The greatness of a simple cafeteria

Many times the most immense things are in how simple they are, at least it is something I proclaim and enjoy because simplicity is an elegant virtue. But, simplicity does not mean contempt, bad taste or minor art. You can be simple and giant; simple and elegant; simple and profound.

I say this because of all the coffee shops I visited on my trip to "Topes de Collantes", the one at the Hotel de los Pinos is the least sumptuous, where the youngest staff works and where the place is less luxurious or beautiful than the rest of the places dedicated to providing this delicious drink.

In spite of the above, the workers that work there make sure that you forget all of the above and provide you with a service that you are grateful for and leave the place as if you had shared a coffee in a wonderful place.

For this reason, this publication is a simple tribute to all the workers of this coffee shop because they gave us a piece of their hearts and made us feel magical moments in that place.

The first coffee

When you arrive at Topes de Collantes and stay at the hotel "Los Pinos" in front of the folder where you must deliver the reservation there is a place where you have to look because the doors are made of glass and the first thing you see is a television, listen to music and see a permanent coming and going of people. When he asks the obligatory question about what this place is, the maid or another worker answers that it is the hotel cafeteria.

Suddenly and unintentionally and before going up to the room a smell invites you to visit the place and unintentionally your feet go there. Perhaps your brain orders you to go to the room, but your feet disobey and in less time than a rooster crows you find yourself in front of the machine and who operates it asking for your first coffee.

The magic of simplicity

There is no doubt that the quality of what we do is not in how good, talented, agile or self-sufficient we are. All this is necessary and good to have positive results in what you do, but, if the above is not accompanied with good treatment, desire to do, respect and love for what you do, the result will never be positive. And these characteristics make up the magic of those who work in the cafeteria of Los Pinos, the first cafeteria where you arrive and by the way they treat you, you already know that you will have a wonderful stay.

What I liked and what I didn't like about this cafeteria?

• I liked the quality of the work they do
• I admired the quality of the coffee they prepare, despite the youth of the workers who offer it.
• I loved the way in which the workers there defend their job.
• I liked the culture of detail in everything they do.

The only thing I didn't like was that they opened so late, but they explained to me that the workers live far from the area and must travel several kilometers to get to the place, which is a mountainous area and needs special transportation to get there.

A final comment

In a friendly discussion that my wife and the companions who went with us on the expedition did not rank this cafeteria as the best of those visited. To say otherwise would be lying because this place is reserved for the "Casa del Café" and the other cafeterias that exist have better comfort and superior quality from a technological point of view.

But one thing was clear to us: these deficiencies are replaced with the magic of the service they provide and, although in all the places the treatment is very good, the one here is exceptional.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading.

Greetings and best regards.

Note: All photos were taken with my Samsung J2.

The translator used was DeepL Translate.