cafes

A cafe, café, or coffeehouse is a casual dining establishment that centers on beverages such as coffee and tea, often accompanied by light meals, pastries, and snacks. Many cafes also offer non-alcoholic drinks, breakfast items, and comfortable seating for socializing, studying, or working. Service can be counter-based or full-service, with varying emphasis on ambiance and speed.

Early coffeehouses appeared in the Ottoman Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries and spread to Europe in the 17th century. They became sites for conversation, news, music, and commerce. By the 18th and 19th centuries, cafes were integral to urban culture in cities such as Paris, Vienna, London, and beyond, earning reputations as centers of sociability and debate.

Today, cafe forms range from traditional neighborhood cafes to specialty coffeehouses that prioritize single-origin beans and precise brewing methods. Chain cafes offer familiar menus and standardized service, while independent establishments emphasize local character. Regional traditions vary: Italian espresso bars, French cafes with light meals and pastries, Swedish and Finnish cafes linked to fika, and Turkish kahvehaneler with long-standing social customs.

Economically, cafes are small businesses that rely on foot traffic, seasonal menus, and customer loyalty. They function as third spaces between home and work and increasingly emphasize sustainability, fair-trade coffee, plant-based options, and comfortable workspaces for remote workers.