I once worked in a coffee shop. That was a great season of connectedness and ministry for me. At times I joke that I left the ministry to work for the church. Something special is happening in coffee shops and other “third places” today. Some people come to work remotely on their laptops, some simply sit over a cup of coffee waiting for a conversation and some meet friends to catch up on the latest happenings. I am fascinated by coffee shops, and I find them to be an ideal place to write, read and think. The noise of conversation and espresso machines is actually a melody of the rhythms of life and community for me and many others.
This is the last post in my three-part series on coffee. Here are some opinions from people who live and breathe the smell of coffee beans on the last question in the series.
What are people searching for in coffee shops?
YEMI: Cafe co-owner & Community Developer
Creativity, Collaboration, Connectivity, and Community.
TYLER: Cafe manager, coffee educator, competitive barista.
Some people are looking for a place to be known. They go to a specific cafe because the baristas and other regulars know who they are. I have customers who have told me I am their best friend and their mentor simply as their barista. Other people are looking for a comfortable place. Comfortable enough to meet a friend or a stranger, a comfortable place to get work done, or a comfortable place to be alone. Whatever the reason is, they are searching for comfort outside of their home. Lastly, there are people who are searching for exceptional coffee. As the culture is growing and people are becoming more educated, people are passionately searching for exceptional coffee.
SEAN: Author, urban expert and coffee bon vivant
To connect with a community, to find a creative and stimulating place to work, and to enjoy coffee. There’s always an assortment of people frequenting coffee shops … those who go there to work (i.e. telecommuting) and those who socialize. And due to frequency there ends up being a bit of a community that develops. Familiar faces. Simple conversations. Whether people are using the coffee shop for work or socializing, it becomes a vehicle for community to happen in.
VINNIE: Coffee shop manager
I see a large desire for people to connect with their city. People are also asking for what is roasted in their city and what food was made here in town. In some ways people are searching for a marketplace where they can enjoy and appreciate the best of what is around them all in one place. There is something about the smallness of it all that makes them feel part of something much bigger.