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Coffee Shop or
Coffee House?
Whatever you
call them, these Prescott, Arizona establishments do a lot more than
just coffee.
Is it just
good coffee that makes or breaks a Coffee Shop? I don't think so. 
Coffee shops tend to have fiercely loyal customers that have their own
custom coffee cup emblazoned with the shop's logo, a loyalty punch card
that goes back at least 5 years and a line item in the household budget
for the Coffee House of choice.
So what makes the patrons of any particular shop so loyal? Here's what
I think, in no particular order of importance:
- Birds
of a feather... You know the old saying. Well, I
think the same holds true for Coffee House customers too. We
have a shop (several actually) that caters to an older crowd - it is
not unusual to see the same table with the same 5 or 6 old timers every time you go in
the place. We have other shops that cater to the college kids,
commuters and working people.
- Good
Coffee is a requirement, but frappes' or mochas may
not be - see item 1 above. What is absolutely critical is that the
Coffee Shop in question supply whatever
good coffee or coffee drinks their clientele demands. Lawyers
on the way to work are probably going to drink more Lattes than
construction workers on the way to the job site.
- Friendly
people are the backbone of any service business. The best
know your name, your kids name and whether you are a mocha or a
Latte.
- Good
food is, of course, necessary but the kinds of food are
all over the board. Full breakfast and lunch? Hot offerings like bacon
and eggs or scones and croissants? Burgers & fries or turkey
wraps. The menu choices are as many and varied as the number of Coffee
Shops in town.
- Comfort
is crucial. Couches, overstuffed chairs, big tables,
familiar stuff on the walls. It all makes for a comfortable place to
read the paper, debate politics, study for your next exam or
just hang out with a friend. Of course different groups require
different stuff - like wi-fi for the younger set or tables
big enough for 6 or 8 seniors to gather around for the morning
"meeting".
- Convenience.
Americans are all about convenience these days and the local Coffee
House is no exception. It has to fit into the daily routine. It may be
on the way to work or just down the street from the office but it is
a local
hangout that is convenient and easy to get to for locals.
Since I believe that the above 6 items are what make a Coffee Shop work
- those are the things I am going to be looking for as we visit each
one. Oh, we will look at other things too, cost, whether we like the
logo cups, is there a drive through - stuff like that, but the core of
any good shop is what brings you back again and again and......
Prescott, AZ Java Joints
The Bistro - is the perfect spot to relax, kick back and enjoy your morning cup, a smoothie or delicious pastry.
Cuppers Coffee House - "skinny"
pancakes, scones, muffins, quiche and every kind of coffee drink known
to man. And they do lunch too!
Wild Iris Coffee House - Oversize cups, scratch made pastries & desserts and a bright cheery atmosphere will bring you back again and again.
From Coffee Shop to Prescott-good-eats.com
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