I've got an amateur interest - part avuncular, part ethnological - in the folkways of the group who now seem to prefer to call themselves 'young professionals'. (I assume 'yuppies' is now thought to be un-PC.) On the frequent discussions in this forum about gentrification, whether FH/HoP on the up and up, house prices etc, coffee shops seem to feature prominently. Two recent examples form the 'HoP house prices' thread

I can understand the attraction of coffee shops when one is travelling away from home. But I rarely if ever feel the need to go to a coffee shop in FH where I live. If I want a cup of coffee, I make it myself at home - much cheaper and more convenient. So I assume that coffee shops must have some special signification in 'young professional' culture which outsiders like me find it difficult to read. Has anyone done any research on this?