Today, I write this blog from The Grind, a local coffee shop in Trenton, ON. It is a choice place for me to visit about once a week. It gives me the opportunity to get out of the house and function in society while still getting work done. I have tried the local Starbucks in Belleville but I just don't find the atmosphere the same. I probably know about as many people that come in the door and could talk to them. But I prefer the atmosphere of The Grind. I find Starbucks to busy and hard to find a place to sit. Because it is so busy, and seemingly chaotic, I cannot focus as well on work I want to accomplish. But at The Grind it is quieter, not quite as busy, and it is much easier to bury myself in my work while still being able to take a break to people watch or socialize if I so desire. 

All this reflection on what coffee shop I choose (and even the fact that I have a choice) causes me to think about 'coffee culture'. There has to be a reason for all the different selections. Whether you want something quick and cheap at Tim Hortons, something fancy and personalized with a lot of social at Starbucks, or something still very personalized but a little quieter at a local coffee shop. People must be looking more and more for a place to sit down, stay and enjoy their beverage though as you can see that "atmoshere" being forced upon us everywhere. Even McDonalds and Tim Hortons now offers free WiFi, encouraging customers to stay longer. Is it strictly a sales tactic as they can sell more if you stick around longer? Or is it to appeal to the crowds? With an aging population, numerous adults are retiring and looking for a place to get out of the house and socialize. And youth are looking for a safe, clean, calm place to hang out. Even the business world can utilize these locations for meetings and to check emails or get work done. 

We are becoming an increasingly social society. I know that personally I love these spaces that are becoming progressively inviting for you to stay for a while as I work from home and sometimes I need to just get out of the house and feel like a part of the outside world. So I say keep up the good work coffee shops! And the fact that I can pick a small, local shop makes me feel even better because buying locally owned just makes everyone feel better :)