I am always impressed and amazed by the different personalities of people I see at coffee shops, each one of us go to cafes for a different reason. That gentleman who needs his dose of caffeine to go through his day and he takes is coffee “Take Away” rushing to get back to work. The young lady who sets at the corner with her notebooks and laptop and seems that she is studying for her final exams. The group of men who occupies the same table on the corridor of the mall every day to chat about the latest news in the community. Finally, that young man who’s sitting in the corner enjoying the book he is reading.
Each one of them has a story, and prefers a different thing. Some go to the same coffee chain for the coffee flavor they prefer, others prefer certain café no matter how good or bad the coffee tastes like but because they love the atmosphere.
But what makes us enjoy setting in coffee shops besides other places? Even when we can make a cup of coffee at home and enjoy it in our favorite corner why do we feel like leaving the house to get coffee? What makes some cafes a cozy space that we enjoy going to?
Lubna Al Khamis in her latest episode of “Abajora” podcast tilted “The third place” answers those question, quoting Ray Oldenburg who is his theory says that each of us there are three places that we frequently go to, home, workplace and a third place that we choose very carefully and visit on regular basis. This place is usually a neutral space that encourages the exchange of ideas, close to the heart that makes us feel as comfortable as we are at our own homes and a great place for discussions.
After listening to this episode I realized that I do have a third place, a place where I usually meet my friends, enjoy a quite breakfast during weekends or for a quick coffee in the middle of a shopping day. It might not serve the best coffee but its cozy, warm and I enjoy the sound of classic music that’s usually in the atmosphere. There are other cafes that I enjoy going to but this one is different…
Lindsay J McCunn in her article “Environmental psychology and coffee shops” says: If you sit in a coffee shop long enough, you acquire a snapshot of its local community. I suppose this can be said of other establishments in the public sphere (a grocery store, a pub, or a gas station). But not quite. In a coffee shop, people seem to be themselves. They speak openly; they cross their legs; they laugh out loud; they stay awhile. This is why coffee shops falls at the top of the list of “The Third Place”.
Some places might seems noisy and crowded, but those third places have a special place in our hearts, we feel comfortable for being there and it gives us back our balance after a long day or a busy week. We need some time alone in such spots to get back our energy. Some people might prefer going to the beach, park or hairdresser as their third place rather than a café.
So where is your third place?
Reem
I read; I travel; I become 