Why is coffee so trendy nowadays?

It seems that with the rise of hipsters also came the popularity of spending every waking moment at a coffee shop. I wanted to see what all the hype is about, so I found a comfy seat at the Jo’s on campus and decided to people watch to find my answer. Is it really about the coffee or is it about the experience?

I chose a seat in the coffee shop near the back corner so that I would have a perfect vantage point to see everybody, inside and outside.

The first thing I noticed when I looked around was that not many people were actually drinking coffee, only about a little less than half of the people there. Most were either chatting with their friends, drinking a Topo Chico, or drowning out the sounds of conversation and espresso machines with headphones as they diligently worked to complete their assignments.

I instantly realized that the social aspect of the coffee shop might play a vital role in the popularity of coffee.  

Next, I watched the front counter. I wanted to see exactly how many people were buying coffee versus other items. After observing about 30 different transactions I concluded that an equal ratio existed between the people that ordered coffee and the people that bought other drinks or just food.

The results of my observation brought me to the conclusion that the hype is not necessarily about coffee for most, but about the fact that coffee shops are the perfect location for socializing.

Coffee drinkers get their fix of their beloved beverage and can invite their friends to come with them to a place that offers free wifi, a nice ambience, and a delicious array of pastries. Coffee shops maintain an environment that any person can benefit from.

As anybody who has spent more than twenty minutes on the St. Edward’s campus knows, this university is swarming with trendy, coffee-loving hipsters that make up the student and faculty population. Is it the caffeine addicts that make the coffee shop cool or is it the coffee shop that turns these people into a product of their trendy ATX environment?

No matter your stance on the coffee drinker or the beverage itself, I think it’s safe to say that everybody can find the perfect coffee shop for themselves.

I personally found that Jo’s is the perfect place for any student. Why wouldn’t you want spend time at a place that allows you to socialize, eat a snack, get a drink, listen to some cool tunes, and be able to do your homework all at the same time?

With Jo’s being right on campus it allows students easy access to all of these aspects and provides a space where events such as open mic night and other art exhibitions are able to be held. It really is a place created for every person.