The Draw of the Coffee Shop

Why do people love coffee shops? If you’re like me you walk past several each day. You see the people inside and feel a little jealous. If you’re really like me you’ll remember there’s free coffee at home or at work and keep on walking. But every once in a while, or maybe every day, you’ll go inside and indulge.

Everybody knows about the huge success of Starbucks and there are hundreds of other chains all making money out of the same concept. If you’re lucky you’ll even find a friendly independent place nearby.

But what is it about coffee shops that has us hooked? There are of course many reasons why coffee shops are popular: good coffee, a place to meet friends, a place to watch the world go by, somewhere to relax and read.

But there’s one reason I’ve noticed in myself and suspect of others: it feels good. The coffee shops are selling a lifestyle, a cafe culture. I find it hard to define, but it’s an intangible sense of well-being, a warmness blended with a sense that you’re an important person who deserves this little indulgence in your busy life.

Do we want other people to see us and think we’re cool, important or successful? I rather suspect that in some cases we do. Where’s my evidence? All I have is that I’ve felt all of those things in connection with coffee shops.

It’s extremely clever marketing. It’s effectively giving people a way to spend money to feel good about themselves and even to pose. That’s not a concept unique to coffee shops, but I find they execute it particularly well.

The question here is: does any of this matter? Well, the so-called ‘latte factor’ can be hazardous to your wealth. Excessive caffeine can be hazardous to your health. But those are extremes. In general it’s an easy and not too expensive way to feel good.

Maybe you’ll ponder just what it is that draws you in next you’re quietly sipping something at the coffee shop.

photo credit: Dave Austria

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