I like coffee. And I like coffee shops.

 

I’m not sure what it is about them exactly, but I enjoy spending time in coffee shops. Well, there are many things, actually. Chiefly though, I suppose I like the pace of things in a coffee shop. It’s slow.

 

People generally are patient in line--and oftentimes they’re willing to wait in rather long queues. After obtaining their hot drink, those who do, dress their coffees with care. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen someone hastily and carelessly slop spices and cream in their coffee. On the contrary, mixing ingredients into a coffee is a delicate task; people are meticulous about yielding the optimal colour and flavour, however they define them.

 

Some will leave the shop immediately with their drinks; others will remain. The latter folk take seats, caress their cups, and linger. Some will eventually rejoin the queue for another cup. Others do not, yet they linger all the same.

 

They read, engage in quiet study, people watch, or participate in lively conversation.

 

I often think that conversation in a coffee shop is much richer than it otherwise would have been. People are more accommodating when listening, more thoughtful when speaking, and more generous with their time. This is the place for topics to get explored in deep, meaningful ways.

 

This is the venue where relationships forge.

 

I’m often within the bounds of coffee shops, whether by design or servicing a whim. I probably drink too much coffee as a consequence, but it’s a small price to pay (literally) for a diversion from the everyday.