Noticing that every new cafe in my area has to have a 'theme', I miss the days of just good coffee.

When did a cup of joe need a backstory and artisan toast to be considered worthwhile?

3 comments

3 Comments

It's absurd how every new spot feels like a themed attraction rather than a place to drink coffee. I walked into one last week that was decked out like a vintage library, complete with fake books and librarian aprons on the staff (which, honestly, felt more like a costume party). The coffee was mediocre, but hey, at least the Instagram backdrop was perfect. Now we're paying for ambiance and narrative instead of a solid brew. Remember when a good espresso stood on its own without needing a gimmick? That's what gets lost in all this curation, the simple pleasure of a well-made cup.

cameronwells1mo ago

Hold up, @markhall, did you say the staff were wearing librarian aprons? That's beyond ridiculous, it's like they're prioritizing cosplay over coffee. I walked into a place last month that had a full-on jungle theme with artificial vines and animal sounds, and the espresso tasted like burnt water. It's exactly what you're saying, the essence of a good brew gets buried under all that theatrics. We're ending up in spots that feel more like amusement park rides than cafes. Honestly, if the coffee can't stand alone without a gimmick, why bother calling it a coffee shop?

hernandez.hayden1mo ago

Here's a thought nobody's mentioning: these themed cafes are designing out the possibility of quiet conversation entirely. When @cameronwells described the jungle sounds, it clicked for me that we're trading relaxed atmospheres for sensory overload that mandates reaction, not discussion. You can't hear your friend over fabricated rainfall or focus in a space screaming for your visual attention. Is the end goal just to become a background in someone's social media story, where the actual taste of the roast is an afterthought? We're losing the neutral, adaptable spaces where coffee and company were the only required themes.