[jaclaz]

Maybe it is a cultural habit.

Here in Italy, you normally drink coffe at home before leaving for work.

Then, later in the morning you want to go to a bar to get a coffee (even if every office/shop has a coffee machine of this or that kind) usually with one or two colleagues, essentially because it is a way to make a short pause, have a quick stroll, talk with the colleagues about non-work arguments, have some interaction with the barista and/or the cashier.

Exceptionally, i.e. - as an example if there is a meeting - someone calls the bar (of which the phone number is known of course) and orders the needed coffees (and pastry/whatever) and either someone from the office goes and gets them or a barista brings them up (this depends a lot on the city/village).

Apart the above exception here having a coffee is more a ritual for having a pause mid-work, making it more "efficient" wouldn't probably work.