Meet Jacek Kotowski – the head and heart of our roastery. Jacek is a passionate young explorer who dared to change and develop the specialty coffee market in Poland. Back in 2009, his passion contributed to the founding of our coffee world, LaCava. Today, on the occasion of the roastery's 13th anniversary, he agreed to step out from behind the curtain and share some interesting facts about himself.

We encourage you to read!

How did your passion for coffee come about?

University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmieście. Sitting-down with friends at the first cafes that could make good coffee. Plus the occasional cigarette, engaging discussions, and lots of good coffee. While I managed to give up smoking, coffee went the other way.

Do you remember the first time you tried specialty coffee?

I vividly remember visiting Chelsea Market in NYC. I tried an espresso from an American coffee roaster there, and everything changed. While there, I drank several different pour-overs, chatting with and learning from the barista who prepared them. This sparked my appreciation for what quality can mean and the vast gulf between coffee and great coffee. The saying that travel broadens the mind is true.

What makes LaCava stand out from other Polish coffee roasters?

Polish coffee roasters are constantly improving. While 10 years ago we could count all the specialty roasters on one hand, now there are more and more of them, and they are at an increasingly higher level. I think we stand out on many levels, but the most important differentiator is our obsession with the customer and delivering unique value. Our coffees are not just about beautiful design and fresh, flavorful beans. They are, above all, a way of being and thinking. By choosing LaCava, our customers demonstrate their commitment to detail, to celebrating the moment, to giving their lives color and flavor. We are what we choose in life.

Where did the idea to start a coffee roastery come from?

I've always wanted to test my skills in business. It's a test for me on many levels simultaneously. And I chose a coffee roastery because I love coffee, and it's the only way I can influence every step of creating the quality and appearance of what I'm passionate about. Early on in my journey, I met an exceptional man – a true craftsman who has been roasting coffee his entire life. He taught me countless things and showed me the diversity of the coffee world.

What is coffee to you?

For me, coffee is the beginning of inspiration and thought. It's also the experience of a moment that I will remember and that will mean something to me.

What's your favorite coffee?

A morning double cappuccino with full-fat milk and a blender with a small amount of Robusta. It's a bit like asking what your favorite movie is when you're interested in cinema on a daily basis – it's hard to find a good answer :)

What is the key to success on the Polish specialty coffee market?

Listen to the customer and pursue quality. Demonstrate, educate, and provide value to customers.

Is the Polish market ready for specialty coffee?

Poles love specialty coffee. Not only are more and more of us familiar with Polish roasteries and brewing methods like pour-over, Chemex, and Aeropress, but specialty coffees from countries like Poland and the Czech Republic are beginning to be as well-regarded as coffees from Scandinavia or Germany. More and more Polish companies and names are also appearing at international events, trade fairs, and championships. I see the Polish market and specialty coffee as absolutely glowing!

What is your guiding idea at LaCava?

Helping. Helping each other, team members, customers, suppliers, farmers. Doing something good for others while also doing something good for ourselves. This is how we build phenomenal teams and relationships.

Where can I find/buy your coffee?

At our coffee roastery and through our online store lacava.pl. This means you're always guaranteed fresh coffee. Our e-commerce site offers the widest selection of our coffees, including seasonal and current offerings. Furthermore, customers can find us on the shelves of many coffee shops and in the sales networks of our partners, such as CoffeeDesk and Konesso.

What do you do/are interested in outside of work?

Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my son and family. I love sports and also try to pursue my other passions, like flying.

What can I wish you for your 13th birthday?

I want us, as a company, to always preserve and nurture what truly matters to us—why we do what we do, why we pursue high-end quality products. I want our products to always be a work of art, not a source of profit or a way to increase market share. Unfortunately, rapidly growing companies often lose this original purpose of existence.

Who is behind LaCava?

A phenomenal team of creative, helpful and professional people.

The future of LaCava?

Find a way to brew a good drip in the zero-gravity conditions of space. Currently, instant coffee is used on space stations. We'd like to reverse this trend and introduce specialty coffee beyond the troposphere.

As a team, we believe the future is ours.

Jacek, thank you!