What does "tapcaff" mean?

Most definetly a bar. Han and Chewie ain't sitting around drinking some frothy fruity-ass coffeine, reading an IKEA catalogue and listening to Paul Anka. They're gettin pissed, picking fights, gambling and making eyes at the pretty ladies. Despite my best efforts, Starbucks has repeatedly asked me to leave without making a scene when engaging in any of the aforementioned activities in one of their fine establishments.

 

Badure: No Han, but did you taste these riblets? They're delicious!
Han: No. What sort of ribs are they?
Badure: I don't know...let me check. Waitress, what sort of ribs are these?
Waitress: Ewok.
Badure: Ewok? What's an Ewok? *Chomp, chomp, chomp!*

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I guess I gave Applebee's as a real-world analog, because it seems that at least a few tapcafes are built around a gimmick. The Whistler's Whirlpool in TTT is a good example of what I mean.

 

The tapcafe Han, Lando and Lobot dropped in on Bastion in VotF seemed more like a snack bar than anything else. (no mention of hot chocolate)

 

VotF also has Karrde visiting Pembric's ThrusterBurn Tapcafe, which first featured in the DarkStryder Campaign and is quite clearly a bar. Complete with a dance floor and casino. The DSC references in Karrde's subplot made this fanboy very very happy.

 

I've always thought of it as being a seedy back street drinking establishment (serving both alcoholic & soft drinks & peanut/bar snacks) frequented only by gamblers & smugglers & people of questionable character.

 

I was just rereading Crimson Empire the other day, and the bar-scene view of a tapcafe seems more and more the most feasible description.

 

Best new series on TV, if you ask me.

As for tap-caf, always thought of a starbucks + deli type place. A hangout of sorts where you can sit, drink, eat...

Brian

 

I was thinking as a random idea that all the variant words for coffee analogues could refer to a different kind of coffee. As in: americano, cappuccino, latte, espresso, etc. Thoughts?

 

I think tapcaf is a general term, like bar. Some bars are real dives, some are local hangouts, some are bar-and-grills, and some are classy establishments. Same with tapcafs. They certainly aren't all Starbucks, though.

 

Kind of always figured a "Tapcaf" was a type of Cafe-Bar place(tap = bar, caf = coffee), where food and coffee is available along with the alcohol during the day, but the lighting a bit low, so shady characters can slink into a corner and you can't actually see what you are eating.

*examines what I just wrote* should I be worried as to the way my mind works?