I’d like to talk about my close friend Oliver, who is an absolute coffee enthusiast and constantly on the lookout for new places to grab a brew.
Oliver works as a freelance graphic designer, so he spends a lot of his working week operating out of different spots around the city. Rather than sticking to the same old routine, he makes a point of researching independent cafes almost every weekend. He usually tracks them down through local food blogs, neighbourhood forums, or simply by wandering off the beaten track down quiet side streets when he is in a new part of town. He has got a real knack for spotting places that most people would just walk straight past.
As for the kinds of spots he prefers, he generally steers clear of the big multinational chains. Instead, he gravitates towards small, artisan coffee shops that take pride in their craft, places that roast their own beans and offer a relaxed, quirky decor. He is particularly fond of cafes tucked away in historic buildings or those filled with house plants and natural light, where the atmosphere feels warm and unhurried.
I think he enjoys this habit so much because, for him, it is about far more than just getting a caffeine hit. It is partly the sensory pleasure of tasting different single-origin roasts, but it is also about the ambience. He finds that being in a fresh, creative environment helps spark his imagination for work. On top of that, he genuinely loves supporting independent businesses and chatting with local baristas who are passionate about what they do. Whenever I meet up with him, it always turns into a mini adventure because he has invariably discovered some fantastic new hidden gem.