For years, there’s been a battle raging. A paradigm shift was born.
A man sits outside of a café as he taps on his laptop. A woman zooms by on her way to work. They both drink coffee. He savors with pleasure. She gulps with pace.
Nowadays, it’s all about speed. Speed is vital to the way society operates. Businesses adapt to meet these needs, and in the process two styles emerge.
Coffee, for example, has morphed from its originally crafted form to a less personal one, which involves a packet of powder in a plastic cup handed to you from a window. This form, which now greatly outnumbers the traditional coffee shop style, is found in fast food restaurants across the globe and is on the rise. People, more specifically Americans, go to these places to get in and out, not for the ambience or the furniture.
Tamp & Grind / 828 4th St. Alexandria
One notable exception is Tamp and Grind, a local downtown coffee shop. They’re an example of a holdout in this sweeping movement. Their goal is to create a mindful experience, not maximize efficiency and speed. They focus on slowing you down and catching your breath. You are encouraged to sit, listen to the music and enjoy the beautiful artwork on the walls. This is a place that cares about the experience you have from the time you walk in until the time you leave.
This isn’t just about a type of business. It’s important to remember the past on our way to the future. There was a time when the coffee shop was a getaway that everyone enjoyed; the place where everything slowed down. People read the newspaper, drank a cup of coffee or ate a slice of pie before going back to work. It was the ideal place for relaxation and conversation.
Each of these styles plays an important role in our society. Sometimes you have to grab a cup to go. It’s understandable. Mild doses of each will keep everything balanced.
As you make your way through your busy work week, take a moment or two to think about your part in this battle. Are you a patient patron or a speedy sipper? Or do you alternate? Our world is changing. Will you?
Tags: business, experience
