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 [Page 186]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. ...