Since the popularization of Wi-Fi, coffeehouses with this capability have also become places for patrons to access the Internet on their laptops and tablet computers. An espresso bar is a type of coffeehouse that specializes in serving espresso and espresso-based drinks.įrom a cultural standpoint, coffeehouses largely serve as centers of social interaction: a coffeehouse provides patrons with a place to congregate, talk, read, write, entertain one another, or pass the time, whether individually or in small groups. Many coffeehouses in the Middle East and in West Asian immigrant districts in the Western world offer shisha (actually called nargile in Levantine Arabic, Greek and Turkish), flavored tobacco smoked through a hookah. A coffeehouse may share some of the same characteristics of a bar or restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. While café may refer to a coffeehouse, the term "café" generally refers to a diner, British café (colloquially called a "caff"), " greasy spoon" (a small and inexpensive restaurant), transport café, teahouse or tea room, or other casual eating and drinking place.
Some coffeehouse chains operate on a franchise business model, with numerous branches across various countries around the world. Coffeehouses range from owner-operated small businesses to large multinational corporations. A coffeehouse may also serve food, such as light snacks, sandwiches, muffins, fruit, or pastries. In continental Europe, cafés serve alcoholic drinks. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee, iced tea, and other non-caffeinated beverages. It is celebrated for its famous clientele, which included high-profile writers and philosophersĪ coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, e.g. The Café de Flore in Paris is one of the oldest coffeehouses in the city.