Yet more coffee, anyone?

I like to keep an eye on the coffee culture in Whitstable. I'm a frequent customer, for one thing. And it's interesting that few small businesses, aside from hairdressers maybe, can perhaps inspire such fierce loyalty. Cappuccino consumers and the espresso elite can be very picky about where to call for their shots.
We in Whitstable can get in even more of a froth on the subject. A chain coffee company's High Street entrance was daubed with 'Costa go home' back in 2009, regardless of the fact that it brought 10 local jobs (and that many of this firm's outlets are franchises, so sort-of independent businesses).
I still meet a few local people who say 'oh I never go in there' - but there clearly aren't enough of them to ease the queues frequently faced by the busy baristas. I do wonder how often some of these folk would buy a coffee out anyway. As I've remarked before, Costa's sole but considerable advantage to me over 'independents' is its longer opening hours.
The anti-chain brigade was quick to rise up again when Tesco-backed Harris and Hoole put down a marker on the ex-Clinton Cards shop across the road from Costa (as first made public in an earlier entry on this blog). Posters were posted and petitions raised, and the story even gave the Daily Mail an opportunity for 'arty-type' bashing. The use of Tesco carrier bags as protesting headgear was loudly decried, though, by parents of small children.
Some of the criticism was directed at the fact that Tesco is an invisible though substantial partner in H & H: 'A little bit about who we are' on the company website is so little that it omits any mention of the supermarket's 49% stake.
Eight months later, Clinton Cards is still empty with its windows now used as a convenient noticeboard for other, more overtly political campaigns - Axe the Bedroom Tax, for example.
Meanwhile, even more coffee cups are being filled and drained up and down Whitstable town centre. I came home from holiday to find the Rendez-vous traditional 'caff' re-invented as theWhitstable Coffee Company. Almost at the same time, David Brown's deli in Harbour Street has expanded into next door offering coffees during the day, and wines by the glass or bottle in the evening. And on top of that, the new Waltshaw's local food outlet a few doors along has installed a couple of tables and chairs with locally roasted beans on the drinks menu.

However, I notice that there are now also a few gaps in the town centre, created by Clark's Flooring's move, greengrocery closures and (as of this week), the departure of the Found At Home store after less than two years.
So... even more coffee, anyone?