Band 6+: In many countries, coffee chains are expanding rapidly, which some claim threatens the survival of small local cafes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In many parts of the world, the expansion of major coffee companies became increasingly noticeable and some argue that this development may threaten well-being of small local cafes. I disagree with this viewpoint because I believe that local cafes serve exquisite experience and designed for people who value personal experience.

To begin with, local café businesses are usually owned by family or local people that really enjoy running it. In other words, when people absolutely love their job, they put all of their effort into it. That is why, small cafes serve unique experience to their customers by using locally roasted coffee beans, baking traditional pastries and overall providing authentic atmosphere. For comparison, Starbucks as a major coffee company specialize in various types of drinks including different types of coffee, lemonades, milkshakes and ice teas which can tell that they work mainly for earning preference of many people, not particularly coffee lovers.

Coffee chains are designed for people who need regular coffee and fast service. All of their staff members are trained to prepare drinks fast so they can overcome crowded people waiting for their order. In contrast, local cafes are all about aesthetics, clients enjoy the time by drinking delicious coffee with some fresh croissant and reading a book. This experience cannot be replicated by mass coffee companies as they mostly focus on the numbers of customers rather than personal experience. For example, Laduree is a famous café well-known among local people for serving the best coffee and macaroons in Paris. According to number of customers visiting this place, it is clear that high-quality ambience and personalized service still attract loyal audience despite the presence of large coffee chains.

In conclusion, although big coffee companies are rapidly expanding and attracting large numbers of consumers, they do not necessarily threaten small local cafés. These independent businesses continue to thrive by offering authenticity, personalized experience and cultural value that mass chains cannot fully imitate.