The 21st Century Coffee Shop
Since the very first coffee houses of the 1600’s the coffee shop has always played an important role in our social lives and more and more coffee houses are appearing in our town and cities. With increasing competition, traditional coffee shops have progressed into slick corporate chains that are decorated both stylishly and elegantly. For many people coffee shops have become a space within which they can relax and unwind but what is the history of these social spaces and why they are such a big part of 21st century life.
In the early days of the coffee shop these meeting places, from which women were banned, were considered to be at the epicentre of social life. All manner of social issues from politics to art, were discussed, debated, and argued about within the coffee shop walls and arguably a great many ideas originated from the unique and diverse conversations that took place in these important institutions. Coffee shops have remained an avenue for information, gossip, and public opinion but other aspects have changed dramatically over the years.
Today the coffee shop has undergone another surge in popularity and is again becoming the fashionable venue for socialisation and relaxation that they once were. On a global scale, individuals from all walks of life gather in these stylish venues to relax with friends, discuss business deals with colleagues, or grab lunch when they do not have much time. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds can be found in commercial coffee houses spread out amongst the large sofas, slick bar stools and comfy armchairs.
Whilst the old generation of coffee shops would have been noisy smoke-filled venues modern day designs have led coffee house owners to select more sophisticated and relaxing atmosphere with sleek minimal décor and a claming neutral feel. The selection of goods that is now available from coffee shops has also increased significantly in recent years with most coffee houses now producing high quality lunch menus including sandwiches, smoothies, wraps and salads alongside a plethora of coffee choices including Espressos, Cappuccinos, Americano’s and traditional coffees.
To coincide with consumer demand for a wider range of products and contemporary ideals to do with style and design, coffee shop chains and small private owners have had to change the overall décor and atmosphere of their enterprises. Gone are the days of small round tables, plastic tablecloths, and coffee served in plastic cups, in their place are sleek wooden tables surrounded by large leather sofas, contemporary matching china that is individual for each menu choice, and finally counter tops that rival any supermarket delicatessen.
The influx of coffee houses has in turn led to an increase in the number of professional shop fitting companies whose primary role is to come up with contemporary yet classic designs for the increasing number of coffee houses. The popularity of coffee shops in the UK has put increased pressure on professional shop fitters to design and manufacture beautiful counter tops. These counter tops not only have to fit in with the overall atmosphere of the shop, but also need to be practical enough to handle the increasing number of products on display and the equipment needed to allow the coffee shop to run smoothly.
The importance of coffee houses in our modern lives thus does not just depend upon the social interaction that occurs within their walls but also upon all the external factors that make them popular. Sometimes the difference between a successful coffee franchise can come down to cosmetic issues so the assistance of professional shop fitting firms should definitely be sought if you are considering opening a café or coffee house.
To summarise then this article has looked at the importance of the coffee shop as both a social space and from the point of view of some of the tradesmen who make these franchises the spaces that they are. So next time you call into your local coffee house be sure to appreciate not only the coffee and the service, but also the workmanship that goes into your caffeine fix.
