When I bought my espresso machine, I envisioned the money saved from fewer coffee shop visits. My checkbook wouldn’t be filled with small charges, I would put fewer miles on my car, and I would consume far less gas. But here I am, years later, still spending my mornings and weekends at my favorite coffee shops. I can pull a perfect shot of espresso at home, but what my kitchen lacks is the lively hum of a coffee shop — the steady flow of people, the lively atmosphere full of energy, and the serendipitous conversations taking place among strangers. As it turns out, my enjoyment of coffee shops goes far beyond the actual cup of coffee.
What I crave more than the caffeine is social infrastructure – a haven for connection in an increasingly solitary world. I crave the unseen energy of people quietly thinking or reading in unison. I want to immerse myself in a space designed to inspire and connect. The gentle clatter of cups, the steady flow of people, and the rhythmic tapping of laptop keyboards can’t help but inspire productivity. It’s an environment that invites introspection and sparks creativity.
In Vienna, literary and artistic movements were born in cafés where pens and paper were always within reach. The tradition continues every time someone opens their laptop to write the next chapter of a novel or sketches out a new idea in their journal. At home with my espresso machine, I get the coffee. At the coffee shop, I get the experience. No matter how good I become at pulling a shot of espresso or steaming milk, I’ll always find myself drawn back to these spaces that feed my soul as much as my caffeine habit. As Jerry Seinfeld put it, “I bought a cup of coffee; I live here now.”