus grading papers between classes, business people on the way to the office and retirees like me. You can have a simple cup of coffee or one of the foo-foo drinks. Pastries in the display case, a burrito, a bagel and more. So, I consider myself a regular.
I suspect most coffeehouses have WiFi and most customers have a laptop or smartphone. Some customers are doing research, checking news feeds, Facebook, email while enjoying coffee and down time. And, even with piped music many are plugged in to their own music.
People meet in coffeehouses for coffee and conversation, first dates, last dates, business and planning meetings, read a new book or newspaper. Many coffeehouses have local artists displaying their work. Some have local musicians performing on certain nights. One coffeehouse packs it in with a Poetry Slam they put on once a month.
Each has it’s own ambiance, feel. This ambiance is created by the location, decor, the baristas, the owner, the customers and of course the quality of their product.