Coffee time (From The Argus)

Coffee time

6:47pm Sunday 5th July 2009 in News

The successful appeal by Starbucks (The Argus, July 2) was inevitable given its huge financial and political clout.

Large companies with power to lobby will always be given greater weight than individuals or local communities.

The rise of such drinking establishments is something of a paradox. A cup of coffee costs £3 yet you can buy an entire jar of coffee at the supermarket for 99p.

Their appeal seems to be due to the aspirational desire of some people to be at a trendy establishment.

You would think only the wealthy would frequent such places but in fact many customers are on benefits trying to escape their humdrum lives for a few moments.

You see expensive coffee shops open in the most un-likely and run-down areas.

When I see a new coffee shop open, rather than seeing it as a positive I see it as a sign of an area’s decline.

People who work don’t have time to sit all day in coffee shops so rather than being the cool thing to do, sitting in a coffee shop does not bestow any street cred on the coffee slurper. Only when people see through this will they turn away from the coffee chains with their uniform coffee, cakes and sandwiches.

It’s better to enjoy the delights of an individual coffee shop. If you can find the time.

P Grant King’s Road, Brighton