In 2017, a 16-year-old Dmytro Mohylenko took his first sip of espresso at VZNK Coffee in Kyiv, Ukraine, and the world shifted. The sweet, pure taste of that cup—served without sugar—ignited a passion that would carry him from a summer job to the forefront of Ukraine’s specialty coffee scene. Today, as the creator of Dotyk, a Ukrainian-made pour-over brewer, Dmytro is weaving a story of creativity, community, and relentless curiosity, one cup at a time.
That first summer at VZNK was a revelation. Beyond mastering pour-overs and exploring coffee processing, Dmytro learned a life-changing skill: the art of conversation.
“Proper presentation is the baseline, but starting a chat with anyone, anywhere—that changed my life,”
he shares. He drew swan latte art and convinced over 500 guests to try filter coffee’s vibrant flavors, each smile a small victory in spreading coffee culture. Years later, at Black Honey café in Lviv, Dmytro Durov, a seasoned roaster, deepened his craft. “Dmytro taught me to read subtle flavor notes,” he recalls, “from choosing the right water to calibrating pourovers.” Those lessons in “coffee depth” became the foundation of his brewing philosophy, one he shares today with every Dotyk user.
Dmytro Mohylenko and Dotyk Dripper
Dmytro’s dream was bold: to inspire a love for coffee, especially in Ukraine’s small towns where cafés were scarce. In early 2022, he and his brother launched the “Coffee Ceremony,” a curated box with a Hario pour-over, coffee samples, water, and brewing tips. The idea, born from a desire to share coffee’s ritual, aimed to bring meaning to every sip.
“I wanted to spread coffee-drinking culture,”
he says, his voice warm with purpose. The first sale, though singular, was a spark. “It marked a new stage,” Dmytro reflects, crediting marketer Stanislav Zuev for reshaping their approach.
“We weren’t selling plastic—we were selling experience.”
That moment, though small, felt like a step toward his coffee dreams, a reminder to focus on joy over volume.
Dmytro Mohylenko’s coffee journey
The journey to create Dotyk was anything but smooth. In late 2022, power outages crippled production, slashing output by 70%. “We couldn’t make a single brewer for weeks,” Dmytro admits, the frustration still vivid. Financial constraints and the challenge of building a business as a barista tested his resolve. “I was learning everything from scratch,” he says, his tone steady but honest. Yet, coffee became his anchor. Brewing a cup, playing music—his essential ritual—grounded him through uncertainty. “Pure joy is seeing someone’s ‘wow’ at their first sip of a great cup of specialty coffee,” he shares, the memory lighting up his face. Those moments of surprise in a customer’s eyes kept him going.
Dotyk, meaning “touch” in Ukrainian, was born in Lviv, a city rich in coffee heritage. Unable to fund a high-tech grinder, Dmytro turned to clay, a simpler medium that proved inspired. “It was the right choice,” he says, grateful for his team’s talent. With over 60 unique colorways, each Dotyk reflects individuality.
Dotyk Drippers *The photos of the drippers are included to illustrate the story and do not imply endorsement or promotion. No compensation was received for mentioning this product.
“Every color is a shade of flavor, a person’s character,”
Dmytro explains, inspired by coffee’s flavor wheel. One colorway, perhaps a deep indigo, might evoke a favorite café’s vibe, a nod to his belief that “every touch matters.” This vision of personal connection drives Dotyk, making each brewer a canvas for coffee lovers’ stories.
A defining moment came when a championship winner used Dotyk at the Ukrainian Brewers Cup. Preparing with barista Oleksii Fedorovskyi, Dmytro tasted different waters to unlock flavors, a process that “flipped my worldview.” “I thought I knew coffee,” he laughs, “but roasting and water showed me how vast it is.” The win silenced skeptics, proving Dotyk’s worth.
“Haters don’t drive me. I focus on those who resonate with us.”
The victory taught him to embrace coffee’s endless variables, a lesson he likens to an “ocean of flavor” he hopes AI will one day help navigate.
Ukraine’s coffee culture, to Dmytro, is a tapestry of innovation. “More creators are making their own gear,” he says, dreaming of festivals showcasing not just roasters but a sea of new devices. Dotyk, while not a technical revolution, is a “first touch” on this path, a step toward future breakthroughs. His quirky habit—brewing only with music, even sleeping with tracks on—reflects his creative spirit. “Music’s as essential as pre-heating the dripper,” he grins, a glimpse into his personality.
Dmytro draws inspiration from many, not a single icon. “Coffee is my tool for creativity,” he says, shaped by mentors like Durov and Fedorovskyi. His go-to recipe, inspired by Fedorovskyi, yields a juicy, sweet cup:
20g coffee,
50ml bloom for 30 seconds,
then 50ml every 20 seconds to 300ml,
brewed at 2:40.
“It’s like music—everyone has their taste,”
he says, comparing coffee to techno or rock. His vision extends to filter papers, an immersion brewer by 2026, and hosting the World Brewers Cup in Ukraine—a dream to share his country’s coffee heart.
Through every challenge, Dmytro’s “why” fuels him: to inspire dreams and craft unique experiences. “Create, despite everything,” he urges. At I’M NOT A BARISTA, we’re moved by Dmytro’s story, a testament to coffee’s power to connect. What’s your coffee story? ☕ Share your first sip, favorite brew, or coffee ritual with us, contact us for a chance to be featured—every coffee lover has a tale! Join our community and keep the coffee love brewing. Humanity runs on coffee!
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