They say that behind every successful man, there’s a woman. In the case of our captain couple, that’s certainly true. Since the very first takeoff of our café, Martin’s wife, Kateřina Smejkalová – also known as Macíková, has been setting the course alongside him. As she says with a smile, “it’s kind of grown on me” — just like Pilot Café itself.
She was there from the very beginning. “I still remember the first cup and the first croissant,” she says with a smile. Her experience in gastronomy, management skills, and sense for atmosphere helped the café gain the right altitude for a successful takeoff. While Martin was handling construction work and paperwork, Kateřina brought balance, energy, and a human touch to the project.
Today, she’s piloting another, equally demanding crew — three little teammates on a maternity mission. Yet whenever she gets the chance, she rejoins the flight. Whether as part of the onboard crew or simply as a keen observer, she happily watches the café live its own life. “It’s close to my heart,” she says.
What she enjoys most about her work is that no two days are the same. The café is an endless source of stories — from cheerful moments with guests to truly bizarre requests. “A cappuccino without milk? In a café, you quickly learn that imagination knows no limits,” she laughs.
Her daily flight plan used to run on cappuccino, but these days she prefers matcha latte. “It suits the pace I have with the kids better,” she explains. No matter what’s in her cup, the most important thing for her is the atmosphere on board — good vibes, smiling guests, and a crew that sticks together.
Outside the café, Kateřina recharges in silence — while running, practicing yoga, or simply taking a moment to tune out the noise around her. “It might surprise people, but calm is really important to me,” she admits.
Her superpower is clear at first glance — effortlessly navigating family life, home, and the cafés without ever losing her smile. She jokingly says it must be “some kind of super strength.” And many entrepreneurial moms would surely agree. And if she ever decided to hang up her Pilot Café captain’s hat? She’d land somewhere close to nature — perhaps as a gardener. “That idea has always appealed to me,” she adds.
Thanks to Captain Kateřina, Pilot Café maintains not only a steady flight altitude but also a human touch — turning an ordinary coffee stop into a small journey beyond the everyday.
