When war uprooted her life in Moscow, Olga Melik Karakozova found a new chapter in Cyprus, building a coffee empire from the ground up. After fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she settled in Limassol, where she now runs WAGMI Coffee—a space that blends community, craftsmanship, and a radical reimagining of what coffee can mean. Her story isn’t just about survival; it’s about reinvention, resilience, and the power of a single person to reshape an industry.
Olga’s career has always been about more than trophies. For decades, she navigated the global coffee world as a roaster, consultant, and barista, but her focus shifted after the war. “I hadn’t competed since 2012,” she says. “By 2021, I didn’t really identify as a champion barista.” Instead, she became a bridge between producers, roasters, and consumers, advocating for fair trade and sustainable practices. Her Moscow café thrived amid chaos, but the war forced her to pivot. “The whole world changed, and the coffee narrative changed,” she explains. The pandemic had already strained her business, but the invasion of Ukraine shattered her team and her sense of stability.
Cyprus became a refuge, but not without challenges. “I had a great team in Moscow,” she recalls, listing names like Nikita Mantulin and Anna Serova, now scattered across the globe. Yet, the move also opened doors. Cyprus already had a vibrant coffee culture, with “one of the highest numbers of coffee shops per capita in Europe.” But it lacked a Loring—a brand that could elevate its standards. Olga filled that gap, bringing her expertise to a new context. “I found a truly inspiring place for the coffee shop,” she says. “If I had found it anywhere in the world, I would have moved there.”
WAGMI’s philosophy is rooted in ethics, not branding. “We are doing what we are doing not to exploit producers, baristas, guests, and the planet,” she says. “But in a way that could benefit everybody.” Her approach is meticulous: roasting isn’t about heat—it’s about development. “Any second beyond the development just adds bitterness,” she warns. Sourcing is guided by fairness, with prices determined by producers, not market forces. “My call as a coffee professional is to agree to it or to decline,” she insists. This ethos extends to her team, where baristas earn above-minimum wages, and sustainability drives everything from packaging to farming practices.
What does it take to rebuild a coffee legacy in a new land—and how does one ensure it thrives for generations to come.
What does it take to rebuild a coffee legacy in a new land—and how does one ensure it thrives for generations to come?
Questions & Answers
How did she start her coffee journey?
She began by traveling to coffee-growing regions, learning traditional methods, and blending them with modern techniques to create a unique coffee experience.
What impact has she made in the coffee industry?
She has inspired women in coffee production, promoted ethical sourcing, and created a sustainable business model that blends culture with quality coffee worldwide.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
