A Tribute to Café Culture: The Impacts of Cafés in the 17th Century and How They Survived.

Cafés hold a profoundly intimate influence. The smokey, poignant aroma of coffee beans had always brought to my mind a reverie of reminiscence to when I sat in various cafés, observing the vitality of the surrounding chatter. 

Cafés gained prominence primarily in Europe during the late 17th century for their convenience and importance in the social sphere. They became the gathering place for individuals of all social classes to discuss politics, philosophy, and art. They have served as cultural ventures for artists and intellectuals, and momentous pillars for the European Age of Enlightenment. Although the physical appearance of cafés may have changed dramatically since the 1970s, the sense of community they bring does not cease to exist in contemporary cafes. But how do the sentiments within a cafe preserve themselves so robustly through so much change and reconstruction? To answer this question, I took this project inside various cafés to decipher the appeal of these modest, quaint establishments. 

When I swung open the first café door, I remember hearing the buoyant sound of laughter cascading through my ears. I immediately drew my attention to friends making flippant banter, throwing their heads back giggling about dreams, accomplishments, and people they love. They sat in this café for hours, chewing on straws of French vanillas and clinking glasses. The sweet, subtle flavour of french vanilla coffee gave them a sense of warmth and familiarity, capturing the rapture they feel whilst being lost within each other’s company. The syrupy, frothy caffeine provided the adolescents with a sense of eagerness to sit in the café and talk for what felt like forever, as if their amicability was a firecracker that never ceased to sparkle, even on the darkest of nights. The french vanilla is a very social drink; empathizing with the importance of infinite friendships.

The next café I visited welcomed me with a touching tenderness only family can instill in an individual. Although the sound of conversation flooded the air, a table at the far back of the café drew my attention. It was almost as if their quiet togetherness illuminated a gentle aura that resembled the taste of lattes - flattering and creamy with steamed milk. There is a woman in doctor’s scrubs, tousled hair effortlessly tied up, holding a pumpkin-spice latte. A university student fresh off-campus in his football jersey, foamy caramel latte in hand. Their parents, sipping cautiously on chai lattes. Different latte flavours, diverse perspectives, different lives; yet these miscellaneous tastes all stem from the same foundation: everyone is drinking a latte, the invisible ribbon that ties the reunion of a family into an exquisite bow. Eventually, the family will part again, each individual returning to their separate lives. But at this café, it appears time graciously froze, framing the moment into a picture, capturing the bliss of a cherished monthly reunion.

I notice a university student propping himself on a chair at the next cafe, lecture notes scattered across the table, hands clutching his hair in distress. He is enrolled in a competitive Philosophy programme and has not yet reviewed his notes. A server slides a freshly brewed dark roast coffee across the table and sits next to him. The course load is demanding, but the bitter, bold aroma of his dark roast instantly wakes him up as his eyes clench onto his notes in concentration. Moments later, I notice the server and student conversing - and even debating - about Socrates, metaphysics, and free will, respectful smiles hanging from their lips. Perhaps the thickness and richness of the dark roast represented the accumulation of knowledge, the profound dialect shared between two strangers intellectually admiring each other. It was as if I were witnessing the renowned thinkers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir right before my eyes. They cultivated their friendship by indulging their days at Café de Flore with meaningful literary gatherings, philosophical debates, and artistic imaginings. The café's role in generating the flow of intellectual ideas dates back to the 17th century, and it's reassuring to see such values prevalent today.

I watch as two cars park beside the cafe; two people step out, and exchange greetings before enveloping each other in a brief but personal embrace. The man orders an espresso while the lady orders a cappuccino. They talk in composed whispers about what went wrong, their fingers delicately brushing against each other's hands, reassuring one another that there are things worth rekindling. The espresso and cappuccino hit their veins greedily like an intense, concentrated, and bittersweet shot of energy and passion. However, the acidic aftertaste lingers on their tongues, reminding them of the significance of taking important things slowly. The pair talk about how they felt and what they feel as if they were two strangers sipping on bittersweet drinks, leaving behind their bitter endings to start sweet beginnings. Cafes appear to possess a reconnection ability, serving as gentle reminders that love has always been uncomplicated to reignite. 

When I arrive at the last café, I inadvertently bump into a businesswoman at the door. She apologizes and hurries inside to the restroom. I notice her mesmerized and allured by the atmosphere in front of her when she comes out. The commotion of people preoccupying themselves with each other seemed foreign yet musical. She contemplates taking a seat but checks her watch, realizing she’s late for a conference. She hastily orders a matcha coffee to linger in the ambiance for a while longer. Matcha is a multilayered, peaceful drink, adding a sense of tranquillity in contrast to her busy life. She closes the door, a faint smile sliding onto her face, the lights from inside the cafe illuminating behind her, wrapping her torso in an invisible embrace. 

The foundation of humanity derives from the fact that people are all we have to survive. Perhaps the appeal of café culture stems from its unique ability to unite individuals, creating a vibrant cultural community that fuses civilization. If our distinct essences represent a plethora of coffee palates, then cafés must doubtlessly be our creators.