Growers and Grocers

When I was in high school, it was the Laundromat. For some kids it was the mall as well. Or the pool hall. For those in my mother’s generation it was the pizza joint. Teens have forever had an evolving sense of where they belonged and translated that into hangout spots like this. In truth, I couldn’t tell you why anyone would hang out in a Laundromat if they didn’t have laundry to do, but that is a whole different topic.

In any case, these days, teens are flocking to coffeehouses – their new hangout of choice.

Coffeehouses have been around and well-known since the ’60s, but several in the area are quickly being discovered as fantastic places for students, teenagers, and people of any age to hang out, study, and of course, drink a cup a joe.

Internet accessibility, the ability to study, chat or just chill, and the availability of fun drinks all contribute to this growing trend that has been reflected in the increased number of coffeehouse popping up everywhere. And not to mention that the coffee cup, and it’s cute little corragated sleeve are fall’s hottest accessory.

“This is about having a place that’s not home to hang out with your friends,'’ said Harry Balzer, vice president of the NPD Group, a market research firm that tracks America’s eating habits.

There are more than 21,000 coffee bars nationwide, according to the Specialty Coffee Association of America, up from about 5,000 just 10 years ago.

And as a natural progression, the number of teens ordering these beverages is on the rise, experts say.

The National Coffee Association says younger coffee drinkers are becoming a larger percentage of the occasional coffee drinker segment as the category of cold coffee beverages continues to grow.

NPD Group, a market research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y., has statistics showing the number of teens drinking coffee in cafes or restaurants has increased 12 percent since last year, on top of a 15 percent rise the year before.

So what’s the buzz about coffee and coffee houses?

“Let’s face it, the jolt from the caffeine is a strong attraction. Besides, it makes teens feel older, classy and sophisticated,” says Nick Tournis, the proprietor with Peter Kazanas of the newly opened Pop Culture Coffee House in Crown Point.

Coffee houses are considered a positive teen trend. “I’ll meet you after class for a cup of coffee,” is fast replacing “How about grabbing some nachos and a Coke?”

But some health experts are concerned that the sometimes high-caffeinated, high-fat and high-sugar could negatively impact teens’ waistlines.

Group Health’s Dr. Jeffrey Lindenbaum tells parents that since most teens have just one or two espresso-based drinks a day, it’s not enough to be concerned about in any case. And for the record, coffee doesn’t stunt kids’ growth. The real dangers are for heavy drinkers, who may be vulnerable to osteoporosis because caffeine hampers bone-building.

But for most kids, sugar and fat are a bigger deal. The 570 calories in a Grande Mocha Malt Frappuccino is comparable to the calorie load in a Big Mac.

But lest we forget, unlike the Big Mac, a Grande Mocha Malt Frappuccino can be ordered as a non-fat or soy or other lightening specification. Coffees come in a wide variety of customizables that let teens, and us adults too, control what nutritional values we get from them.