Rabat, July 7 -- Morocco's cafes don't intend for patrons to take their coffee to-go but instead serve as a central space for leisurely socialization.

While walking through any given Moroccan city, one frequently must weave through tables and chairs encroaching onto the sidewalk outside the numerous cafes lining each street.

Despite the abundance of cafes, there is little competition for business as patrons fill the seats of each establishment. While some cafe-goers appear deep in conversation with each other, others sit on their own, watching people and vehicles pass by.

A nearly full shot of espresso, Morocco's cafe noir, or half-drank glass of nous-nous, Morocco's cafe au lait, is not a good measurement of how much time has passed s...