The coffee shop is the latest format to have evolved for the service of coffee beverages outside the home, following innovations such as the Turkish coffeehouse and Mediterranean coffee bar. Each format developed to respond to specific customer demands at a particular time and setting, which reflect the nature of consumer society. All combine the sale of two basic commodities consumed in very different ways: coffee and the surroundings in which it is served.

Coffee is native to the Ethiopian highlands, where its preparation formed the center of a complex social ritual involving the roasting, preparation, and serving of the beverage. From the fourteenth century, coffee was imported into Arabia, gaining a following among Sufis as an aid to staying awake during their lengthy devotions. ...

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