THESUPPRESSION OFCOFFEEHOUSES: ACOMPARISONOFTHE17THCENTURY LONDONANDMODERNCOFFEESHOPMOVEMENTS

The coffeehouses of the 17th century in London were places of vibrant political discourse. Patrons of the shops could sit for hours debating relevant societal matters for hours with strangers of all different backgrounds. This environment was well-aligned with the theories introduced by Jürgen Habermas regarding the public sphere. Are contemporary coffee shops still places of vibrant discourse? In order to answer this question, an ethnographic study was conducted in a mid-sized city in central Florida analyzing nine local coffee shops. The analysis consisted of three primary categories: layout and design, discursive resources, and public events. The findings of this study conclude that multiple principles from the original English coffeehouses were present, however, there has been a distinct shift to an increasingly private sphere and lack of discourse.