After spending over a decade immersed in the fashion and digital marketing industries, Gladys Kutakuta-Luzolo’s career took an unexpected turn during her expatriation to Seoul, South Korea in 2018. What started as a simple appreciation for coffee gradually transformed into something deeper as she explored the bustling city’s unique coffee shops, each boasting its own authentic charm.
Gladys Kutakuta-Luzolo and her mom
It was during these visits that Gladys discovered the true taste of filter coffee, particularly a beautifully brewed Ethiopian iced V60. “I used to drink at least three iced Americanos a day, even at night,” she recalls with a smile.
“One day, at a stylish coffee roasting shop in Itaewon, I saw the head barista doing an iced V60 for a customer-friend. My curiosity grew bigger, and I asked him what it was. That’s how the world of specialty coffee was introduced to me!”
The experience changed everything for Gladys, as she began to associate coffee not just with flavor, but with a sense of well-being—something that’s often sought after when leading a fast-paced lifestyle. She describes coffee as a moment of “sweetness, timelessness, and a sense of letting go.”
Returning to Paris later that year, Gladys took her newfound passion and dove headfirst into the specialty coffee scene. She eventually found herself working as a barista in 2022—a position she secured through a Craigslist gig despite having no formal experience.
“The owner gave me a chance to prove myself because I had a lot of passion to share,”
she says. And that was the beginning of her professional coffee journey.
Gladys Kutakuta-Luzolo and her mom
Today, Gladys is deeply invested in promoting Congolese specialty coffee from her native South Kivu region. Together with her mother, she supports local women coffee growers within the COCAT association, which is committed to agro-ecology and the revival of the coffee industry. Their washed Arabica coffee beans are grown at altitudes of over 1,400 meters, and they carry aromatic notes of lime, cranberries, cocoa, and eucalyptus.
For Gladys, coffee is more than just a beverage. It’s a vehicle that brings her closer to her roots and a means to share a piece of her heritage with the world. It’s also about challenging perceptions.
“Being the only African woman barista in Paris is a blessing, but I’m also less represented here. It’s not just about brewing good coffee; it’s about changing how people see us.”
Her coffee brand, UKWELI, reflects this passion and mission. “The name came so fast, and I’m still amazed at how things unfolded perfectly,” she shares, proud of how quickly her vision took shape.
When asked what success means to her, she simply replies: “Sharing. Success is a mindset where I share my personal knowledge with others.” This sense of community, combined with her dedication to Congolese coffee, is what drives her forward.
From freelancing in Seoul to standing behind the counter at Parisian coffee shops, Gladys’ journey is one of embracing the unexpected, finding passion in the unlikeliest of places, and sharing that joy with the world.
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