Greeks seek refuge in coffee shops amid slumpATHENS (AFP) — Determined to keep their cheer in the gloom of the economic downturn, Greeks are holding on to the nation's unofficial shrink couch -- the coffee shop -- for a few hours of escape from their bills.
At a time when hundreds of small businesses around the country teeter in a market plagued by falling consumer demand and a loan drought, cafeterias are doing a brisk trade with millions refusing to forego their daily coffee fix.
"Crisis or not, Greeks will have their coffee," said Phaedon Vaimakis, 29, a junior financial analyst enjoying his cup on a warm Athens spring afternoon.
Though not a coffee producer, the country swears by the bean -- Greeks go through an estimated 5.8 billion cups a year whether on a date, a business appointment or just to get out of bed in the morning...
Greeks seek refuge in coffee shops amid slump
