Coffee Shops

Why are some coffee shops so successful? Yes, good coffee makes a difference, but there is another element that is often overlooked – they provide an atmosphere that is conducive to reading and comfortable conversation. This concept is particularly notable in Europe where coffee shops are sprinkled throughout cities and villages.

Italy is a notable exception where the coffee “bars” are set up to deliver the quick caffeine pop to be inhaled on one’s way to and from somewhere. In fact, since this ritual is accomplished while standing, there is little emphasis on comfort – the kind that is needed if one were to settle in for an hour or two.

In the USA, much of the success of various franchises is due to their ability to lure people in with comfy chairs and clever allotment of space which is friendly to casual discourse, and other stores, especially independent shops, have followed suit in even comfier fashion. Quite simply, this atmosphere can be an important catalyst for productive thought, friendship and, on occasion, mental therapy.

We live in Key West (one full time and three long time snow birds) and most winter days we visit the Coffee Plantation at about 10:30 AM where our cluster of cronies meets to discuss and solve the world’s problems. This ritual started when our friend Joel and John met on the porch four years ago. Quickly they realized that their thinking was on the same wave-length and agreed to meet every morning that was convenient. Others of our group hearing these conversations began joining in and we soon collected a group of regulars.

The participants have included, off and on, a history professor, a biochemist, an art collector/dealer, writers, a music therapist, artists, an actor, a cab driver, a real estate agent, 2 nurses, a nurse midwife, a business consultant, and a physician. Although the average age of the group has put it in the Medicare category, the range has been quite wide.

Our discussions often have been lively since we have a mix of liberals and conservatives. Since they are conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect, things never have gotten nasty. For added spice it has been common for a group member to show up with an item to rebut or embellish on something that was discussed the day before. We don’t know how often opinions have been changed, but we can honestly say that our knowledge bases have been expanded in areas into which we never thought we would stray. Many in our group have said that the hour or so spent together has been the high point of their day, and this would not have happened had it not been for the simple existence of the coffee shop.

The dynamic of the group has changed somewhat because Joel has died, but we soldier on with new members – to solve more of the world’s problems. Just before he died he said he wanted to write a piece on “the merits of a coffee shop”. So we are doing it for him in the hope that someone reading this will seek out his/her own coffee shop – and perhaps be lucky enough to meet someone like Joel.

John Hobbins

Jerry Rabe

Albert Roberts

Rick Skwiot

Tom Mosser