The Dining Experience That's Common In Europe But Not In America
One of the best things about traveling to Europe is sitting at a cafe and calmly sipping your drink while you talk, read, or people-watch. This ritual is part of daily life in many European countries. In Vienna, Austria, a city known for its cafe culture, people spend entire afternoons at coffee houses. In various parts of Italy, France, and Spain, outdoor seating makes cafes the perfect third space to hang out with friends. The magic of the experience is truly about being able to enjoy the little luxuries in life without rushing or worrying about being "productive."
When Americans travel to these countries and discover the wonders of cafe culture, they often come back with a deep sense of nostalgia and — dare we say it? — jealousy. Unless they're in one of the handful of walkable cities in the United States, they'll need to drive to a coffee shop (likely a chain), go in, get their coffee, and leave quickly. Even if there's seating at the spot, it's often indoors since many shops are located in bland, beige strip malls or near busy roads. The experience just can't hold a candle to walking down a tree-lined street to a corner cafe, then sitting outside and watching people going about their life.
It's not difficult to understand why so many Americans miss European cafes once they're back home. The real question is, why can't America replicate this simple yet wonderful experience?
Why cafe culture doesn't work in the U.S.
There are many reasons that could explain the difference between cafes in the Unites States and Europe, but the main one might be an approach to productivity. Many Western European nations value work-life balance and free time, but American culture often emphasizes busyness. This is perhaps why Europeans think of coffee as something they can drink while relaxing, while Americans see it as a caffeine boost to enhance their energy so they can be more productive. In this context, it makes more sense to just grab the coffee and go back to work.
Another big factor for this difference is car culture. The cafe magic is lost when you can't walk to the coffee shop or sit outside with a pretty view. Being inside can be nice, but cozy cafes aren't the norm in the United States. Even Starbucks, which originally won over the public with its welcoming spaces, has become more obsessed with quick turnover than with creating comfortable atmospheres. Once beloved, the chain is now a controversy magnet that prefers serving syrupy slop rather than high-quality coffee.
American cafes are also absurdly overpriced. No one wants to go into a bad coffee shop and pay $8 for one crappy latte. European cafes, on the other hand, tend to be less expensive so it's feasible to order several cups while enjoying il dolce far niente, as Italians call it: the sweetness of doing nothing.