Today I was back at P5, my favourite coffee shop in Hamburg. Not just because of the really good coffee and the homemade cake baked by the owner herself, but above all because of the pleasant guests and the laid-back reggae tunes in the background. It’s also quite extraordinary that the coffee shop also is a hair salon on weekdays, and both concepts coexist beautifully on two days a week. All in all, plenty of reasons to keep dropping by.

But the most important reason I keep returning is Kris, the host.

He speaks many languages and by that I don’t mean foreign languages. He speaks a little louder with the elderly lady because he knows her hearing isn’t great. He speaks respectfully and at the same time confidently with a delivery guy, then chats with him over a cigarette and a coffee once the work is done. When a child forgets the money for their ice cream at home, Kris comes around the counter and crouches down to calm them down in an empathetic tone. And so it can happen that the ice cream just leaves without payment: trust in action. It’s both soothing and impressive, because everyone seems to feel comfortable around him; Kris meets them all with an effortless ease right where they are.

Even when some guests sit down without realising that at P5 you order at the counter, Kris walks over smilingly and says, “Folks, I’ll be pleased to take your order, if you are ready. Next time I’ll by happy if you find us at the counter to make your order” Not even a slightly annoyed look at his face, no frowning. Always with the attitude: “You’re just fine the way you are, we’ll figure it out together.” 😉

I ask him how he manages to be so present for others without completely bending himself in the process. Without hesitation he responds: “I simply like people and their stories.”

That’s true hospitality which you can only experience live and without ChatGPT.

We celebrate you, Kris #servicehero