How a modest espresso bar became a stylish Prague microcafe

Until he was 25, he did not drink coffee at all — yet today Jan Naglevský is the man behind Solo bakery and the sought-after coffee concept Hans coffee in the centre of Prague. By betting on Scandinavian minimalism, beans from the Danish roastery La Cabra and a distinctly personal approach to customers, the entrepreneur has turned a small espresso bar into one of the most stylish microcafés in a Czech capital already saturated with coffee shops.

Naglevský's path to gastronomy was not a straight one: for a long time it remained more of a side job for him. His real passion for coffee came later, during a stay in Belgium. The turning point was his decision to drop his other projects and devote himself fully to the food and drink business.

“At first I ran the business with a partner, but then we went our separate ways and I carried on alone. I founded Solo bakery, and the espresso bar stayed with me. Over time it turned into Hans coffee, and within a year we had moved here, to Truhlářská street,” the entrepreneur says.

The name of the place came about simply: both Naglevský himself and his head barista are called Gonza (the Czech nickname for Jan/Hans). That is where the catchy, personal and easy-to-remember name Hans coffee came from.

The move to new, more spacious premises on Truhlářská street required a serious investment — the total outlay came to around 2.5 million crowns. A large part of the budget went on a full renovation: new flooring, a complete overhaul of the plumbing and sewage system, electrics and ventilation — technical work that is invisible at first glance but critical to the quality of the venue.

In carrying out the project, Naglevský deliberately chose to work with local contractors and craftsmen: the design and fit-out were handled by the studio Creative Atelier, the stainless-steel bar counters were made by the Prague company PMN nerez, the glass elements were made by a neighbouring glazier, and the wooden benches and custom mirror came from the joinery workshop DUBA hardwood.

According to the founder, Hans coffee stands out from its competitors not so much through its range as through a personalised, professional approach to customers: “From just a couple of phrases we can usually tell what someone probably wants to drink, and we try to make the choice easier for them.” The café runs on beans from the well-known Danish roastery La Cabra and Prague's own BeBerry Coffee — a pricier choice, but one essential to the quality of the product.