I have a theory pertaining to North America and it's heritage. I have never been overseas to Europe or Italy, but I have the notion of the cafe's there, once upon a time being known as the penny universities. I have experienced the Italian cafe' vibe on the coast of BC among other things.
My theory is this. We, particularly meaning prairie culture, have evolved from the wild west of drinking and shootouts in the saloons of yesteryear. While growing up, I can recall things like alcohol tolerance being considered a virtue. Having never been in a fistfight though, I can only speculate that the rowdiness and brawls coming from the taverns and nightclubs are wild west heritage.
Leaving the alcohol from my youth behind, cafe's have become a mainstay in my life. Currently postcards of Inspire Cafe' are up for sale at the source along with framed photos for sale at Station Coffee Company, both of which are located downtown Medicine Hat on second street.
