The Reason I Chose One Coffee Shop Over Another

This morning, I stopped at a local coffee shop of mine for a coffee and a bagel. I usually get the same drinks and have my go to food items as well depending on my mood.

However, my visit to the coffee shop I usually go to has been a different experience for about the last few months. On my way to this coffee shop of which I am a regular, loyal customer, I have to pass by another business — a new coffee shop that just set up business not too long ago.

Today, I took a brief pause in front of the competition coffee shop, before continuing on just across the street to the coffee shop I was heading to in the first place.

This incident, at surface level, sounds nothing more than a day to day routine for many. A lot of us pass by the competition whether it be a store, restaurant, etc. every day and make a decision of where to conduct our business.

As I passed by the competition coffee shop, it reminded me of what it means to be a loyal customer and why I ultimately decided to continue on and stop at my regular coffee shop after all.

I have been a regular at this coffee shop for quite some time. I’ve gotten to know the people who work there and own it and a few of the other regular customers too — some who stop by faithfully every morning for a cup of coffee and to gather and chat with friends.

While I am a regular loyal customer, I don’t visit as often as I’d like. But when I do, I always feel welcome.

The sense of feeling welcome is one reason why I chose this coffee shop over the other one.

Of course, it has far more than just the feeling of being welcomed that led me to my decision.

I stopped at the competition coffee shop one time before and have felt welcome there and I admit, the drink I got there (an iced matcha) was excellent.

My preferred coffee shop gives me something the other one didn’t. Something that can only be given from being a long time loyal customer.

It’s also has a lot to do with the relationships I cultivated over the years with the people that work there and fellow customers.

Over time, they’ve come to know me by name or at least by face. There’s a sense of familiarity. Every time I visit, I look forward to the familiar faces and atmosphere as I sit at one of my usual spots with one of my usual drinks.

Lastly, the atmosphere is another reason that led me to my choice of which coffee shop I stopped at.

The coffee shop I regularly stop at has a wall full of artwork — paintings and sketches from local artists. The atmosphere feels especially welcoming for artists of all kinds including writers! I really like to spend my time writing and plotting out story ideas there.

When I stopped at the other coffee shop, the first thing I noticed was the atmosphere. While it felt welcoming, it also felt empty. Like something was missing.

The coffee shop had clean, crisp, white walls and a polished tile floor giving off an atmosphere of simplicity. The atmosphere appeared almost too neat. They did have a few pictures on the wall as well as a few decorative plants but also plenty of open space.

To me, it felt like they had just moved in and weren’t quite finished decorating. I do however know many others who prefer that level of simplicity.

While I’ll likely visit them again sometime, I just didn’t find the simple atmosphere too appealing to my tastes. Maybe it’s because I like a little organized messiness that many artists have. Maybe there just needed to be a little more color.

I will visit the new coffee shop again sometime but my regular go to coffee shop will always feel like home to me and will always have my loyalty.