When did coffee become a status symbol?

Chances are, when you go to the grocery store, you’ll see a lot of people with a cup of Starbucks coffee in hand. At some point this has become almost a “right of way” to get into the grocery store.

The funny thing about this is that most of these cups are filled with low-quality “coffee” beverages that are mostly made up of sugar and chocolate. Those who have one of these mugs in hand probably can’t tell a Starbucks coffee cup from a regular gas station coffee cup.

Another thing that is lost in this is why not support the local boy? While the coffee chains Starbucks, Dunkin and Tim Horton are booming, there are plenty of local coffee shops that offer a better product for a similar price. Plus, you’re helping someone in your community build and maintain their business, which can often be their livelihood. Sure, you may have to get out of your car and go to the store, but when you try a delicious latte from a local coffee shop, he’ll delight you. Their goal is to make a drink so good you’ll come back for more. Not shoving thousands of cups at customers speeding past your drive-through every day.

While you may not look so great with your unbranded coffee shop at the grocery store, someone might see your mug and wonder where you got that weird-looking mug that’s missing the Starbucks logo. Or they may see your cup and say to themselves, “It’s good to see someone out there who knows where to get a good cup of coffee.”

I promise you that if you go for a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop, it will exceed the expectations you have created by going to the big coffee chains. Otherwise, the cafe probably won’t last much longer. Most of the local coffee shops are owned by people who have been in the coffee industry all their lives. They are pursuing something that is their passion and when that is the case, it almost always results in a better product.

I always make it a point to go and visit a local coffee shop when traveling for business or work. It’s a great place to learn about the local culture, network, and most of all to have a great cup of coffee.