It's easy to disparage the superficial pleasantries we exchange at the beginning of an exchange. We tell the same stories, talk about the weather, and what traffic is doing. Often it is a belabored distraction from the fact that two people don't know, and in some cases don't like each other. Keeping it light is a way to remain cordial with your ex or make nice with your boss; sidestepping an opportunity for more meaningful interaction. Relationship psychologist Esther Perel views relationships as stories that shape our reality and behavior. So maybe there is something bigger at play with small talk.

Stephan Hernandez is coming to recognize this more each day as he is launching Kure, an art-based coffee program. Each day he's having dozens of small conversations that often lead to big ones.

"I really used to hate small talk, but you can't skip over it. It sets the foundation for knowing someone based on small things you learn about them."

Imagine there was no introduction of characters in a movie or book? The narrative would lack meaning because there would be no was to invest emotionally in what is going on.

Kure is product of his pandemic obsession. After realizing what he and his wife Arianna were spending on coffee each month, it justified the investment in an espresso machine that allowed them to have great coffee at home. Working on his craft with home equipment prepared Stephan to share more publicly, "I see people start with buying expensive machines when you can get 85% of the results you want from practice and getting to know what you are doing."

From there, he began diving deeper into the world of coffee and noticed an opportunity to bring something in to the world of art. " I am a nerd, not in the way most coffee nerds are, I am a nerd about aesthetics." Stephan had to say about his approach.

Currently on residency at The Campus Upstate ,and picture here, in NYC at a pop-up at the Noah Store in Soho, Kure is introducing one world to the best of the other. In true form, he's not skipping steps. Starting with custom syrups and limiting distribution to events and residencies, most of the people who take a sip of Kure will have met Stephan personally.

This tempered approach allows him to manage quality control of the coffee itself, but also help guests to engage in the ideal presentation of the experience. He explains, "I try to encourage everyone to try it with whole milk. There are reasons for substitutions, but I want people to trust the attention and intention I put into the beverage." Ultimately, it's hard to serve someone well whom you don't really know.

This aspect of small talk lets the conversation roam from talking about the weather to talking about current events, and the next thing you know you're in some deep discussion about life and family.

The ethos Stephan is using to build Kure is the same as the one used to cultivate the relationships that are happening around it. Start small, don't skipping steps, and take the time to do it right.