Coffeeshops: Why do (or don't) you patronize certain ones?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I am writing a paper for English class in which I compare two local Tucson coffee shops, Bentley’s and Epic Cafe, as commercial spaces. This means that I try to figure out what it is about the coffee shops themselves (the environment, the atmosphere, the way the tables are set up, the music, basically any intentionally created aspect of the shop as a space) that convinces or does not convince people to buy coffee/food/tea/what-have-you. The responses to this thread may or may not be used in my essay. (At the very least, I’m curious about the topic.) If I use them, I plan to include the thread’s URL as a cite in the essay. Just so you know.

For anyone who has a favorite coffee shop, or only a handful of coffee shops they visit, or a certain type they do or don’t visit (for example, not patronizing chain coffee houses): Please tell me why. (For the purposes of this question, I’m asking you to consider chains as one coffee shop each. What I mean to say is that if, for example, the only coffee shops you ever go to are Starbucks, I’d like to know why.)

For those who do not distinguish or discriminate between coffee shops in any way: Why? Why not? Do you feel there is any reason?

For those in Tucson who have visited Bentley’s and/or Epic Cafe: Please tell me why you do or do not frequent these coffee houses, if you feel there is a reason.

2

I don’t patronize Starbucks because all the serve is coffee. Who wants that?

3

There is a coffeehouse called the Broadway Beanery near me. It opened in 1996, and suffered a fire in 2001. Then in April of this year it reopened down the block from where it had been. That place was and is my Cheers; I come in and everyone knows my name. I go back 8 years now with the owners and almost as long with some of the staff. It was nice before, but it’s much bigger and even nicer now. There’s dark wood trim, as are the tables and chairs, and the lighting is dimmed a little. They added a dinner menu and a full bar. Definitely a date place.

The other place I go to sometimes (and did while the BB was out of commission) is called The Cup. That place is fun too, but it’s a very different atmosphere. In the summer they have a smoking section outside. It’s the kind of place that has random mismatched tables and chairs, different color walls - gives off a funky vibe. The staff is very hip, with lots of piercings and visible tats. My friend and I will sometimes go there instead for a change of pace, but mostly I go to the Beanery because that place is home to me.

I think of Starbucks as a quick stop kind of thing, especially since there’s one across the street from my job so sometimes I’ll pick something up on the way in. I don’t think of it as a place I can hang out - there’s something very stiff about it to me.

I hope that helps!

4

Sounds awesome. I’ll have to check it out if I’m ever in the neighborhood.

Outdoor smoking is only available in one season? I knew NY smoking laws were oppressive, but jeez.

Or do you mean that the outdoor section is closed the rest of the year?

I tend to agree. I personally don’t patronize Starbucks mainly because I’d rather know that my money is going into the hands of local entrepeneurs, but another aspect is that they tend to give off that quick-stop vibe. It seems like they’ve been trying to turn themselves more into a hang-out-for-a-while coffee shop, but it doesn’t seem to work.

It does, thanks.

5

I’m not a huge coffee drinker (I likes me some iced mochas, though), but I love coffeeshops all the same. There’s just something about the atmosphere of some of them (not to mention the smell - coffee has one of the more heavenly scents in the world). I like 'em small and not crowded; I’m a sucker for a comfy couch; and I dig the weird vibes some of them have.

Starbucks and PJ’s are fine, but I’d rather go someplace cheaper and more atmospheric if possible. Bay St. Louis in Mississippi has three coffeeshops I go to regularly when I’m there (which is every summer): Cafe Bean, which I think has the best drinks of the three, is never crowded, and which has a great couch and some nifty oversized chairs; Flying Cups and Saucers, which has an fun “alien coffee bean” motif with oddball artwork all over the place; and Da Beach House, which is very casual (it’s also a gift shop) and has the tropical thing going on.

So…local establishments if possible, just because they’re more unique and often less expensive.

6

Usually, when I want coffee, I’ll go to whichever place is nearby. Most shops have at least one sort of coffee I enjoy, and the atmosphere is pretty similar in all of them. I like terraces, plants, comfortable chairs, big tables, smiling staff, and warm colors. It’s good to have the menu choices, prices, and daily specials displayed clearly near the cash so you can make your decisions without having to hold up the line.

The places that are all straight lines and stainless steel don’t appeal to me. I may get a coffee and leave with it, but I would never sit around there with a muffin and the newspaper.

The only ones I will not go to are ones that have very loud music, because I’m usually there to chat with friends or study. Background music is great, but there are a few trendy coffee shops who are aiming for the student market and try to have loud “hip” music playing all the time. And although I am a student, I don’t enjoy that.

Also, if I go to a place and get bad service, I may give them a second try. If I get bad service the second time, I don’t bother going back again.

7

Three reasons I don’t go to Starbucks:

  1. I had something called a Frappucino once and it was the nastiest sludge I’d ever had, barring YooHoo.

  2. They are wildly overpriced.

  3. The coffee at Speedway tastes better.

8

To be honest, the big chains (Starbucks, Java Coffee, Tully’s, Excelsior) generally have much better coffee than the small private coffee shops, at better prices, and with better food.

Most of the tiny coffee shops around Tokyo tend to serve small cups of overheated coffee (no varieties available. Just “coffee”) for $4-$6, in places that aren’t really that comfortable for hanging out. Add in menus with dry toast for $6, and there’s not much going for them other than being convenient places for business meetings on the run. The do also frequently use those double test tube coffee brewers that are fun to watch in action, but that’s about it.

The chains typically are more spacious, have a larger variety, and aren’t nearly as expensive. They’re also a lot more comfortable (Starbucks in particular frequently has several really comfy sofas and easy chairs) and feel friendlier. Often when I’m working on the weekends, I find myself in semi-remote places with several hours to kill, and these shops are great for hanging out and studying or reading.

I think the reason for the difference is that before Starbucks, coffee just wasn’t that big in Japan. Coffee shops were, but only in the sense of being stylish or exotic; the quality of the coffee was a secondary concern at best. Starbucks started a coffee boom that spawned several competing chains and resulted in many supermarkets adding ‘gourmet coffee’ sections. Nowadays the coffee shops have split into two camps: the post-Starbucks shops that have a dozen different varieties and a fairly youthful atmosphere, and the pre-Starbucks shops, usually run and patronized by folks in their 50’s, where the menu is typically just “coffee, ice coffee, tea, toast”. The one thing I can say in their favor is that the folks who run them are usually quite nice, and are often free to chat since the shops are so often empty.

One place that I avoid is Doutor, which is kind of in between the two coffee camps. It’s a little more modern looking than a traditional coffee shop, and the food’s not bad, but it’s still firmly in the “whaddaya mean what kind of coffee? Coffee’s coffee”-mindset. The only sales point they have to boast about is that they allow smoking, while Starbucks, Java, etc. are almost all non-smoking. Since I don’t smoke, that’s less than useful to me.

9

I refuse to go to Starbucks because I don’t feel like people go there to enjoy a good cup of coffee. They go there to chat. In other words, it’s way too trendy for me.

I patronize Dunkin’ Donuts constantly. Perhaps it’s just around here, but DD seems to subscribe to the Burger King ad, “Your way.” They mostly seem to make a real effort to make the coffee just like I like it.

10

I don’t go to Starbucks because it is disgustingly overpriced. I once saw the closest-Starbucks-to-me right after a 2000 Red Mustang convertible had gone through the front window and into the place. “Maybe he should try decaf.”

I like 7-11. Lots of choices, good brew and el cheapo.

11

I don’t drink coffee, and I can’t stand the smell of the stuff (the roasted beans before they’re brewed smell okay, but after that…) or the smell of coffee breath. For that reason I can’t even go to any restaurant for breakfast, as coffee’s about all I can smell. So a coffee shop is about the last place you’ll ever find me, if you’re looking.

12

I love Starbucks’ coffee, but I don’t usually go there because they always have music blaring and there are usually people there yakking AS LOUDLY AS POSSIBLE (they have to talk over the music) on their cell phones. I usually go to a coffee shop because I need a change of venue for work, and it’s hard to think up new ideas in an atmosphere that hardly fosters speaking, much less thinking.

There used to be a different coffee shop around the corner with deep leather chairs to sink into. It was a tiny neighborhood shop. Their coffee was even more overpriced than Starbucks (which isn’t that surprising - lots of smaller coffee shops charge higher prices to stay in business) and it didn’t taste as good, but I went there mostly for the atmosphere. It was nice and quiet and had a feel to it like I could stay all day if I wanted. I loved that.

So, things I love about some coffee shops: comfort, friendliness of staff, ability to relax and be quiet.

Things I hate: loud music, people talking way too loud, both of which I guess could be described as “trendiness,” and that shuffle 'em in, shuffle 'em out feel.

13

I prefer quieter locally owned teashops or coffee houses that have more than Token Teas.

If they’re tied to a locally owned bookshop, even better.

14

Well, this is Cumberland, MD we’re talking about, so there’s not exactly a coffee shop on every corner! There are two that come to mind; one is The Queen City Creamery. It’s mainly an ice cream shop (well, frozen custard shop), but has a nice selection of coffees and flavored syrups to go in them; the prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is predictable, but not objectionable. I like it because I can take the kids there for ice cream, and I can get coffee, and feel like I’m treating myself to something special.

The other place is called The A.M. Grind, and I haven’t been there yet.

By and large, I’d rather buy my coffee at Sheetz (gas station/convenience store); they have a decent selection of coffees, creamers, etc. and because they sell so much coffee, it’s always fresh. About once a year, for a month, Sheetz will sell all of it’s coffee beverages for a penny an ounce. During that month, I get Sheetz coffee every day.

15

I hate Starbucks because of their goal of shutting down every local coffee shop in the world. I refuse to go there. I don’t really drink coffee much, but I do like to hang out in coffee shops. There are a number of nice cafes in my area (Ravenswood neighborhood in Chicago). I like Kopi on Clark (makes me feel like I’m back in Santa Cruz, everything on the menu is vegetarian), The Perfect Cup on Damen, and the one whose name I forget but where they have the stitch n bitch I went to on Wednesday, on Montrose. When I venture farther afield, Intelligentsia on Broadway (Lakeview) is always nice, if crowded, and there’s a tea shop on Armitage in Lincoln Park that is good, if a little…Lincoln Park-y. I usually buy my tea from a shop on Belmont (Lakeview), but the ambience isn’t quite as nice for lounging.

16

I love Chicago, but I’ve only been there once, and I must say that I have absolutely no clue what it means to be Lincoln Park-y. Explain?

17

I generally avoid Starbucks, I think their coffee is burnt tasting, but the wife likes it, so we occasionally get a take out cup from them, we never sit and hang out there don’t really like the atmosphere. If we’re in the neighborhood, we go to a local gourmet coffee shop called Mr Rohr’s, not sure if it’s a chain or not, never seen another one. I much prefer their coffee and it has a wide selection of flavored coffee ready to go, just in case you want something different.

For sit down, there’s a tiny little shop that only serves Illy coffee, can’t recall the name. There’s pretty much never anyone there, just the one lady working. She also bakes and serves great desserty things. She will come over to your tiny table and serve you, there’s nice music in the background, a very pleasant atmosphere to chat over a cup, sort of a European feel. Also for sit down with good food/desserts is DTUT (www.dtut.com) this is a much larger place, with tons of couches and easy chairs, fun menu of sandwiches and fondues and s’mores, free wireless internet. The coffee is only average, but the atmosphere rocks, the place is always pretty busy and fun. I had my wedding there :wink:

18

I go to Starbucks because they are non-smoking. I’m not one who lingers forever at a coffee shop. Still, they’re nice to relax in during winter. Columbus, OH isn’t exactly known for a coffeehouse scene. Scottie McBeans was ok, but too crowded. It served as the meeting place for the Dean supporters earlier this year and tended to host a lot of meet ups. It closed recently. I’ve been to Cup a Joe a couple of times, but have never lived close to one.

19

We’ve got three “major” locally-owned coffee shops on Providence’s East Side. One is Ocean State Roasters (I think that’s what it’s called), but I’ve only gone there a couple times since it’s kind of downstairs and pretty basic. Another one, Reflections, is gay and so am I, but it’s got these 80’s-looking mauve scumbled walls that give me the creeps. The place I like best is the Coffee Exchange, which is more of an old-time coffee house – wood walls that they let you post flyers and posters on, small tables, and excellent coffee and desserts. And they have a nice big deck which is a great place to hang out in good weather.

I’m not mentioning Starbucks because I don’t care for the atmosphere or the coffee, and I’m not familiar enough with the coffeehouses in other parts of town to comment on them.

20

My favorite coffeeshop is an independent one, near the university campus. Their coffee is not particularly good, but they serve a wide variety of sandwiches, soups, and desserts which are quite nice. What is good about this place is that it has “culture”: it is owned by three Turkish men, whose Turkish relatives are always around, and it is the place you go if you want to find the Arab student association smoking hookas, a hippie playing CCR on his guitar, a chess game in progress, or people speaking any language (there are language “fads” there, interestingly enough. Brazilian Portuguese is big right now). The tables have pictures by local artists under their glass, the walls feature monthly exhibitions, and every Saturday night they have Open Mic. The Open Mic actually irritates me, because it is impossible to hold a conversation indoors–you have to go to the garden. Oh yes, they have outdoor seating! A plus!

When I want a cup of tasty coffee, I go to Starbucks.