Coffee Shop
What is a coffee shop? What is a coffee stand? Is either one better than the other? Local or national chain? With so many coffee shops in the U.S., how does one know where to go?
We will answer those questions in this article by Madres Espresso, serving the Olympia area with two great locations. Call us at 360-489-0620 for more information.
What is a coffee shop vs a coffee stand?
The first recorded coffee shop, known then as a coffeehouse, dates back to Turkey in 1475. It was known as Kiva Han and was located in Constantinople. By 1529, coffeehouses were found in Europe, and the Europeans had taken to adding cream and sometimes sugar to their coffees, the first recorded instance of that practice.
In 1652, the first British coffee shop was born, called the “Turks Head,” and from those humble beginnings coffee quickly spread throughout the remainder of Europe (called penny universities), finally arriving on the shores of the New World, and in 1792 the first coffee shop appeared in New York City.
Today, of course, coffee shops, coffeehouses, and coffee stands can be found in practically every city in the United States. So, what is the difference between a coffee shop and a coffee stand. Coffee stands are primarily drive-through retail stores, whereas the coffee shop is primarily a “restaurant” where coffee is the primary product.
Go local or go national?
At the risk of sounding self-serving, it is our humble opinion that shopping local is always better for a community than shopping at a national chain. More of the retail dollars remain in the local economy when you shop local, and local economies can use all the help they can get from consumers. And, with respect to coffee, the prices of local vs national are basically in the same price range, unlike, say, shopping at WalMart as opposed to shopping at a local grocery store like Ralph’s in Olympia.
How does anyone know which is the best?
One thing you absolutely should not do, unless you are from out of town, is do a Google search for “coffee near me.” All that does is give you geographical locations for local coffee shops. It has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the product or service.
Which is the best coffee shop or coffee stand in any city? A large part of the answer to that question has to do with individual preferences, but for sure outstanding customer service and consistency in the quality of the product will point towards a small handful of companies over the long run.
A final word about Madres Espresso.
Madres Espresso is locally owned and operated, and we like to believe that makes a huge difference in product and service. We have two locations, on the West side on Cooper Point Road, and on the East side on Pacific Avenue. Our thirteen baristas are ready with a smile and eager to make a perfect beverage for you. Call us today for more information.
