Coffee shops. The real backbone of civilization. Sure, hospitals save lives, schools teach kids, and firefighters stop houses from becoming s’mores — but where else can you pay $7 for bean water and feel like you belong to something bigger than yourself?
Local coffee shops are like friends: each one has its own vibe. Some feel like a soulless Starbucks clone where you half expect the barista to hand you a “Smile, Corporate America Loves You” pamphlet with your latte. Others feel like your living room — but without your mom asking why you haven’t cleaned the place in six weeks.
But here’s the thing: these places aren’t magical, money-making unicorns. They’ve got bills, rent, insurance, $15,000 espresso machines that make noises like dying whales, and baristas who (shockingly) expect to be paid for their time. Oh, and lawyers. Always lawyers. Coffee shops basically live on a knife’s edge between “community hub” and “going out of business sale.”
So when I park myself at a local café with my laptop pretending to “write,” I don’t just buy one drink and nurse it for three hours like it’s a hospital IV drip. No, I order a couple things. Because I want these places to still be here when it’s winter, raining, and I’ve already exhausted my excuses for not writing at home.
Bottom line: if you love your local coffee shop, show it some love back. Order the funky seasonal latte. Get that overpriced muffin. Heck, try the lavender oat milk thing you’ll regret but secretly love. Support the spot that gives you free Wi-Fi, background chatter, and the illusion that you’re part of a quirky Netflix series.
