“Öula” means “the stream of fresh water” in latanese dialect
Brewing is a ritual, a quiet act of devotion, a performance of the hands. Öula is a study of those who dedicate their lives to this craft — baristas, tea masters, alchemists of taste. Through photography, conversation, and movement, Öula tells the story of brewing as an art form, unbound by walls, existing wherever there is time, touch, and intention.
The way of a cup
For seven years, I lived in the rhythm of the coffee world —measuring, steaming, pouring, tasting. I met others who shared this reverence: those who saw the simple act of brewing as something more, something deeply personal.
I began to photograph them, to document the way their hands moved, the way they focused, the way their craft shaped them.
The series was born from these encounters, unfolding in unexpected places — parks, gardens, museums, even beneath bridges. There was no stage, no studio — only the understanding that ritual can exist anywhere.
Every brewing gesture is a story. Each cup holds more than liquid—it carries years of practice, discipline, and quiet love. In our conversations, I discovered how deeply this profession shapes its people. Patterns emerged, philosophies intertwined, and the deeper I looked, the more I understood: brewing is not just work. It is identity, performance, meditation.
I have photographed eleven artisans, but the story is not complete. Forty is the number I reach for, forty souls woven into this tapestry of craft.
Öula has already found its way to Moscow, to Florence, glimpses of its form revealed in exhibitions. But its true shape is still ahead — a book, a lasting record of this world and its quiet beauty. Until then, I continue searching, photographing, listening. If you are one of them — if this is your world — let’s talk.