Cafes

Modernists would tag a “cafe” as any kind of uniform dining establishment that serves both coffee and snack food, or breakfast. In reality, cafes are much more than that – especially in Europe, where coffee dens are often considered the hub of the community. America features cafes in abundance in almost every city you care to set foot, only in the U.S they are known as coffee houses and have spawned a multi-billion dollar industry for chains such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee. Coffeehouses developed in the United States around the 1950's owing to the post-war migration of Italians seeking a securer future. They became an essential community hub for social get-togethers and impromptu music venues. Espresso making is now considered an art-form (notably in Seattle and New York), influencing international competitions for latte art, espresso pouring and even speed coffee-making. By contrast, entertainment capital Las Vegas abounds with some of the most stylish coffeehouses in America (the best of which are featured in our cafes section). Purists are of the belief cafes originate within Italy. Venice and Sicily are renowned for their bohemian street cafes, usually frequented mid-morning, or late afternoon for espresso and a light snack. Cafes in France are equally as ambient, however usually double up as local eat-in patisseries, serving pastries and preserves alongside hot beverages. In the U.K, the cafe is symbolic of early informal dining chains whom specialized in the essential morning “fry up” of eggs, bacon, sausages and beans, coupled with a hot beverage (usually tea.) Like America, it has since evolved its ideas with the roll-out of coffeehouse chains and is said to be home to the most diverse proliferation of cafes in the world!