Anyone for coffee?

When i first visited America 15 years ago i was struck by the number of people walking around carrying plastic coffee cups with those beaker style tops beloved by babies. At the time I wondered why they had to walk and drink, rather than waiting to get to the office before having the coffee. Seemed a bit odd, the whole drinking on the move phenonemon.

10 years later and the UK, slavishly following American culture, was deluged with Starbucks and Costa Coffee shops. There I was wandering around London with my baby beaker, drinking hideously expensive, oversized and not very good cappuccino.

Now, anyone that knows anything about southern europe will realise that it's difficult for the coffee shop barons to get a toehold and that Portugal is no exception - thank god!

For the average portuguese citizen and many others (ie. me) coffee is a way of life and cultural icon all on its own, and not to be messed with under any circumstances. Cafes bulge in the early mornings with workers having their first cup of the day before going to the office, and then remain busy all day with people popping in for a hit. People sit in the shade (obviously the english sit in the sun) and chat, people watch and generally don't bother hurrying.

Small, strong and black is the order of the day, maybe with water to quench the thirst and the bill comes to a euro - yes 1 euro, not a pocket emptying £3.

So go away you coffee shop barons and don't bother coming here, I don't want you. And any portuguese people that happen to read this please don't give in to the rapid americanisation of the world otherwise you too will be walking around with your baby beakers lamenting the passing of the little cafes that used to populate every street in Portugal.

This is a cafe society and long may it last!