Тhe art of coffee in every cup! Olena Khrashchevska, a well-known businesswoman and certified coffee maker with numerous international awards, has created unique art-coffee shop-bookshops in Izmail. “Chemodan” and “Mr. Chemodan” are not just a place for coffee, but real cultural centres that inspire and give harmony. How did she manage to do it? Let’s talk about it in our conversation. We are sure that after reading this, you will want to visit these spaces of inspiration.

– Mrs. Olena, how did your success story begin? What were you like in childhood?
– My success story is the result of bold decisions and hard work on myself. As a child, I was an inquisitive, energetic girl, always striving to learn more, studying people and the world with a belief in miracles. I believe that every experience shapes our personality and opens up opportunities for development. It has always been important to me that my hobbies become part of my work, bringing joy not only to me but also to the people around me.
– How did you get into the coffee industry?
– It happened because of an incident that changed my life. While writing my thesis, I drank a lot of coffee and became interested in what kind of drink it is that affects both consciousness and taste sensations.
The profession of a coffee maker became a natural choice, because my husband Vitaly and I dreamed of creating a space where coffee, art and an academic approach to the culture of Specialty coffee would combine. This is how our art coffee shops were born. Over time, I gained certification, experience and became a part of the inspiring SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) family. Success came thanks to constant work on myself, participation in National and World Coffee Championships, trips to Mexico and the desire to give people the best – quality in every cup.
– What challenges did you face when you started your first business?
– My coffee shops «Chemodan» and «Mr. Chemodan» have been working for more than 10 years. The beginning was not easy. We did not have sufficient experience and access to academic knowledge in the field of coffee. However, my husband’s support was crucial. We met like-minded people who are still our friends. Later, we started roasting green coffee ourselves.
The first years were difficult. People are mostly used to instant coffee or drinks from vending machines, so they did not immediately accept freshly roasted Specialty coffee. But it was important not to stop and believe in what we were doing despite the difficulties.
– Today «Chemodan» and «Mr. Chemodan» is not only about coffee, but also about dolls, music and poetry! How do you do it?
– «Chemodan» and «Mr. Chemodan» is more than coffee shops. These are art spaces where the art of taste, literature, music and even a collection of boudoir dolls created by Ukrainian puppet artists meet. Family values, coffee culture and creativity are combined here. We create a place that inspires and gives harmony to everyone who comes here.
– What is your favourite coffee? How many cups do you consume per day?
– I wake up to drink coffee, not drink coffee to wake up. My favourite is espresso and alternative coffees. I usually drink a lot of cups – about six a day, depending on the start of the day. For me, coffee is not just a drink, but a ritual, a part of mental harmony.
– What projects are you currently working on?
– I am currently involved in several interesting initiatives. We continue to develop “Chemodan” and “Mr. Chemodan”, improve the coffee roasting process and help people in these difficult times. We are also introducing new formats for meetings, workshops and cultural events. We pay special attention to the development of creative initiatives.
One of my priorities is to create a doll gallery that helps each visitor reach out to their inner child. We strive to make our coffee shops not only a place for coffee, but also a real centre of culture and inspiration.
– How do you fill up to give people light? Share your philosophy of life.
– It is extremely important for me to maintain inner harmony and feel calm. I get my energy from creativity, communication with people who create their own fairy tale with their own hands, thoughts and dreams as well as from nature. Travelling is another source of inspiration.
My life credo is to believe in myself and that we are capable of changing this world with love: for ourselves, our family and our land. I always remember that even the smallest steps can lead to big changes.
– What do you dream about? What would you like to wish our readers?
– My dream is to continue doing what I love and share this joy with others. I want to create even more spaces for creativity and development where everyone can realise their ideas.
I wish readers not to stop at what they have achieved, boldly follow their dreams and discover this world with love. After all, it is love that is the strongest force capable of changing everything around.