Chloe Franklin's Personal Journey

I spent much of my childhood as a young carer for my parents, who both suffer from severe mental health issues. As a result, I had little aspiration for academia or my future. I was too aware of life’s negativities to focus on school or a career. In 2018, at rock bottom after being discharged from an inpatient mental health facility, I realised that if I didn’t seek a positive future, I likely wouldn’t have one at all. I had left college and felt completely lost. Somehow, Well Grounded found me at the

perfect time. Since graduating, I’ve worked in many coffee roles including some of London’s best coffee shops Press, Rosslyn and Frequency. It took time to understand the commitment of

hospitality. I failed a few times but learnt crucial lessons that shaped my work ethic. Customer service is something I strive for. People make my job what it is, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Well Grounded has been a support network, a family to fall back on when things felt difficult. Coffee has given me purpose, being even just a small part of somebody’s day is so fulfilling and seeing little ones so excited for a babyccino makes my heart melt.

Since 2024, I’ve worked for Carnival Coffee Roasters, managing the café and training wholesale customers and the public. Teaching and passing on my passion for coffee is something I absolutely love.

Looking forward, I have always wanted to open a coffee shop- a place where everyone

comes to talk and make friends, a training space for young people struggling to keep their heads above water, a family of humans willing to help each other thrive. I would love to give young people that have had a difficult start a positive future to look forward to. I also love to travel. In eight years, I still haven’t been to a coffee farm. If I am honest I don’t think you can fully understand everything that goes into coffee until you have met the people working day in day out hand picking cherries and fermenting and raking and washing. I am almost at the very end of the chain for supply in coffee. I would love to see the beginning.