Its’ aroma, rich taste and comfort from each sip – no wonder its’ a culture that is here to stay.
The aroma, the rich taste and the comfort from each sip – these are just some of the reasons why we love coffee. Unlike any other, coffee has created a culture around itself and is synonymous with relaxation or even good conversation. Let’s see what makes
NOT JUST ANY DRINK
Coffee is not just a caffeinated drink; it is a culture in and of itself. Coffee culture is the social atmosphere that is related to coffee, such as at coffee shops or cafes. Since the late 20th century, social groups ranging from college aged youth to retired adults have congregated around tables and in lounges to drink coffee while they socialise. The caffeine in coffee helps in keeping the conversation going as it is a stimulant.
While the coffee culture can be found all over the world including in rural areas, the most common places to find coffee drinking groups are in metropolitan areas. As a result, there has been an explosion of espresso stands, cafes, and coffee shops that can now be spotted on every street corner in most urban areas. In the United States, the most popular city that has taken a hold in the coffee culture is Seattle, Washington. One reason for this is that Seattle is where the original Starbucks establishment is located, as well as the Starbucks headquarters. However, locals have not settled with the world’s most popular coffee shop as the only coffee spot. Dozens of competitors have cropped up, which has resulted in an overwhelming amount of high quality caffeinated drinks in this northwestern city.
The most common type of coffee served at these social gatherings is espresso because of its high levels of caffeine. While you can quickly drink a shot of black espresso, most people order espresso drinks, such as a latte, cappuccino, or macchiato,
which are mixed with milk or cream, and often flavoured or sweetened. Another popular way to serve espresso drinks and other coffee drinks is to serve these iced using either crushed for a frappe or cubed ice. Consuming iced coffee drinks allows the customer to finish the highly caffeinated drink faster than ever before, as well as providing the drinker with a more intense caffeine experience.
COFFEE CONNECTS?
Oddly enough, coffee is not the only thing that keeps coffee drinkers congregating in public places. The addition of free wireless Internet services at most coffee shops has increased the amount of people who meet at coffee shops on a regular basis. Often students and business professionals visit their local coffee establishments in order to connect to the Wifi, as well as to enjoy a cup of coffee while socialising with one another in person. For the constantly increasing number of professionals who work from home, a visit to a local coffee shop for a cup of coffee is the most consistent way to stay connected with people.
There are other influences that have aided in the creation of the coffee culture. The media has a big role in this cultural phenomenon. One of the first successful TV sitcoms to center around a coffee shop was Friends, where the characters regularly frequented the Central Perk to grab a cup of coffee while gabbing about the latest events. Another popular TV show, Frasier, frequently involved the leading characters meeting up at Café Nervosa for a latte and biscotti, the latter being a dense pastry typically served with coffee. Since then, coffee culture has exploded on television and in movies, with characters sipping coffee from paper cups with well-recognised cardboard cuffs meant to keep the coffee drinker’s hand cool.
A WORLD OF COFFEE
Even though the United States is the leader in the coffee culture, this new fad has spread via globalisation. The next two countries to have the most amount of coffee sales per volume are Germany and Japan, respectively. In the United Kingdom, people have begun trading their tea cups for coffee mugs, as the coffee culture has taken over the British population. As a result, coffee has surpassed tea as the favoured hot beverage of the country. In northern Europe, coffee parties have become a mainstay of the coffee culture, as a way for coffee drinkers to be entertained. Rather than drinking alcoholic beverages, partygoers sip coffee drinks and partake in homemade pastries and cakes. Coffeehouses in Vienna, Austria and the café society of Paris have added sophistication to the mainstream coffee culture.
In Ethiopia, coffee ceremonies are held in the highest esteem. If you are given an invitation to one of these ceremonies, you should note that this is one of the most prestigious events you can attend. Expect this formal social event to last for no less than two hours.
On the other hand, some countries have yet to be influenced by the coffee culture. For example, India, a country that has always had an influence by the British who once controlled it, still prefers to have tea time. Another country that has stuck to its tea time roots is
Japan, where tea ceremonies are an engrained part of the culture.
For those who are wondering how long the coffee culture sensation is going to last, coffee has deep roots in history. Part of the earliest trade industry, along with sugar to go in the coffee, coffee has consistently been represented by royalty, in literature, and now in social culture. It is fair to say that this coffee “phenomenon” is here to stay, which is as comforting as a hot cup of Joe for the millions of coffee lovers worldwide.