Everything runs on time. Petra handles not only the coffee machine and the floor but also the people around her with ease. At Pilot, she’s a barista, service staff, operations lead… and on top of that, an HR manager.
She’s been part of our café for a little over two years now. Her journey here was almost suspiciously “well-timed.” She was looking for a job in gastronomy—something she’d always enjoyed. Thanks to a friend (now a colleague, “Barunka”), she discovered the newly opened Pilot Cafe in Pankrác. An interview, a trial shift, a part-time job… and then a smooth transition to full-time. “And now I’m here.”
What she loves most about the job is the mix of routine and variety. Every day is different, yet somehow the same. One day, it’s the morning rush and a long queue; the next, unhurried conversations with regulars who are no longer just guests but almost friends. In between—new faces all the time. Petra enjoys both.
Favorite coffee? It depends on her mood and the weather. An oat flat white or a filter. The reason is simple: “Coffee is love.” In Pankrác, that motto hardly needs explaining.
In the morning, Petra prepares, sets things up, and sets the pace for the arrival of the first customers—ideally managing to drink a hot coffee herself… and then it takes off. Morning peak, familiar faces, one coffee after another—sometimes all the way into the evening.
What makes her happiest during a shift? When “our people” come in. The regulars who’ve become a natural part of the atmosphere. Thanks to them, Pilot has its soul.
Her go-to soundtrack for starting a shift? “Krásnej den” by Ben Cristovao or “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals. One song boosts the mood and energy at the start; the other keeps a pleasant rhythm once the operation is in full swing.
And outside of work? She likes sports (running and movement in general give her a natural reset), spending time with friends or family… and sometimes just a series, a movie, switching off. A balance you really need in gastronomy.
If she didn’t work in a café? She says she’s lucky because she enjoys her job. But if she could choose absolutely anything… she’d race cars. Ideally F1. And if that sounds like a joke, it’s only until you find out that cars and fast driving are her real passion. Maybe not something you’d guess at first glance. But focus, attention to detail, and keeping your nerves steady? Useful both on the café floor and on the track.
When asked about her superpower, Petra modestly laughs that she hasn’t discovered it yet. We’d allow ourselves a small intervention from the control tower: her superpower is staying calm in an operation that’s seldom calm—and making sure both the team and the guests feel like they’re on a smooth flight.
Thanks to Petra, Pilot Cafe in Pankrác has a stable flight plan, a well-chosen crew, and an atmosphere people love to return to. Because when operations are in the hands of someone who loves coffee and can stay calm even in chaos, the flight goes smoothly—without unnecessary turbulence.
