Behind The Business
First Edition
Behind the Business
Meet Nalan
The heart behind Chill N Grind
From beginning a hospitality career at just 14 to building a café centred on coffee, connection and thoughtful service, Nalan's story has been years in the making.
For Nalan Kali, hospitality has never simply been a job. It has been a lifelong lesson in hard work, customer service and making people feel welcome.
Nalan's journey began at just 14 years old. Growing up in a family that owned and operated its own businesses, including kebab shops, meant learning the pace and responsibility of hospitality from an early age.
Over the years, Nalan developed strong skills in day-to-day operations, working with people and creating a positive customer experience. Being naturally social made the industry feel like a perfect fit, with every shift offering another opportunity to connect with people through good food and genuine service.
Then coffee opened the door to something new. Learning the craft, care and attention behind a well-made cup quickly became a genuine passion. The more Nalan learned, the clearer the next step became: to create a business where hospitality experience, great coffee and meaningful connection could come together.
“People are often surprised to learn that I started working in hospitality when I was only 14 years old.”
Nalan Kali, Store Owner
What keeps Nalan coming back
It always comes back to people
The most rewarding part of each day is the connection with customers. Familiar faces become part of the café's rhythm, with regular orders remembered, conversations shared and everyday visits becoming something more personal.
For Nalan, making coffee and serving people is about creating an experience that can make someone's day a little better.
The story so far
Building something of Nalan's own
Starting Chill N Grind brought together everything Nalan had learned throughout years in hospitality. It also created the freedom to shape every part of the experience, from the quality of each coffee to the welcome every customer receives.
Taking the step to work independently, make decisions and watch the business grow from the ground up remains Nalan's proudest career achievement. The journey has brought challenges, but it has also revealed what dedication, passion and self-belief can build.
Early experience
A journey that began at 14
An early introduction to family-run hospitality businesses shaped Nalan's approach to service, responsibility and hard work.
Passion
The craft behind every cup
Discovering the skill and detail behind coffee sparked the passion that helped inspire Chill N Grind.
Motivation
Familiar faces and daily connection
Knowing regular customers, remembering usual orders and sharing a chat make every day rewarding.
Proudest moment
Creating an independent business
Building something from the ground up and seeing it grow remains a defining professional achievement.
Nalan recommends
Start with a signature coffee
For a first visit, Nalan's recommendation is simple: try one of Chill N Grind's coffees.
Coffee sits at the heart of the business and reflects the quality, care and attention that goes into every cup. The goal is not only to make a coffee, but to create something customers genuinely enjoy and want to return for.
More than an order
The relationships behind the counter
The best part of Chill N Grind's customers is the relationship that develops over time. A regular visit becomes a familiar order, a quick chat and a valued part of the day.
Seeing customers return and knowing they enjoy the experience is one of the most meaningful parts of running the business. It is a reminder that thoughtful service can turn an everyday interaction into something people look forward to.
Beyond the café
A proper holiday and a return to Turkey
After years dedicated to work and growing the business, one meaningful goal remains on Nalan's bucket list: travelling to Turkey again.
Having visited twice before, Nalan would love the opportunity to slow down, enjoy a proper break and spend more time experiencing a place that holds personal significance, while making new memories away from the demands of everyday work.
Meet your locals
Coffee, connection and a warm welcome
Visit Chill N Grind and experience the care, quality and friendly service that Nalan and the team bring to every order.