Informal abbreviation for cafeteria, a self-service restaurant where customers serve themselves from a counter.
Shortened from 'cafeteria', which comes from Spanish 'cafetería', derived from 'café' (coffee). The concept originated in the American Southwest where Spanish influence was strong, then spread nationwide in the early 20th century.
The humble 'caf' revolutionized dining by democratizing restaurant service - suddenly anyone could afford to eat out because they were doing the work themselves. This Spanish-inspired innovation became quintessentially American, transforming from coffee shops to school lunch rooms.
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