Travel, Leisure and Recreation

Visiting a foreign land for the first time and totally clueless about where to go or what to do first? Just find a local cafe. Whether its right as businesses and markets are opening, during the slow afternoon hours after busy people have gone back to their jobs, or late at night instead of hitting a bar, there’s always something to learn at a cafe. In fact, the best way to learn about the country or city you’re visiting is by hanging out, having a coffee, and looking around.

You see, the caf? lifestyle is more than just a reflection on how the locals like their coffee (one sugar, two sugars, milk, no sugar). It lets you know how people value their time, how a day actually moves, and whether or not you’re going to find yourself waiting a long time for your friends to show up. In places like Western Europe, it’s literally possible to sit as long as you like, sipping on a cappuccino, watching the action of the city go by. In Italy, if you meet a friend for coffee and don’t stay for a couple of hours, they’re going to think something is terribly wrong. After all, where could you possibly have to rush off to?

That might be news to someone from The United States, who, outside of a few big cities, would never see such a thing except amongst unemployed teenagers. Coffee in the Unites States, if you’re not in a fancy restaurant, is more about getting caffeine in your body to go work a job. Most spots that are serving coffee aren’t serving anything that’s particularly good, and the extent to which the caf? lifestyle exists in most American cities amongst average people is the fact that you can now get something called espresso at a Dunkin Donuts in Boston.

A couple of cities in The United States are a better look at what could have been, or rather, what was before Starbucks made carry-out to-go coffee the thing that everyone needed and wanted. At a couple of regal cafes in New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, you’ll get laughed out the door if you try to order a “tall” anything. Families who came to the States managed to order large machines from the old country that make seriously great drinks, so it’s possible to sit for awhile and enjoy a decent coffee and a sandwich with the other people in the neighborhood who value such things.

It’s pretty obvious how things work in The States when you realize that all your coffee comes with is a napkin or a dairy creamer. In other places, where you’re encouraged to sit and stay awhile, there’s practically a small spread presented with even the most regular cup of joe. In Buenos Aires, cookies, crackers, and some soda water come along, too. In Italy, at least a cookie is expected. In Holland, at least a couple of cookies come, too. And in Paris, if you’re going to a cafe to enjoy a coffee, you might actually save money by ordering it with some pastry or croissant item.

The thing about the snacks in these other countries where the caf? lifestyle is important is that it’s pretty much permission to stay as long as you want. There’s no one trying to turn the tables over fast in the afternoon, and every extra item that comes with that coffee buys you at least ten more minutes to sit, relax, and hang out.

But as the world gets even smaller, countries influence one another even quicker, and the far-flung traditions become something more tangible. When Starbucks opened up in Buenos Aires, they made sure to include a latte with dulce de leche, the tasty local treat that’s a version of caramel. So now that Starbucks knows that is a popular item down in Argentina, they might be bringing it to the United States as a flavor, just like pumpkin or hazelnut.

So the next time you’re on the road, be it in your own country or around the world, if you want to get to know a little more about the city or country you’re visiting, head to any old cafe. The best way to get acquainted, after all, is by steeping yourself in the caf? lifestyle. Who knows what traditions you might pick up and take home with you.

Damian Papworth adores coffee. As such he created the One Cup Coffee Makers website. Here you can read up on your 1 cup coffee maker