Triple Crown of Control: Michaela Kotaskova on Boxing, Brewing, and Balance

In a world where adrenaline and calm rarely meet, Michaela Kotásková lives at the intersection. A three-time world champion boxer who starts her mornings not with punches, but with the slow bloom of a pour-over, she embodies the paradox of strength and stillness. For her, coffee it’s part of the rhythm. The same precision that guides her fists now flows through her brew, connecting the chaos of the ring to the quiet hum of a grinder.

HUDES | Worldwide Digital Magazine for Manual Coffee Brewers

In this conversation with Hudes Magazine, Michaela shares how these two seemingly opposite worlds. Boxing and brewing. Have taught her the same lessons of patience, focus, and flow.

MICHAELA - WBF World Champion | Photo: Simba Sports

Hey Michaella. I love that you're both a pro boxer and a home barista that's such a rare combo. How did these two worlds first come together for you?

I’ve always loved coffee, but I only discovered specialty coffee about two or three years ago. During a winter boxing camp on the Canary Islands, I completely fell in love with Tenerife. A few months later, I visited the Vienna Coffee Festival on a whim. There, I stumbled upon the Wildkaffee booth - where Martin Wölfl (who a few months later became World Brewers Cup Champion), works - and discovered they had coffee grown in Europe, from my beloved Canary Islands. That completely changed my perception of coffee origins.

I started researching cultivation, processing, and brewing. A few weeks later, I got my hands on that European coffee, bought a V60, a grinder, and a scale - I had no clue, but I was hooked. Since then, specialty coffee has become a permanent part of my life and it all really started with that boxing camp in Tenerife. 

Which came first, the boxing gloves or the coffee dripper?

Definitely the boxing gloves. I’ve been competing in boxing for 11 years. Coffee has been in my life since my teens, but as I mentioned, I only started exploring it deeply about 2–3 years ago. 

Photo: Artisan Coffee Roaster

What does a typical day look like for you between training and brewing?

My mornings are sacred. No matter when my alarm rings, I need an hour before leaving the house. I brew filter coffee with either a V60 or Orea, read a few pages of a book or listen to a podcast, and enjoy the quiet. Boxing training starts at 9 AM, with the second session at 4 PM. Throughout the day, I have 2-3 more cups - usually pour-over or Aeropress. Sometimes I make a cappuccino on my Rocket Appartamento as an afternoon treat, but most of the time I prefer filter coffee. 

Do you see any similarities between boxing and brewing coffee?

Absolutely. On a competitive level, preparation and training are key in both. It’s about staying consistent, learning from others, and constantly improving. On a more spiritual level, both are ways for me to channel energy, sharpen focus, and express joy and passion.

Boxing requires precision, timing, and rhythm, do you find that same rhythm when you brew?

Yes, 100%. Precision, timing and rhythm are central to both and connect both worlds beautifully. Without them you have no success.

A big difference is that in boxing, everything happens spontaneously - you can’t follow a fixed recipe in the ring. Brewing, on the other hand, is all about repetition and consistency. In boxing, timing is reactive; in coffee, it’s measured and deliberate.

How does coffee fit into your routine is it more of a ritual, a reward, or a way to reset?

All three, but “ritual” resonates the most. It’s something I genuinely look forward to - not just the cup itself, but the focused, slow brewing process, free of distractions. 

What goes through your mind when you brew, does it feel like a moment of calm before the next fight?

Not exactly. Before a fight, I feel a primal focus and healthy tension. It’s almost warrior-like. Brewing is the opposite: meditative, grounding, and peaceful. And what goes through my mind when I brew? My mind goes into “observer mode.” I watch the bloom, notice the color, how it reacts, and adjust if needed. 

Both boxing and coffee can teach patience and control. What's something you've learned from each?

Patience and control make the difference in both. I’ve fully developed those traits through boxing and carried them into brewing. Consistency is everything. Of course, sometimes I get distracted, and the cup suffers. Coffee doesn’t forgive easily. 

In the ring, everything's about focus under pressure. Does brewing help you find that same kind of focus in a different way?

Definitely. Brewing helps me find this focus. But as you mentioned, in boxing, the unknown - your opponent, their strategy - creates pressure. There are no second chances in the ring. That’s why I love fights, they’re raw and unpredictable. With coffee, you can taste, adjust, and try again. Coffee is very dynamic too, but preparation gives you confidence and removes the pressure. 

How do you balance strength and stillness, both in fighting and in brewing?

In both, it’s about flow. That perfect balance between strength and stillness is what I love most. Boxing demands physical strength and mental calm. Brewing slows me down physically but always keeps my focus sharp.

Do you think coffee, for you, is a form of self-expression, just like boxing?

Yes. Coffee is incredibly creative - it lets you explore different methods and flavors to find your unique style and preferences. In boxing, I also have my own fighting style, which I adapt slightly to each opponent, just like tweaking a recipe. 

What's the most emotional part of your journey so far, in boxing or coffee?

In boxing, it was when my coach and mentor passed away at 42 one year ago. Two weeks later, I had to defend my boxing world title. It was the hardest moment of my career, but also the best fight I’ve ever delivered. The emotions were indescribable. 

In coffee, it was in August 2024 at Coffee Revolution - in an amazing coffee space in Vienna. I saw people training for the Austrian Aeropress Championship, blending water, debating grind size and temperature, tasting each other’s brews. It completely blew my mind. That day, I knew I wanted to be part of this world. 

Has coffee ever helped you process emotions after a tough match or training day?

Yes, always. Boxing is intense - physically and mentally. Coffee slows me down and lets the energy flow back in. 

Photo: Simba Sports

Do people ever get surprised when they find out a fighter like you loves brewing coffee?

Every time. People never expect a pro boxer to be obsessed with pour-overs - there aren’t many fighters who spend their free time geeking out over coffee. It’s a fun combo, and I actually enjoy seeing the surprise on their faces when they find out.

What does coffee represent to you personally. Peace, reflection, or something else?

For me, coffee represents connection - to the origin, to everyone involved in its journey from farm to cup. Brewing it carefully is a form of respect. In a digital world obsessed with superficial values, coffee is a return to what matters: honest work with a real product that rewards patience with an explosion of flavor.

Vienna has such a deep coffee culture. How does living there influence your own relationship with coffee?

Vienna has a rich but traditional coffee culture, the classic Viennese coffee houses serve coffee that’s, well, not great (sorry Vienna). But the specialty scene here is amazing, with world-class people like Martin Wölfl. It’s a cool mix of old charm and modern innovation and I love to experience it every day. 

Do you ever visit cafes to observe, or do you prefer brewing quietly at home?

I love exploring cafés, even taking day or weekend trips to other cities or countries just to see what people drink, how they price things, and who their customers are. I often bring beans home to experiment. Brewing at home is wonderful, but to learn something new, you must go out and explore.

If you could host a coffee session for your boxing team, what would that moment look like?

I’d make them my Aeropress competition recipe. I competed this year, and most of my teammates have no idea what an Aeropress even is. I’d love to show them what I do. I’m not sure they’d appreciate the cup, but it would be fun.

Do you see yourself joining more coffee competitions in the future?

Absolutely, 100%. I’m super competitive and love the process of preparing for competitions - I learn so much. Next up is the Czech Brewers Cup preliminary round in November 2025. I’m training hard already. I definitely see myself competing in Aeropress and Brewers Cup events in the future. This is just the beginning! 

What's something you dream of combining from both worlds, boxing and coffee?

I want to bring both communities together - show coffee people the athletic world, and show athletes the beauty of specialty coffee. They complement each other perfectly, and I want more people to experience that. Interviews like this really help to build that bridge - thank you for that. I also love sharing it on my Instagram accounts, @michaela.kotaskova and @brewing.herstory.

And finally, if you could describe your life right now in one cup of coffee, what would it taste like? 

I feel grounded, happy, and exactly where I’m meant to be right now. So it would probably be a perfectly balanced filter coffee, enjoyed somewhere calm and sunny.

(Hudes Magazine)