The progressive espresso Modbar setup is the center of attention at PRO Espresso Bar in Kyiv, Ukraine.

It was an intentional decision by the team at YUDIN Design Studio, to highlight the professionalism of the baristas working away behind the bar. The team removed all sightline obstructions to focus on the bar and barista. At other cafes, baristas are usually hidden behind a large machine, but here, guests can engage with the team while they watch their drinks being made.

The Modbar setup is a single-piston and a compact press. Since the Modbar setup is so compact and yet still professional, functional, and powerful, it is said to be the ‘Tesla of espresso machines’. The client has expressly requested the design team to place emphasis on the progressive devices and the skills of the barista, who is finally not hidden behind the machine.

To adhere to this directive, designers Aleksandr and Vladimir Yudin ensured the interior of PRO Espresso bar has no partitions or massive structures. The entire space is oriented in a way that even from outside, the guests’ attention is drawn to the bar. The design of the bar counter resembles the letter U and incorporates a glass showcase holding 1300 tablets of coffee pomace.

YUDIN Design Studio was also tasked with creating the brand identity for the shop, and decided on using the word “PRO” to reinforce that the destination is for true coffee connoisseurs, and everything at the location is all about coffee.

“We designed a real hard-brewed coffee logo! The letter “O” is in the form of a regular circle connected with a dash, resembling an espresso machine’s lever, which is an extension of the barista’s hand. This is one of the most important tools and an instrument with which the barista is constantly in contact,” Vladimir Yudin explains.

The designers refer to the interior designer of PRO Espresso Bar as ‘Scandinavian Futurism’.

A dynamic pattern print on the walls symbolizes the fast yet efficient pace at which the PRO team works, and the use of a calm yet sophisticated colour palette paired with panoramic windows evoke a sense of confidence, calm, and stability. Sleek and streamlined shapes can be found in every corner of the space, with unique details such as recessed circles within the bar tables where real coffee beans have been poured. The materials selected for the interiors place emphasis on a natural and eco-friendly theme, utilizing natural oak, glass, metal, and concrete. The team went one step further and designed lamps for the space made of wooden planks.

The team also designed original tables with a recess for bags in the shape of the letter U, mirroring the shape and design of the bar, reinforcing the harmony within the space.

“We faced some difficulties when implementing our idea to bend the shapes of oak tables to produce the U-shape,” Aleksandr Yudin claims. “Many [woodworkers] were simply afraid to take on the promise of producing these tables on time but we did it. The manufacturing secrete is to have the tabes consist of several parts. By doing this, the outcome is a table that looks like it is a one-piece bent shape, as we had intended.”

The design team has obviously invested time to understand how cosmopolitan visitors interact with the space and what types of activities they engage in while they are there (ie. they bring their laptops to work while enjoying their morning or afternoon cup of coffee). The YUDIN Design Studio team has come up with an elegant solution to address these behaviours, making the coffee shop experience more streamlined and enjoyable for guests. You will no longer need to ask someone to move their laptop bag or jacket, as it can be neatly stored and folded into the storage nooks.

The YUDIN Design Studio team has successfully created a sophisticated coffee bar highlighting the professionalism of coffee art and their client’s dedication to providing premium espresso for coffee connoisseurs. The open design with panoramic windows attracts the attention of passersby, helping to spread the word about the new minimalistic coffee bar in Kyiv, Ukraine.

PROJECT DETAILS

Format: coffee bar

Location: Retroville commercial center, Kyiv

Completion: 2020

Area: 70 m2

Interior and Brand Identity: Aleksandr Yudin, Vladimir Yudin - YUDIN Design studio

Photographer: Sergey Savchenko