Realfine Coffee – Home of the Master of Small Talk

Realfine Coffee

Description on  Realfine Coffee’s website : Realfine Coffee is a locally owned and operated business.
Our purpose is to create a coffee experience of the highest quality in a welcoming environment. Quality is not solely attributed to our high standard in coffee, but is also comes from the attention to detail our staff provides, which is developing a genuine sense of community through the relationships we foster with our customers. It is our uncompromising standards in all areas that allow us to offer the exceptional coffee we enjoy everyday.

Neighborhood:  Capitol Hill

Address: 616 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122

Music Playing: Erykah Badu – Next Lifetime

What we ate/drank: Macchiato

Comments: I just happened to pass by Realfine Coffee on my way to Suika for dinner on Capitol Hill. This spot used to be a Stumptown Coffee. The original Realfine Coffee is in West Seattle and opened in 2015. This is the second branch and opened a few months ago. One day I woke up early and decided to check it out before going to work.

It has a very simple decor, but it’s not cold. It’s a small space, but feels airy. And unlike many cafes with this particular configuration of being long and narrow and being bright in the front and dark in the back, because of the lighting Realfine Coffee doesn’t have this problem. It feels warm and bright throughout.

One of the highlights of Realfine Coffee that I’ve not seen anywhere else is the built-in outlets in their long bench. Normally you find outlets under the seat or on the wall. These are located right at the base of the back of the bench. I thought it was really clever.  The other seatings are 2 hightop stools looking out on Pine St and another counter that seats 8. The only qualm about this seating is that you’re looking straight into the wall. I understand why it’s designed this way since it provides a clear and open path from the door to the ordering station.

Besides coffee they had a refrigerator that had some juices and prepackaged snacks. They also serve canned beers and serve Macrina Bakery pastries.

Now, the thing that makes Realfine Coffee memorable to me was the cashier/barista, who I later found out was the owner. I’ve always had a hard time with small talk. Both starting small talk or responding to small talk. I even read a book on how to improve on it.

I have to tell you, I stayed at Realfine Coffee for about 45 minutes, but I could have stayed there a lot longer just listening to the owners small talk expertise. The secret to small talk is to keep the topics light and positive. The topic shouldn’t be too random and let the response guide the conversation.

Here are some snippets:

Sticking around for Thanksgiving this year? or Hosting Thanksgiving this year?

Owner: How was your weekend?
Patron: I saw Fleetwood Mac in Tacoma.
Owner: How was it? No Lindsey Buckingham, right?
Patron: I’ll tell ya, the guy who replaced Lindsey Buckingham really held his own. Note: I think it was Neil Finn of Crowded House who replaced Buckingham.

Here’s your latte, my friend. She used, “my friend” a lot.

Patron: I’ll have an Americano.
Owner: Not your normal drink?
Patron: No.
Owner: I could just tell by the way you ordered it, that it’s not your usual order.

Owner to patron: You have the cutest little sweatshirt on.

Owner: How’s it going?
Patron: mumbles order incoherently
Owner: That good, huh?

Patron: Do you own this?
Owner: Yes, I do. It’s a lot of hard work.
Patron: That’s so cool! Congratulations!
Owner: Thank you. It’s exciting

Ratings(1-5)

Favorite Thing:  The nice calm atmosphere and the friendly owner.

Atmosphere: 4.75

Service: 5.00+

Food Options: 4.00

Overall: 4.60

Eavesdropping  Convo:  See above

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