Is coffee drinking a social ritual or is it just the coffee?

o I don't waste my money on that expensive fad coffee like Starbucks or Peets.. Overpriced and not any better. I buy the $.89 stuff at the gas station on the way to work.

o I drink coffee for the caffeine and to sooth my throat in the morning from smoking. I don't drink it because I like it. And, I hate coffee if it isn't about hot enough to burn your tongue. No cold coffee drinks for me.

o Starbucks coffee is free in my office coffee pot anyways. Damn stuff is too strong though and I have to add water to it.

I used to go to Starbux *blech* only to visit my ex, and or to receive that caffein jolt for free. Before her I, I had only visited a coffee shop on a few occasions, and that was for chocolate covered espresso beans at Uni. If I'm going to go to a coffee retailer of any sort it will be to what I refer to as a coffee shop. A whole in the wall place that will let you hook up your laptop as you sit there, and work on a paper for 4 hrs drinking all the coffee you want for $1.50

It's for the coffee and to socialize. Sometimes it's for one, sometimes the other, and sometimes both.

I used to go there to study and for the free wireless internet connection. But nowadays, the computer science department at my college provides me it, so I dont care for it anymore. Besides, why spend the money on bus fare (not to mention their exorbanate prices). However, my labtop is acting funny and I cant get a connection to my uni's network. Maybe I should go back just for the internet connection. Just dont buy anything and dont look stupid, just being there not buying anything.

I know ihop has very cheap coffee up in there.

We used to frequent the HOP every night for a few hours and BS with friends...until in FL they passed the "No smoking in restaraunts" bill.

I go with my friends who have got into the coffeehouse habit because they can get coffee and find somewhere quiet to work during the day that isn't a library. My reasons for going are social, but the reason that we go as a group is because of the coffee.

oh man, that sucks. Oh well, you can always go outside.

I like coffee for itself. Most of the time, I drink it alone. It tastes good, smells great, and provides a moist warmth that is comforting. I don't like the caffeine, it makes me jittery or even sick. I like the ritual of making coffee too.

yeah, but you can't sit, shoot the crap for hours upon hours and smoke...just not the same

I guess not. Well, I never smoked so I wouldnt know.

Hey, isnt there a way to get nigotine from other sources. I always thought you could take tobacco and make some sort of tea with it.

Just a thought.

I get my caffeine from Diet Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola or Jolt Cola.

I don't drink coffee, but I do enjoy going to Starbuck's at the mall for a caramel frappuccino. They are so delicious, and it is relaxing to take a break from shopping.

I prefer to get my caffeine from Mountain Dew, too!

i jolt!! haven't had it since high school though

I think you limited your social options to starbucks. What about after partying all night meeting at Dennys to sober up and eat some food. Or a neighbor popping in from next door for a little java and gosip. And then there is always that lazy dinner with coffee and cake after the main meal. The office coffee maker is always a good place to say hello. Coffee is definitely a social tool. But on the other hand "give me caffeine or give me death!"

Absolutely, there is nothing better (almost) than the smell of fresh brewed coffee in the morning.

I don't go to Starbucks or any other coffee house...coffee is coffee...I drink what I drink because I like the taste.

Do not go to Starbucks or other coffeehouses cuz they are too expensive and sometimes there are lines. I get my coffee at a deli shop where I pay half the price for a bag of freshly ground beans than I can get at a supermarket or coffee place like Starbucks. I need a caffeine jolt so I drink it for that -- the caffeine jolt -- preferred with cream but if no cream will use sugar. Not a great fan of the taste of black coffee alone. Like it fancy and flavored too but just don't want to spend the money.

I don't know why people go to Starbucks, because their coffee tastes terrible.
But in general people go to bars or coffeehouses to socialize and to taste things they don't have at home or work.

They now have Jolt gum Caffeine delivered by chewing gum, what will they think of next??? A Caffeine Patch??? (dibs on the concept patent!!)

you've got dibs
gum?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!????? damn...what will they think of next indeed...if you get some gum, lemme know

Tell me where to send it and I will get you a couple of packs.

It seems to be a post Baby Boomer thing. Baby Boomers that I know tend to like cola (Coca-Cola or Pepsi) for their caffeine when not consuming coffee....

really????

well, my email is in my profile...drop me a line!!

Good question. To be honest, I really don't know. Even smoking, for me at least, is more of a social thing, and if it's not social, then it's done out of boredom, or after eating, and of course stress related.

I'm currently up in PA at the moment, and this is day two of my trip. Once I started driving from the airport, I've only had 4. 2 while driving for 2 1/2 hrs of 'unchartered' territory, and two once I've gotten to my destination. Apparently the cold doesn't affect my habits as I thought that they might.

The first, the third and "other". I don't go there to "fit in" or to socialize but I only go there when I'm with a particular friend who is likely to take me.

I used to be a Coke-a-holic lol but now, I gotta have my Dew! You know what my new favorite kind of soda pop is? That 7-Up Plus! It's the bomb!

I dislike Starbucks coffee. My husbands company delivery pastries and sweets to many Starbucks. They do make a kick ass coconut creme frapachino though.

I hate that new law!!

Unfortunately, Cali isn't the only place of conservative whackos, they only initiated it

Hmmm... Gotta Try That!

to some people it maybe the social ritual. if and when i ever go to starbucks, it only because of the coffee.

I don't go to coffee houses. I drink coffee at home in the morning just out of habit mostly.

I love the smell and the rich taste its just so good.

Okay, seeing my current sleeping situation (4/5 hours of sleep each night), I overcame my sickness from the coffee. I, now, physically depends on those 5 cups of coffee I get each day, plus the Earl Grey I score on the way.

you should-its awesome! and only 10 calories a can-and I usually dont like diet pop

...AND the turtle brownies!!

the coffee. I love it

YUM..!!

Depends on how you drink it. If you sacrifice a fatted calf before ever cup of joe; than it is definitely a ritual.

I'm not supposed to have it - but I LOVE coffee....any kind of coffee...free coffee at work, really good coffee house coffee, iced coffee, even my mother's sucky watered down muddy crapty coffee......I just love coffee - but I love it the most when it's so strong that you have to chew it up to swallow it! I've gotten past having it every day now though - and only drink water most of the time - so when I do get to have it - it's a special treat!

This is the survey that got me to this site. I did a search for "ritual coffee drinking" on Google and this was one of the first ten hits. I seldom drink coffee or other drinks with caffeine.

My reason for the research on the topic is: I am taking a course in ethnography and the professor assigned the topic "drinking coffee in social setting" for us.

Our task was to interview people about their coffee drinking and I was getting responses that indicated many people do regard coffee drinking as a ritual activity.

Now, I seem to have found yet another distraction from the work I should be doing. This is the most fascinating web site I have discovered in awhile.

It gets you like that. I'll have been hooked for 5 years in May!