Café Culture
T.S. Eliot’s J. Alfred Prufrock talks about life being measured out with coffee spoons. We need only look around us to see how coffee culture has evolved. From the Russian samovars and ornate coffee urns to copper pots that we heated on the stove. We remember the percolator pots that sat on the counters in the 50s, even if we only saw them on TV.
Antique tea and coffee pots and grinder
Low Country Walk Antiques on St. Simons Island has an excellent collection of antique tea and coffee pots, urns, coffee grinders, tea caddies, and more.
Automatic drip machines with glass carafes and burners are still around but single-cup makers like Keurigs that can accommodate a travel mug illustrate our movement from coffee as a social gathering at home to a morning necessity as we head out the door. Coffee shops as social gathering places are still going strong. Instead of sharing a pot though, we get our half-caf soy latte or double shot caramel macchiato just the way we like it before we sit down together.
Hand-turn coffee grinders are a thing of the past, but French press carafes are à la mode. Even our coffee cups have evolved. We scoff at the size of the tea/coffee cups that came with our china and grab mugs that hold almost twice as much. We collect mugs from diners and have many as souvenirs or nostalgic pieces. Clever mugs, innovative design, funny sayings, pop culture references, we love them all!
Coffee mugs etc
“We want to do a lot of stuff; we’re not in great shape. We didn’t get a good night’s sleep. We’re a little depressed. Coffee solves all these problems in one delightful little cup.” ~ Jerry Seinfeld
Let’s Talk Shop...Coffee Shop, That Is
There’s no question that coffee is a social beverage. As mentioned earlier, the opening of coffee houses went hand in hand with the popularity of the beverage. Just as Arabian coffee houses were community gathering places, London coffee houses were social hubs where a patron could engage in stimulating conversation and political debates. They were often called “penny universities” in England, because for the price of a cup of coffee you could get quite an education. Many coffee houses grew into businesses, such as Edward Lloyd’s Coffee House, now recognized worldwide as Lloyd’s of London. England’s first coffee club, the Oxford Coffee Club, was known as the place ideas and innovation were born and shared. It eventually grew to become The Royal Society.
Scenes from a Coffee House
When Starbucks opened in Seattle in 1971, it changed our coffee culture once again by making coffee from around the world easily accessible across the US and tailoring beverages to the unique palate of each customer. While some say the arrival of Starbucks meant the death of small coffee shops, a counter argument can be made that without Starbucks we wouldn’t have the increased demand for coffee and a culture that welcomes new, small, independently-owned coffee shops. Coffee is now considered an artisan craft and there’s more demand for sustainable, locally roasted, fair trade beans. The growing, roasting, and brewing processes are all looked at closely when we choose our coffees—a far cry from the instant Maxwell House that was so popular after WWII!
To grab a cup locally, there are several excellent coffee shops besides Starbucks where you can sit down and enjoy the warm beverage of your choice.
Sign at Daddy Cate’s Coffees
Daddy Cate’s Coffees on Gloucester Street in Historic Brunswick is known as your hometown coffee shop and has just that homey feel. Coffee, espresso drinks, hot chocolate, and gourmet tea are always served with a smile. Of course there’s no shortage of delicious treats to enjoy with your drink!
The Local Brew sticker
The Local Brew in the Shops on Market Street on St. Simons Island is a newer addition. From café au lait to Charleston teas, they have a full menu of warm and cold beverages and fresh pressed juices, plus breakfast and lunch offerings. If you feel like breaking out of the coffee rut, their chai latte is delicious.
The Market at Sea Island crew knows how make a mean cappuccino and other espresso drinks too. They also have a nice selection of baked goods, breakfast and lunch. The store sells tea, coffee, wine, and some really great mugs too.
seaisland.com/dining/the-market/
Menu board at Palm Coast Coffee Café and Pub SSI
Palm Coast Coffee Café & Pub is a cozy little café in the Village on St. Simons Island with indoor and outdoor dining. In addition to breakfast and lunch, they serve up traditional coffee and espresso drinks and have a board of seasonal special flavored lattes and more both with and without alcohol. Their Irish coffee is a treat!
Island Mocha from Wake Up Coffee
The Village Oven on Union Street in Downtown Brunswick offers coffee and espresso drinks featuring Café Campesino Coffees, small farmer, fair trade, organic coffee from Americus, GA. In addition to breakfast and lunch, there are mouthwatering fresh baked scones, muffins, cookies, and specialty breads.
Wake Up Coffee Co. has locations on St. Simons Island and in Brunswick.They create and roast their own coffee blends and supply to other local restaurants. You can purchase coffee by the cup or by the bag. Hot and cold coffee drinks and teas are offered as well as a variety of baked goods. Their Island Mocha is a favorite.
Table Talk
Have you ever thought about how coffee tables came about? We have a piece of furniture found in almost every living room that owes its existence to the
Coffee Table ad
convenience of setting down a cup of coffee! According to history, F. Stuart Foote of the Imperial Furniture Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan invented the coffee table around 1920 when he cut the legs off a dining room table to provide his wife with a low table for a party. He called his creation a coffee table because the low height enabled guest to rest their coffee cups on the table in between sips. It should be noted, however, that this notion of convenience for cups was not new, as tea tables did exist. These taller, round shaped tables were placed beside chairs during tea parties. Coffee tables became a standard household item. And they spawned coffee table books!
The term "coffee table book" first appeared in a 1961 issue of Arts Magazine. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a large expensive book with many pictures that is typically placed on a table for people to look at in a casual way." From art to music, French countrysides to photographic history, coffee table books exist about virtually every subject imaginable. (You can find a fantastic selection at Righton Books in Redfern Village, FYI.) Although Kramer’s Coffee Table Book About Coffee Table Books may not have been a bestseller, there are some great coffee table books about coffee and tea!
Coffee Table with book
Curl Up With a Book
CS Lewis quote
If you’re interested in learning more about coffee or tea, there are volumes and volumes that are dedicated to virtually every aspect from the planting to the life of a barista. You can also find delightful fiction where tea or coffee play a significant role in the story. Here are some suggestions for your reading pleasure:
Coffee:
The Coffee Trader by David Liss
The Various Flavors of Coffee by Anthony Capella
The Coffee Diary by Caroline Kellems
God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee by Michaele Weissman
The Devil’s Cup by Stewart Lee Allen
Coffee and Tea Books
Tea:
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose
Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West by Beatrice Hohenegger
The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo
Teatime for the Firefly by Shona Patel
Songs to Sip By
Music Coffee
Naturally if you’re settled in with a nice cup of coffee or tea, you should have some good music to add to the warm ambiance. Streaming services have coffee house channels to create the vibe of your local shop, but if you need suggestions, we put together a mix of tea and coffee songs from across decades and genres that you might enjoy.
“A Nice Cup of Tea” – Binnie Hale
Clouds in my coffee
“The Coffee Song” – Frank Sinatra
“You’re the Cream in My Coffee” – Nat King Cole
“Tea for Two” – Doris Day
“Cigarettes and Coffee” – Otis Redding
“Cup of Coffee” – Johnny Cash
“Afternoon Tea” – The Kinks
“One More Cup of Coffee” – Bob Dylan
“Tea and Sympathy” – Janis Ian
“You’re So Vain” – Carly Simon
“No Sugar Tonight” – Guess Who
“Tea in the Sahara” – The Police
“Black Coffee in Bed” – Squeeze
Starfish and Coffee – Prince
“English Tea” – Paul McCartney
“Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop” – Landon Pigg
