| One of the big changes in social behaviour in the past | | | | I believe that this relatively new habit of going out |
| 20 years has been the development of the coffee | | | | for a coffee is tapping into something that the |
| culture. It has long been a tradition in southern | | | | Europeans and Arab countries have long understood. |
| European countries and many Middle Eastern | | | | That is it is good for the sole to spend some time |
| countries to sit and socialize over a cup of coffee. | | | | each day with friends sitting in a pleasant |
| I first noticed the change in the early 90's in Australia. | | | | environment, sipping good coffee and enjoying |
| Suddenly there were all of these wonderful coffees | | | | friendly conversation. |
| available in more and more cafes. The 70's saw the | | | | The great thing about a cafe is that it is perfectly |
| introduction of the cappuccino and combined with | | | | acceptable to just sit by yourself and enjoy the view |
| raisin toast was the thing to do late in the evening, | | | | or read a book. A new trend is to work with your lap |
| when I was a teenager. | | | | top or iPhone while sipping a good brew. What could |
| A second force contributed to this new culture. Much | | | | be better than spending some of your work hours |
| stricter drink driving laws meant fewer people would | | | | away from the office. Especially if you can connect |
| frequent bars and hotels. The penalties for drink | | | | into a free wireless internet service. |
| driving are severe and rightly so. | | | | Coffee has developed to suit the taste of individuals. |
| The end result is that now we have huge numbers | | | | Many aficionado's would grimace at some of the low |
| of cafe's serving a variety of coffees. Locally I can | | | | fat soy lattés with hazelnut but these new |
| walk at my beach and have my first aromatic brew | | | | coffees are simply meeting a market demand and |
| at 5.30am, any day of the week. | | | | display the wide range of tastes coffee drinkers |
| Coffee drinkers have become like wine drinkers. Most | | | | have. |
| have their favourite blends and their favourite cafes | | | | Coffee may have spared us from so many drink |
| or even a favourite barista. Some will time their | | | | drivers. Coffee even though it contains |
| coffee to match the shift of a barista they know | | | | caffeine-which in judicious amounts is good for |
| makes the perfect coffee. | | | | you-contributes to a more relaxed society, as we |
| Some would argue that the whole coffee culture is | | | | stop to take a few minutes to sip our favourite |
| crazy, fancy paying up to $5 for a cup of coffee. But | | | | brew and allow our faced paced minds to calm. |
| they are usually content with something out of a tin | | | | Just try not to drink your coffee on the run as your |
| or bottle at home or a brewed coffee that tastes | | | | anxiety is likely to increase and make sure the lid is |
| like an ashtray. | | | | on tight if you intend to drive while drinking coffee. |