The story
About us
Lumen opened in 2017 with one secondhand espresso machine, four tables and a stubborn belief: that a café should slow the city down, not speed it up.
We roast in small batches, buy directly from farms we can name, and train every barista for months before they pour their first guest cup.
The room does the rest — light through arched windows, plants in every corner, and no clocks on the walls.
What we believe
Three things we never compromise on
01
Craft
From green bean to latte art, every step is done by hand and on purpose.
02
Hospitality
Regular or first-timer, you get the same warm welcome and honest advice.
03
Patience
Good coffee takes time. So do good mornings. We rush neither.
The people
Meet the team
Mira Petrova
Founder & Head Roaster
Left a career in architecture to chase the perfect roast curve. Still designs — just in degrees and seconds now.
Stefan Iliev
Head Barista
Bulgarian latte art champion, 2024. Believes a rosetta is a signature, not a decoration.
Elena Dimitrova
Pastry Chef
Starts at 4 a.m. so the croissants don't have to wait for anyone. Sworn enemy of over-sweetened desserts.
Georgi Kolev
Green Coffee Buyer
Spends three months a year at origin. Can tell a washing station by the smell of the parchment.
The journey
How we got here
2017
A courtyard and a secondhand machine
Lumen opens with four tables in a quiet Sofia courtyard. The espresso machine is older than some of our baristas.
2019
We start roasting
A 5-kilo roaster arrives and the back room fills with smoke, mistakes and, eventually, the house blend we still serve.
2021
First direct trade harvest
Mira and Georgi visit Ethiopia and shake hands on our first direct contract. We can finally name every farmer on the menu.
2023
The room with the arched windows
We move into the current space — high ceilings, morning light, no clocks. Average visit length doubles within a month.
2026
Still pouring, still slow
A team of twelve, a menu we're proud of, and the same stubborn belief we opened with.