SE3: Visit a
location where people are eating or otherwise connected to food. Take
observational field notes for one hour. Your notes should include who you see,
what those people are doing, what they are eating, how they are eating, details
of the setting, etc. Then, with the help of at least one outside source, write
a short essay in which you consider and interpret your notes to make an
observation about food values and culture in connection to a specific
community.
The
popularity of coffee is something tat can be seen on a daily basis. It is one
of the world’s most consumed beverages only behind water, tea, and beer. It is
for this very reason that over fifty-four percent of American’s over the age of
eighteen consume coffee on a daily basis. As a result, Americans spend more
than eighteen billion dollars on specialty coffee each year (Statistic Brain,
1). For some people, coffee is what gets them in the morning while for others
it is what keeps them going. Coffee is what keep our modern, fast paced lives
running smoothly, and in a sense, coffee is the lifeblood of our society. In
order to provide American’s with enough coffee to satisfy their demand,
coffeehouses around the nation are always working to create new and interesting
blends and concoctions that keep the American audience wanting more. No other company
does this like, Starbucks.
I
was able to go to Starbucks for an hour in order to observe the locale and take
note of the interactions made by the people visiting one of the locations. From
the outside, the Starbucks coffeehouse was a very modern construction with a
steel foundation and plenty of glass windows to let light in and to let patrons
view the outside. There was also a large patio on the front of the building
with a few tables with a large umbrella to provide shade. The day was rather
hot, but some parties were enjoying the day and spending their time outside. In
total there were about ten people outside and they all appeared to be enjoying
themselves, each with a iced coffee or cold beverage in hand. It was a very
social atmosphere outside as people were talking, laughing, or somehow in the
midst of a very lively conversation.
As
I moved inside I could feel a breeze of fresh cool air rush over me as I
entered the lobby. The inside was a very busy as people were carrying out their
conversations and people placing their order at the register. The whole space
was full of energy, as everyone in the building (staff included) was active in
one way or another. Everyone was occupied with what ever it is they were doing,
but coffee was involved in one way or another. There was a college couple
enjoying a conversation as they sipped on their frappuccinos, a business man on
his cell phone pouring creamer in to his coffee, and to a professor grading
papers as he drank a venti iced coffee and a poppy seed bagel. In the 1 hours I
was there must have seen over 70 costumers go in and out. The entire situation was put into
perspective in Charlene Elliott’s words, “…as the preferred beverage of Americans
and Canadians (second only to water), it has definite socio-cultural
significance (Elliott, 370).” From the sheer amount of patrons that went into
the location, it was made clear just how prominent coffee is on the lives of
people. It also goes to show the economic power of coffee, as it is a product
that is consumed on such a constant basis.
For
some coffee was a break from work, while for others it was a catalyst for some
other business. In particular being near a college campus meant that a lot of
students were able to come to Starbucks with a group of friends and enjoy a
nice social setting or come to try and get some work done. I saw many students
on their computers, as they appeared to be working on their projects or essay,
for many of the students were deep in though and typing away on their
keyboards. However, each student always had a large coffee, frap, or
caffeinated beverage in their hand or by their side. “The beverage itself has
become integral to working and professional culture: it is simultaneously a
pick-me-up that provides greater productivity and a pause (in the form of the
coffee break) (Elliott, 371).” Thus, coffee can be consumed for a variety of
reason, but the major reason revolves around work related issues. Getting work
done, meeting people over coffee, or enjoying a coffee break with friends means
that coffee plays a significant role in a lot of social and professional
situations.
People
come to coffeehouses because they play an important role as social and work
related gathering points. Starbucks is a prime example of how a single
product/food item can bring together so many different people. Whether to meet
up with friends or spend time working, coffee is the perfect companion to
either situation, and it was what I witnessed during my time examining a
Starbuck’s location. The role that coffee plays in our society is one of
influence and importance because of how prevalent is in the daily lives of
Americans, for coffee is a very dynamic product that is not just enjoyed for
its taste but for is social implications.
Works Cited
Elliott, Charlene. "Consuming Caffeine: The
Discourse of Starbucks and Coffee."Consumption
Markets & Culture 4.4 (2001): 369-82. Print.
NA. "Coffee Drinking Statistics." Statistic Brain. N.p., 2013. Web.
<http://www.statisticbrain.com/coffee-drinking-statistics/>.
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