Meet the Team
Meet the heart and soul of Solace Coffee
☕ Kylie – Founder & CEO
Let us introduce you to Solace Coffee’s founder, Kylie.
With 27 years in the speciality coffee world under her belt (and an SCA trainer qualification to match), Kylie knows her beans. But it’s not just about coffee – over the past six years, she’s worked with a range of social enterprises and charities, focusing on supporting young people caught up in the justice system.
In 2024, she leapt and founded Solace Coffee CIC, bringing together her industry expertise and deep passion for youth empowerment. Her mission? To challenge the stigma around young people who’ve faced tough starts and help guide them towards brighter, more hopeful futures.
She’s a big believer in second chances, honest conversations, and delicious brews. Oh, and she loves cats.
Myles - Managing Director
Myles has spent the last 10 years immersed in London’s speciality coffee scene – doing everything from pulling shots to launching coffee shops, running social enterprises and even starting a roastery. He’s opened over 8 shops and knows the industry inside out.
Originally from Ireland, Myles kicked off Notions Coffee at the start of the year – a kind of yellow pages for all things coffee. From consultancy and bar design to brand activations and roasting, he’s got a hand in it all.
At Solace, Myles is in charge of all things operations – from how the coffee flows to how the whole organisation runs behind the scenes. He looks after our equipment, beans, shop setup, training spaces, and supports our learners with real hands-on experience. He also helps drive our long-term strategy and makes sure everything runs like clockwork (most of the time anyway).
A proper asset to the team – and yes, he keeps Kylie on her toes too.
Cornai - Community Training and Impact Lead
Meet Cornai – brand ambassador, barista trainer, lived experience champion, and all-round top guy.
Born and raised in London, Cornai brings serious coffee credentials to the team, with five years’ experience running two coffee shops, plus an SCA Professional Barista qualification under his belt. Whether it’s roasting, brewing, or mentoring, he’s passionate about sharing his knowledge and raising the bar for everyone around him.
But what sets Cornai apart is his dedication to the community. With his own lived experience, he works closely with SEND students and young people at risk, including those with experience in the justice system, helping them see their potential and build a future they can be proud of.
When he’s not talking coffee, you’ll probably find him in the boxing ring. As a semi-pro boxer, Cornai brings his love for the sport into our programme – helping young people build confidence, discipline and resilience through boxing.
Also worth knowing: he’s a die-hard Arsenal fan. But don’t hold that against him.