More than coffee

Anyone that knows me well knows that I’m a regular visitor of coffee shops.  In fact, I’ve started to write this blog while sitting in a coffee shop!  As I sit and type, I also people watch.  I see that some people have come in with friends or family members while others are sitting alone with a cappuccino and a book.  As I people watch today, I pondered why people visit a coffee shop so here are my top nine reasons.

1. For the coffee – not every coffee shop is the same.  Some make better coffee than others and if you are passionate at coffee, you will prefer to go to a coffee shop with great coffee. 
2. For the food – perhaps you just love the menu or one item on the menu.  It could be their raspberry and white chocolate scones or their French Toast but wherever tickles your tastebuds best is a coffee shop that you will return to.
3. To meet a friend – good coffee and good conversation go together like a hand in a glove.  A coffee shop is a good place to “chew the fat” with a valued friend.
4. To work or study – with free internet, a coffee shop can be a good place to work or to study.  With headphones in the ears and laptop on the table, the coffee shop vibe can stimulate creativity and improve productivity.  For some of my boring work tasks, I find that I am less distracted in a coffee shop rather than working in my home office.
5. To have time out – for some people, a visit to a coffee shop is an opportunity to escape from other pressures in their lives.  Perhaps it’s an opportunity to relax catching up on text messages, reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle.  Maybe it’s a chance to recharge your batteries after a long walk or a shopping expedition. 
6. For company – regular visitors to coffee shops start to get to know staff and vice versa.  For someone living alone, a daily visit to a coffee shop may be the only opportunity for this person to chat to someone in the day. 
7. How COVID friendly it is – some places have tables packed tightly together whereas other coffee shops have more space between tables with good ventilation.  And if you’re a fresh air fiend, a coffee shop with outdoor tables may be the best option for you. 
8. How busy it is – if it is too busy and tables are scarce, it may be that you will opt for a quieter coffee shop.  On the other hand, if it is empty, that’s a bad sign indicating that the food and/or coffee may not be up to scratch.
9. For the customer experience – some coffee shops tick all the boxes from the taste of delicious coffee, the smell of freshly ground coffee beans, comfortable sofas, friendly staff, reliable wifi and a nice atmosphere.  In other words, they get it all right and we like these places so we return time after time.

The next time you visit a coffee shop think about why you are there.  It may be one of these reasons or a combination of them.  Or it might be something completely different – if so, write a comment below.

The Author

Lynda Willis writes blogs about her rambles in nature as well as rambling about topics close to her heart. She is currently training for the Belfast City Marathon Walk in May 2022 and is fundraising for Cancer Focus. If you would like to donate, please click the button below.

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