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The Cultures That Exist Inside Coffee Shops

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Introduction
I will be looking at the cultures that exist inside coffee shops. In particular, I will be contrasting the culture that exists within chain coffee shops, such as Starbucks, with those present in smaller independently owned shops. When getting coffee, I usually go to Starbucks because it is convenient. However, I know a few individuals who would rather support small locally owned shops. Additionally, whenever I have actually gone to an independently owned shop, I never actually stayed in the shop while drinking. Therefore, I thought it would be an interesting experience to spend time in both a chain shop and an independent shop.
When I envision the type of people who frequent independent shops, quirky is the word that comes to …show more content…

They may be more likely to be willing to sit in closer proximity to each other than patrons in Starbucks. I anticipate that Starbucks patrons came to the shop with a plan, and are much less likely to deviate from that plan than individuals in the local shop. Therefore, they may be less receptive to unexpected social interaction. In both establishments, I will be paying close attention to the social behaviors of the customers.
Cultural Background Research
Throughout history, coffee has played an important role in cultures all around the world. The café society, which developed in England and France between 1680 and 1730, served as cultural exchange by bringing together poets, musicians and artists (Lyons, 2005). To this day, writers and graphic designers can be seen working in coffee shops across the county. Additionally, coffee shops have long been considered a place for intellectual and political discussion ( Blank & Vooren, 2007). Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that during the specialty coffee boom of the 1970’s, company’s like Starbuck’s began to expand into neighborhoods close to museums, colleges, and art galleries ( Lyons, 2005). In short, coffee shops have a long history of attracting intellectual and creative individuals.
Coffee shops fall into the category of “third places”. These are places that people go to escape the stresses of home life and work (Blank &

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