Are you a coffee lover? Coffee serves different purposes for different people - for some, it’s a morning necessity, for others, it’s an indulgence, and for a select few, it’s a sugary treat. No matter its purpose, coffee is undeniably pleasurable. It’s that first sip in the morning that can bring joy in a world filled with global atrocities and the threat of pandemics.
But this pleasure has been overshadowed by the rise of hipster cafes. These swanky spots are all about expensive gadgets, exclusive beans, and minimalist decor. They’ve become an extension of so-called “coffee culture” - a term that’s cringeworthy in itself. Suddenly, your coffee preference determines your expertise, and where your coffee beans were sourced becomes a symbol of superiority. It’s all a bit pretentious, to say the least.
And it’s no wonder that hipster coffee enthusiasts and cafes carry an air of superiority. Coffee shops have long been associated with gentrification, marking the beginning of trouble in historically low-income neighborhoods.
We’ve seen this storyline play out not only in real life but also in entertainment. A popular satirical series, “The Curse,” depicts the negative impact of gentrification through the construction of a whitewashed minimalist coffee shop in a low-income town.