I've enjoyed the coffee discussion and particularly the passionate defense of
Tim's mild coffee.  It makes me think of the old drug-set-setting paradigm.
The Canadians I know seem to associate a visit to Tim's with relaxation.
Anticipating a bad day at the office? Have some stress?  Go get a donut and
coffee.  (I've jokingly called donuts the Canadian prozac)  The Americans I
know, myself included, make those coffee visits for stimulation.  And coffee
places are worksites. My colleagues and I all grade papers and exams sitting in
coffee places and we write books and articles there. Universities now have
coffee places not just in the campus center but in classroom and office
buildings. The fact that so many independent coffee houses, university coffee
places and the chains are now wireless network sites is an added attraction.
Janet Golden
Rutgers