A world where everyone is glued to his or her screen and cut apart by busy schedules is becoming difficult to get the real face to face locations. Amazingly, coffee bars are responding to the challenge and are transforming into essential community playing fields where chat is as free as the coffee.

Caffeine Fix: More Than a Caffeine Fix

The coffee shops were considered to be just a source of quick cups of espresso as well as a fuel during the grind of the day through the years. However, their place in society has changed today. Enter your local cafe and you will probably see people working remotely, at their laptops, or people socializing, having a coffee together and enjoying a cappuccino, or groups of students deep in conversation over study notes.

Coffeehouses are now casual gathering places — open, inviting, and comfortable. Other restaurants require a commitment to a full meal or bars that are centered around drinking alcohol, but coffee houses provide a middle ground. Depending on whether you're just dropping by for five minutes or hanging out for hours, no pressure is felt — just a comfortable seat and a good cup of coffee. 

The Emergence of Third Spaces

Sociologists have long discussed the idea of "third spaces" — social environments apart from home (first space) and workplace (second space). Coffee shops are the quintessential fit. They provide a midway point where anyone can meet, share thoughts, or just bask in a sense of community.

These are niches that are fulfilled in most communities, especially cities. There is a reduced number of public spaces and as such the coffee houses provide the space of book clubs, informal business meetings, the meeting place of artists, and the get together of the community. The subconscious of background speech, tinkling glasses and the aroma of fresh beans being ground up make the shop an inviting place to hang out and socialize. 

Technology and the Coffee Culture Blend

Interestingly, the development of coffee shops as community spaces comes hand in hand with innovation in coffee technology. Today's consumers are more educated and enthusiastic about their coffee than they have ever been. They are concerned with the beans, the brewing method, and the equipment used to make their cup.

This has brought about a rise in the premium coffee machines at home and in the cafes. Jura S8 or other companies have disrupted the takeout coffee experience by allowing one to make barista-quality coffee by simply pressing a button at home. The Jura S8, with its sleek lines and prestige functions, has gained popularity among coffee consumers who have decided to acquire café-quality coffee without the need to step out of their living rooms.

However, the coffee shops cannot be discredited despite the increasing high-tech in home brewing. The gossip of other people, the tune of the music and belonging to a common place just can not be bought, even with the most sophisticated coffee machine.

Shopping Local, Shopping Independent

The other way in which coffee shops are becoming the center of the community is by the support of the local economy. Small coffee shops are more likely to patronize the local bakeries, roasters and artists as the first choice. Walls that are covered with local art or posters hung up with neighbourhood activities do not seem out of place.

While doing so, these cafés serve as something greater than a drink stop; they become a stage for local artists and an impetus for local economies. They add vitality to communities and frequently lead the charge in community improvement.

A Space for Everyone

Coffee shops as the new community centers, are special because they are inclusive. They can be students, entrepreneurs, retirees, parents, and tourists, as coffee shops are available to everybody, unlike some social places accessible to particular groups and memberships in others. And no matter whether you want to be there to work, relax, meet, or just people-watch, you represent the string.

Moreover, coffee houses allow escape into the real world. Ordering coffee in a more virtual world, looking into the eyes of a barista, having a meal with a complete stranger, people can only be reminded about human interaction.

Conclusion: A Coffee Brewery That Brews Not Only Coffee

The next time you visit your favourite coffee joint, pause to consider how you use the space beyond assuming that it only serves coffee. It is a workplace, a creating space, a meeting point and most importantly, a second home. As the speed of life and the more frequent disunity, coffee shops, with their intimate setting and familiar hum of activity, have become the modern-day community meeting places.

Coffee is something more than a drink, whether you prefer to score a bestseller in your home brew with a Jura S8 or taste a latte in your corner coffee shop. It is a rite, a Japanese conversation opener, and more importantly, a means to keep in touch.