As a college student who’s currently completing her undergraduate thesis, coffee had been my lifeline. I need my daily caffeine fix to keep my brain functioning. However, about two weeks ago, I experienced writer’s block, leaving me with a blank canvas. This was when I decided to write my paper in a café, like I always did pre-pandemic, in the hopes that doing so will help the words flow.
I slaved away in two different branches of Starbucks for three consecutive days, from 11AM to 8PM. During the time I was in the café, I noticed a lot of amusing things, especially with regards to the visitors. Through my three-day experience, I can confidently say that I can somehow categorize the café-goers into seven kinds.
The Students
This category of visitors flock to the café in their uniforms during lunch time and after school hours. During their stay, students either study, prepare the materials for a presentation, do their projects or talk about quizzes and school requirements. While they only stay for a limited time at lunch, they do leave quite into the evening after class. I have also observed that students going about their work in Starbucks can be further categorized into “crammers” or those who “simply enjoy the ambience”. Whichever sub-category they are in, you could see dedication in their eyes, nonetheless.
The Friend Groups or “Barkadahan”
“Barkadas” of varying ages are also regular visitors of the café. They occupy large tables or a number of separate but closely placed ones during the early afternoon until well into night time. Some groups stay for hours, while some stay just for a little while. The young groups are usually the noisiest. The older ones, on the other hand, are occasionally noisy and they usually utilize the café for reunions and get-togethers – a needed break from their busy lives.
The Lovers
Not Beyoncé, but all my single ladies, PUT ‘YO HANDS UP!
This next category might drive some people insane or make them cringe, but lovers are considerably regulars at Starbucks. Cafés are truly one of the most popular “dating spots” due to the ambience and “romantic vibes” they radiate. I personally experienced the truth of this claim when I saw a number of couples spend time in the café. Some of them talk or watch something on a laptop or tablet. Some sit normally, some are stuck together like magnets. Holding hands, with the lady’s head on the man’s shoulder, is thankfully the most PDA I’ve seen.
Families
I think this category of visitors irks me more than the previous one. I don’t know if it’s because of the burden of my thesis or my dislike for noise, in general, but there are at least two to three families with unruly kids who stayed in the cafés I was at, and believe me, I tried my hardest to hold back yelling at the kids.
There were a lot of families who I crossed paths with in the days I was at Starbucks. There were families bidding goodbye to a member going abroad, there were those who are just bonding, then there were the ones with kids – the last kind are engraved in my mind. There are people who are disgusted by dogs or cats just by merely being inside cafés but have nothing against kids who literally disrupt the peace inside the establishment – I don’t understand the logic.
I also had no choice but to bear the ungodly fuss for a good hour or so. It was unfortunate, but I continued writing nonetheless.
The Office Workers
I saw a lot of office workers in Starbucks, too. Unlike the first category, these people only rush in at around 5PM, onwards. Some drop by during lunch break to get their caffeine fix, but they don’t stay long. The ones who do lounge after office hours always sit near outlets and on comfortable tables. They always have their laptop and documents with them and while focused on their tasks, they’d get work-related calls. They were also busy working on Excel or Word files – their coffee long forgotten.
The “Star” Collectors
‘Tis the season to be jolly as Starbucks, once again, didn’t disappoint with their holiday collection. Collect “18 stars” by purchasing any 18 drinks of any size and get the chance to choose from two variations of ring organizers, a steel tumbler or a large-sized cold cup.
I’m not going to deny it, I’ve been an avid collector of the Starbucks Holiday Line. In fact, I already exchanged my stars for the steel tumbler. I really love the design and, as it turns out, I’m not the only one. Starting at 6PM, the café is flocked by visitors whose majority is “purchasing for the stars”. The situation is kind of similar to that of Hunger Games – a race to completion because the stocks are not guaranteed.
It’s a bit of a hassle to those who needed seats so they could “work” but, thankfully, the people in this category do not stay longer than an hour.
The Coffee Lovers and the Quiet Ones
A (coffee) toast to those who simply love the aroma within and the calming ambience of coffee shops! This lovely category is for you!
Honestly, the people I am writing about in this section are relatively rare. I holed-up for days in Starbucks but I only saw TWO visitors who fell under this category; however, I still want to include it nonetheless.
There are people who just want to enjoy their coffee and envelope themselves with its aroma. There are those who simply want to gather their thoughts. There are writers who seek inspiration within cafes, and there are visitors who just find comfort in it. I should know – before my thesis, I identify with this category the most.
These are the kinds of people who are visiting Starbucks on a daily basis. Which one do you resonate with most?
