We recently caught up with Inna Zamikhovska, who founded Black Hat Coffee alongside her husband, Slava. Black Hat Coffee is the Hamburg-born specialty coffee brand loved for its precise roasting, clean aesthetic, and the warm, analogue charm of vinyl records spinning in the background. What began as a small roastery and espresso bar in Hamburg has now grown into two thoughtfully designed spaces — including their newly opened Berlin café, which offers the same great coffee and a holistic experience that blends quality, aesthetics, and warmth.
We love the cafes' design and concept, so we thought we'd ask Inna a little about how Black Hat Coffee came to be.
Can you share with us a little about your background and what inspired the creation of Black Hat Coffee?
Black Hat Coffee started with a simple idea: to create something real, tangible, and beautiful in a world that was becoming increasingly digital. Before coffee, we both lived in that digital space — I studied political science in Odessa and ran a small business selling vintage jewelry from brands like Dior and Céline, while Slava worked in digital marketing.
We loved design, taste, and meaningful experiences, but our daily work existed only in data and reports. We wanted to create something you could actually hold in your hands — something that connects people through all five senses. Coffee became that bridge between creativity, craftsmanship, and emotion.
We launched Black Hat Coffee in Hamburg in 2018, starting online and later building physical spaces where people could experience our world in full. Every coffee we roast starts at 85 points on the SCA scale, meaning it’s officially classified as excellent. That commitment to quality runs through everything we do — from sourcing and roasting to design and service.
Specialty coffee is definitely growing right now — what’s the vibe of Hamburg and Berlin’s specialty-coffee scene from your perspective?
Hamburg’s coffee scene has a quiet confidence — it values precision, calmness, and consistency. Berlin, in contrast, thrives on experimentation and cultural mix. It’s full of energy, a place where people discuss fermentation methods as passionately as music or design.
Having espresso bars in both cities allows us to experience this contrast firsthand. Hamburg represents refinement, while Berlin embodies curiosity. Together they reflect the essence of European specialty coffee today — grounded in craft, open to innovation, and increasingly personal.
If someone was visiting for the first time, which coffee would you point them to? What’s your current favourite to drink at home?
When someone visits us for the first time, we never just pick a coffee for them — we start by asking what kind of experience or flavor they’re searching for. Do they want something bright and fruity, or deep and chocolatey? Based on that, we find the perfect match, almost like tailoring a suit to fit a person’s taste.
We also always offer two different filter coffees as a small tasting before they make a decision. It’s a simple gesture, but it lets guests explore how diverse coffee can be — sometimes that tiny sip changes everything.
Right now, we’re especially proud of our newest launch, Omnia — our first Omniroast from Kenya. It’s an elegant and beautifully balanced coffee that works perfectly both as espresso and as filter. It has crisp notes of red apple and gentle sweetness, and for the first time, we’ve featured a female figure on the packaging — a symbol of elegance, strength, and balance.
At home, we often reach for Holy Bean, our special filter from Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia. It’s incredibly layered, with wine-like acidity and notes of berries and cocoa — the kind of coffee that makes you pause and remember why you fell in love with this craft in the first place.
What’s something on your menu that captures the “Black Hat” personality?
Our Nordic Crab Toast captures it perfectly. It’s an unexpected pairing — snow crab on sourdough, finished with our own “100,000 Island Sauce,” served alongside a bright, fruity filter like Holy Bean or Year 1.
It reflects everything we love: creativity, elegance, and the courage to do things differently. It reminds people that coffee isn’t just about caffeine, but about curiosity, culture, and a sense of play.
When it came to designing the fit-out for Black Hat, where did the inspiration come from?
We designed our spaces with the same philosophy as our coffee packaging — everything should feel tailored. Each material and texture serves a purpose. The herringbone floors mirror the lines of our signature suit-inspired patterns, the striped bar front draws the eye without shouting, and the Vitra chairs and Flos lamps bring warmth and timeless design into the space.
Our Hamburg espresso bar feels like a refined atelier, while our Berlin location adds a creative, urban rhythm. Both reflect our belief that design isn’t decoration — it’s translation. It expresses taste, clarity, and character without words.
You’ve incorporated a handful of George & Willy items through your spaces. What have you used and what do you love about each one?
We’ve used several George & Willy pieces across both our espresso bars — including their Menu Boards, Pegboards, and Letter Displays. They’re not just functional, they’re part of our visual language. Their clean lines and tactile materials fit naturally with our design ethos.
What we appreciate most is the balance of form and function — timeless pieces that feel handcrafted but never overdesigned. They allow us to communicate clearly while keeping the focus on what matters: the coffee experience itself.
You’ve just opened your second location for Black Hat in Berlin. Have you started thinking about what’s next, or do you have any exciting plans on the horizon?
Yes — we never stand still, but we also don’t rush growth. We can’t share too many details yet, but we know exactly what our guests love: the warm crackle of vinyl music, exceptional sandwiches, our signature sweets like Honey Cake and Babka, and, of course, outstanding coffee beans.
With the next location, we want to think bigger — to create something that combines everything people already enjoy about Black Hat with new layers of culture and experience. We’re envisioning something like Culture Central — a space that unites roasting, baking, and a listening bar.
