As I sat talking with friends the other day we got into a discussion about coffee. Not the drink itself, specifically, but the increasing prevalence of coffee houses.
It seems completely normal now to walk down
any high street in the UK and be confronted by an array of hot drink hot spots
– the chain stores of Starbucks, Costa and Café Nero but also, more and more,
artisan, independent, coffee houses (or not, in the case of Harris and Hoole).
It’s hardly surprising that coffee has become
so accessible- in the increasingly fast paced working environment how anyone
gets by without at least 5 caffeine hits a day is beyond me! What seems strange,
when you get to think about it, is the social aspect of it.
I could spend hours, happily reading a
book, scribbling notes and browsing the Internet in my favourite Starbucks.
Yes, I have a favourite. I’m that sad. (It’s the one on Conduit Street).
But, in what other circumstance would you
sit on a cosy sofa, nursing a steaming skinny cappuccino in a room full of
complete strangers? You’re basically sat in an artificial lounge or kitchen. A
homely, warm environment, created purely for you to have a hot drink and
leisurely chat with friends or do a bit of work.
Unlike restaurants, there’s no time limit
to your stay. You don’t see green aproned employees shifting you out of
Starbucks once you’ve sucked dry your Frappuccino. You can waste HOURS, aimlessly meandering on
your MacBook Pro (has to be Apple , like, duh).
The particularly cool and hip coffee houses
(check out ‘The Independent Coffee Book, London’ for some good ones) are decked
out to give the impression of an artsy, bohemian studio. Fashion, photography
and travel books abound, graphic prints hang on the walls, projectors stream
the latest indie films (or retro ‘80s movies/‘90s TV shows)… They’re hubs for
young (and older) creatives looking for a safe haven to read the Sunday papers
and write their blogs.
Long live the coffee lounge. We couldn’t
survive without you.
Street Coffee Goswell Road
Photo courtesy of the amazing BF
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