| One of the best ways that travelers get | | | | cookie. If you go during the afternoon time where |
| acquainted with the local customs is by stopping | | | | everyone it seems is in a cafe, it's also likely that |
| into a cafe--any cafe, really--and sitting down for | | | | you'll get a snack, like some peanuts, too. |
| a coffee. It could be early in the morning, right as | | | | The concept of snacks coming with a coffee isn't |
| shops and markets are starting to open. It could | | | | just something that happens in the Northern |
| be during a slow afternoon stretch where | | | | Hemisphere. Down south in Argentina, a country |
| businessmen are having power lunches and ladies | | | | of immigrants, cafe culture is also alive and |
| of leisure are gossiping. Or it could be late in the | | | | bustling. But in Argentina, especially in the capital |
| evening, when in a surprising number of countries, | | | | city of Buenos Aires, it's about more than just |
| going out for coffee is a suitable alternative to | | | | sitting down and having an Italian-style coffee. |
| boozing it up, or a great activity to sober you up | | | | There's usually a small glass of soda water, three |
| at the end of the night. | | | | or four cookies, and even in some bars, some |
| In fact, it's easy to learn about a place by | | | | chips or a small sandwich. It's a pretty great deal, |
| studying the café lifestyle. For example, if | | | | and no wonder that it seems that from the hours |
| you're in the United States, in most any city that's | | | | of two until eight in the evening, cafes all over the |
| not a New York or a San Francisco, you're going | | | | city are packed with everyone from young |
| to find that the way that most people do coffee | | | | soccer fans to elderly couples hanging out and |
| is as fast as they possibly can. From driving | | | | enjoying their coffee and snacks. |
| through the window at the local Starbucks to a | | | | And that's the thing about the café lifestyle: if |
| number of to-go options in malls and shopping | | | | you're from a more rushed country, there's |
| centers, coffee isn't so much an experience to be | | | | something so amazingly freeing about having the |
| savored, but a substance to be consumed as | | | | time to just hang out and relax and observe |
| quickly as possible. It seems that Starbucks has | | | | somewhere else. Because if you're used to |
| been responsible for introducing concepts like | | | | coffee in a cardboard cup that doesn't taste |
| flavors and soy milk to suburban areas, though, | | | | particularly great, it's pretty amazing not just to |
| and even Dunkin Donuts has had to step up their | | | | taste genuinely coffee, but to actually change the |
| game and finally offer espresso. | | | | pace of your life, even if it's just for a vacation. |
| One spot in the United States where the café | | | | But as the world gets even smaller, countries |
| lifestyle is slightly more thriving that isn't New | | | | influence one another even quicker, and the |
| York or San Francisco is Portland, where the rain | | | | far-flung traditions become something more |
| and dreary weather make it pretty much | | | | tangible. When Starbucks opened up in Buenos |
| essential to cuddle up with a warm, caffeinated | | | | Aires, they made sure to include a latte with dulce |
| beverage. A lot of places in the world have | | | | de leche, the tasty local treat that's a version of |
| coffee as a major part of keeping warm, including | | | | caramel. So now that Starbucks knows that is a |
| in The United Kingdom, where a cup of tea might | | | | popular item down in Argentina, they might be |
| be preferred, but coffee, especially Italian | | | | bringing it to the United States as a flavor, just |
| espresso, is finding its stronghold. | | | | like pumpkin or hazelnut. |
| In western Europe, the culture of France and Italy | | | | So the next time you're on the road, be it in your |
| depends greatly on having time to sit and have a | | | | own country or around the world, if you want to |
| coffee, and leisurely public beverage consumption | | | | get to know a little more about the city or |
| there is a thing of legend. For example, it's not | | | | country you're visiting, head to any old cafe. |
| uncommon to see restaurants in small plazas all | | | | The best way to get acquainted, after all, is by |
| over Rome with outdoor seating, even in the | | | | steeping yourself in the café lifestyle. Who |
| middle of a hot summer, where the locals and | | | | knows what traditions you might pick up and take |
| tourists alike are hanging out, sipping espresso or | | | | home with you. |
| cappuccino, and perhaps snacking on a small | | | | |