My Love of Coffee Houses

So, I'm off today and I definitely got Steam downloaded on the new computer and spent a little too much time playing TF2 this evening. At least it's my day off, right?

I love coffee shops, but I don't like coffee. That statement kind of reminds me of those word games - "I like cheese, but not milk. I like dinner, but not lunch." Now, when I say coffee shops, I'm not talking about Starbucks or Java City. When I visit those places, it's very clear that the customers are there for their morning/afternoon joe and maybe to pilfer the wifi. What I do mean by coffee shop is the hole-in-the-wall spot run by a couple of middle-aged environmentalists, and the food selection includes 50 types of tea and homemade scones and lemon tarts.

One thing that I really like about coffee shops is the vibe or the atmosphere. It's usually more relaxed than a restaurant because you can just order a drink and sit at a table for hours (provided it's not jam packed). I do enjoy peoplewatching at coffee shops and it's cool to see the 'regulars' talk about anything and everything and the thing that brought these strangers together was the cup in their hand. Of course, each place can have a different vibe. For example, there was a coffee shop right by my college res hall called Mapps. It felt very open and bright. To contrast, there was another place right across the street called Hard Times Cafe. As the name implies, it wasn't specifically a coffee house, but I kind of think of it that way because it still fits under the umbrella. The menu at Hard Times is almost all or completely vegan and they have many different types of drinks outside of the standard black coffee. I wouldn't say that Hard Times felt dark and confined, but it felt... different. Certainly different from Mapps. Not sure if this makes sense to anyone else, but if I ever needed to brood, Hard Times would be where you would find me.

A good coffee shop realizes that it is part food establishment and part hangout zone. Many places I've been to will have board games to bring to your table and comfy couches and squishy chairs for those longer visits. One spot in my hometown (fittingly named The Cabin) has a small stage permanently set up for musical performances and poetry slams. When I visited a friend in Minnesota a couple of years ago, we went to a shop and played chess with a respectable board and pieces (no crummy plastic here).

Sadly, as I mentioned in the 15 Truths post, two of my favorite places in town closed down, which did include a coffee shop. I can't say that I was there much, but it definitely had a welcoming atmosphere. The shop was also a store/mini-museum for antiques and used books, so it definitely was niche-y. From what I remember, one of the main baristas moved to Omaha to start up a new chapter in her life and the owners were tough to find a replacement, because this woman knew everyone. (She even remembered me after only being there once.) Then, the building next door caught on fire and the coffeeshop hasn't opened up since then. It's sad, to say the least.

One of the reasons I like coffee shops is the type of people that you see there. Coffee houses can attract very creative people and their off-the-wall thinking can flower in the more relaxed environment. Thinking back to Hard Times again, there was one college friend that definitely fit in perfectly there. She always carried a little notebook filled with sketches and random drawings. At times, I think she was apprehensive to have other people see her work, but in my opinion, she was/is a marvelous artist. I was thinking about having today's entry be about the creative people I've known in my life, but the coffee shops seemed like a good jumping off point. Maybe I'll come back to that later on.

Another amazing thing about a good coffee shop is what they have to offer. If I would go into a Starbucks, I feel like my drink choices would be pretty limited (since I don't like the taste of coffee), but the good coffee shops have so many kinds of tea and juices. This winter break, I had lunch with a college friend and when we were done eating, we just sat there and drank tea and talked for hours. It was amazing! To give you some details, the tea I fell in love with was Montana Gold, which had rooibus, cinnamon, orange, and cloves in it.

So yeah, I really like coffee houses. When I leave this position, I do want to move somewhere that's close to a coffee house. Who knows, I might even become a regular some day.