Photographs by Kazi Ahnaf Aquib
Why are coffee houses so important? Historically, they are where great ideas are born. From thinkers to writers to various artists, all of them confided in coffee houses as places of creative inspiration for centuries. No wonder the hike of coffee houses directly coincide with the Age of Enlightenment.
Coffee houses in Dhaka played an important role in helping individuals weave the socialisation thread. The coffee house gossip used to be in spotlight decades ago. But other eatery, offering variety of eats and drinks have stolen the spotlight. However, quite recently from pastry shops to ice-cream parlours to donut shops, coffee houses have strived their way and made Dhaka streets busier than ever.
The décor is another striking feature that sets coffee houses apart. It does not aim for posh and elegance, rather convenience and comfort. From mismatched pieces to a specific theme, they have it all. The lighting, music playing in the background and most importantly the thick, coffee aroma sets a unique environment which immediately renders the person to feel alive and set their mind on to whatever they want.
Coffee houses are the ideal place to meet up old friends and recall the perfectly imperfect days. Chills run down Humayra’s spine as someone mentions the prank that almost got all of us into trouble- something we would never be brave enough to do again. Looking back, the only picture we get to see is the bold, daring side of us. As the conversation flows, we notice that there’s more to our friendship than just silly pranks. We were there for each other through thick and thin and we are who we are because of these unnecessary yet necessary long conversations. The good things and bad things helped shape our lives in the way it is. Nothing like The Hot Café Latte at Columbus Cofee could ever complement such deep thoughts and emotions.
As absurd as it may sound, a few suggest that coffee houses are the best places to study. It’s not as busy as the other eatery and the fresh aroma of roasted coffee beans make up for any noise that is made in the surrounding. Indeed, coffee houses like North End Coffee Roasters and Georges’ Café are filled with students concentrating on books, working on their laptops and even discussing projects. Sipping in the perfectly blended Hazelnut Latte or Cappuchino energizes and refreshes the mind which in turn enhances productivity. Be it a solo or group study sessions, they seem to be as effective, and in some cases even more, in a coffee house as it would have been in a library.
Coffee houses played, and still plays a significant role in building our nation. People stumble upon great ideas while discussing business proposals or even start-ups. Coffee houses like Beans and Aroma provide a platform for potential individuals from different academic background to brainstorm and merge their ideas. Moreover, it gives them a good opportunity to identify the flaws in each other’s ideas so that the final output is picture perfect. Drinks like the Café Mocha and the Cookies and Cream Crushers are delicious companions to a gruelling brainstorming session
From business start-up ideas to casual and professional meetings, coffee houses have witnessed them all. Be it a posh coffee house or a street side coffee stall, the scenario is the same. It’s either the gossip, the meet-up, study sessions, planning sessions or business meetings that drags the crowd to grab their favourite cuppa.
From college friends hanging out and listening to the radio to today’s generation asking for the Wi-Fi password and taking selfies- the coffee houses have imprints of very many personalities.
Although people’s choices and activities may have changed but the the essence of the coffee houses remains the same. It is still that one place where you can curl up in a couch alone with a mug of your favourite coffee without hesitance and it is also a place where you can meet up with long lost friends. The coffee house adapts to cater the coffee lover’s needs; it will be what you want it to be at your time of need!