Coffee shops

You have chains. The taste is the standard worldwide.

You have small independent shops.

You have custom brewed, pick your expensive beans, and snack and spend a hour being a hipster.

You have fast and furious stalls, with no seats, you walk in grab your brew and go.

You have variety.

And yet, people tend to find a single shop that they like and become a regular. Loyalty programs, purchase points, convenience, etc all draw people back and that chance to get out and see, to explore, to have different experiences (which can even be found in the large chains) goes away. Life trends towards regularity, rather that diversity.

When I travel, there is comfort in the large chains, but also excitement in the small places. So I mix what I do. In every country I visit, if a McDonalds exists, I eat McDonalds in that country, always ordering one of the local items that is not part of the standard menu. I've had McDonalds in over 20 countries, with each meal being different. All were ok except Ireland, but that's a post for another time.

I also visit at least one small independent coffee shop, that only takes orders in the local language and get their recommended coffee. I ask what the recommendation is and that is what I go with. It's an experience. Honestly, I've not liked more than a few coffees that I've got, but each one has reminded me that there is a world outside of my small home radius.

In Japan, I am regular at a single place :-)