Små Øyeblikk: Sharing the small moments in Randaberg

While the whole of the United Kingdom watched Kate Middleton and Prince William say “I do”, another big, but not as widely publicised event was taking place across the North Sea. In ‘the green village’ of Randaberg, just ten minutes north of Stavanger, Norway, Monica Vagle opened her very own coffee shop. 

In the centre of Randaberg, a village with around 11,000 citizens, Små Øyeblikk invites everyone to enjoy a coffee in a homely venue, surrounded by the smell of what Vagle describes as “the best carrot cake in the region”.

The café strives to be as local as possible when it comes to food and coffee. The espresso they use is roasted at Stavanger Kaffebrenneri and their food is made in-house, with produce from local farms and stores.

Små Øyeblikk, which translates as ‘small moments’, is much more than just a coffee shop. As well as food and coffee, you can enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer and buy small gourmet products and interior design items.

“Shopping can be stressful sometimes, but if a guest is looking for a gift, for example, we can offer advice and then also gift wrap it,” Vagle says. “We do more or less everything, from A to Z, while they enjoy their coffee.”

Homemade honey, spices and oils, interior design products from various Norwegian brands and homemade apple juice from local farms, such as Lyngnes Gård and Safteriet, are just a few of the high-quality products on sale.

The coffee shop also arranges events such as a knitting café, Coffee & Chill with bingo, concerts, book talks, Champagne lunches, evening events such as concerts, and closed events such as birthday parties for their guests on a regular basis – something that has made Små Øyeblikk a focal point in the village’s cultural scene.

“I have a very romantic approach to the idea of a village café being a meeting point, where we know our customers and they know us and we share the small, everyday moments, happy or sad,” Vagle says. “Teenagers having a milkshake to gether while taking selfies for Instagram, someone having their coffee before taking  the bus to work, singing Happy Birthday for friends or family who are celebrating, comforting people after funerals and
cheering after weddings.” “We don’t want to just sell a cup of coffee,” Vagle continues. “We want to make
it a whole experience for our guests. They have given us a part of their precious time so it’s up to us to make it worth while.”