There’s no way you can be served by Stoyan and leave in a bad mood. Behind the smile that greets you and the taste that lingers long after the last sip stands an experienced restaurateur, barista, and creator of Plovdiv’s specialty coffee spot — Snack! — a small place by the Maritsa River that changes big perceptions.
Photographer: Mila Penkova, @milapenkova.photo
Stoyan, known to regular visitors of Kapana as Tyanata, is one of those personalities who often steps into the frame and helps build the scene. He’s been through different venues, cities, and stages of searching—but has always remained true to one thing: that service is an art form in which every interaction has value. For him, coffee isn’t just a drink, but a cultural gesture, an invitation to conversation, a way to connect—with the place, with yourself, and with others.
But Stoyan isn’t just the man behind the bar. He’s an active part of the city’s life—with a clear stance, strong energy, and a sense of responsibility. As someone involved in mountain biking and who believes in clean spaces—both in nature and in consumption—he carries a natural understanding of sustainability, moderation, and integrity.
For him, everything starts with setting an example—with a repaired window, with a clean bus stop. He believes that when there’s care around us, we’re more inclined to care as well. That order isn’t imposed, but passed on—like respect for the place we inhabit. And in that lies something very simple yet profound: if you want to live in a beautiful city, start by not throwing your cigarette butt on the ground.
1.What is coffee to you?
Coffee is a pleasure. A cultural gesture. That’s why it must be good.
It’s a way to invite someone to have a conversation, to take a pause, to connect—with yourself, with another person, with the place you’re in.
For me, it has never been just a drink. Good coffee should be an experience. And eventually, it became a business for me—but precisely to pass on that experience.
2.What makes coffee here, at SNACK!, different?
First, here we serve specialty coffee—that is, coffee with strictly traced origin, quality, and flavor. Everything offered here—from the beans to the desserts in the display case—is carefully selected from curated producers, with a clear idea behind every choice. This place reflects my belief that good service and good taste are not a matter of trend but of attitude. The problem in this industry is that often people work day to day—without thought, without care, just for turnover. But when you believe in what you’re doing and do it consciously, people feel it. That’s exactly what makes a place sustainable—the meaning behind every decision.
Photographer: Mila Penkova, @milapenkova.photo
3.What does sustainability mean to you in the city and in everyday life?
To live in a way that doesn’t harm—neither yourself nor others. To respect the space around you, not to overdo things, to know your limits. Sustainability isn’t some slogan, but a choice you make every day—what you buy, how you consume, how you speak to people.
4.You’re also active in mountain biking. How has sports shaped you as a person and professional?
Mountain biking gave me discipline and the ability to assess risks—I never rely on “it’ll work out”.Every turn, every trail requires focus and respect for the landscape and your own abilities. Sports taught me that attention without thought is pointless, and thought without dedication is useless. That’s how balance is born—in life and in work—when you know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and with whom you share it.
5.What do you think about cleanliness in Plovdiv—why is it important, and whose responsibility is it?
I think what we see around us educates us. When everything is neglected, people lose their sense of boundaries. If there’s no trash at the bus stop, far fewer people will throw their cigarette butt on the ground. If we want to live in a city we like, we have to treat it as if it’s our home. If you want it clean, start by not throwing your own trash on the ground.
6.How do you change the picture?
It’s very simple. I, for example, make coffee. My job is to make the best coffee, to serve a person in a way that makes them feel good, so their day starts well and continues that way. But behind this “simple” thing stands my attitude toward my work. To put my own meaning into what I do. And I believe that’s contagious.
Change doesn’t come from big words, but from the small things we do every day.
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