Meet Marek Nold | Co-Owner of Hustle & Grind Coffee Company

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marek Nold and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marek, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Balance is the key to a happy life. Some may think being an entrepreneur means giving up everything and working 24/7, but it doesn’t. There are certainly are sacrifices but all things worthwhile, are worth the work. Balance also takes practice and I think of it as a skill. In this day and age, it is incredibly hard to turn off and be present in whatever you are doing, therefore it is always on my mind. It does take effort. It is hard to let an email go unanswered or a text responded but overtime, you begin to realize that the “urgency” our modern lives demand, is mostly fictitious social pressure. The world will still be there if you postpone the email or text for a couple hours or even days while you enjoy an adventure with your family and friends, go on a bike ride, hike, surf, make music, read a book, or whatever you enjoy. As I said, this takes practice but for me it is very important. I have experienced burn-out and it sucks. Lastly, when you are able to achieve balance, it reenergizes you and your creativity, which is vitally important to keeping your motivation up and ideas flowing.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My newest business is called Hustle & Grind Coffee Company, which I co-own with my close friend Lee Jacobs and managed by seasoned coffee aficionado Dylan Tighe. Our menu is a blend of a classic Italian coffee selection, with unique specialty coffee drinks, such as our Lavender Molasses Latte, made by reducing down real lavender flower. All of our syrups are house-made and we us real ingredients for our products. No BS, period. We also offer vegan options such as our delicious OG Avocado toast and alternative milks like house-made almond milk, which is lightly sweetened with dates. Our philosophy is based on always using high quality ingredients, consistently prepared with an artistic touch and backed by excellent service by our talented team. Our shop is located in downtown Santa Barbara, CA and we share the space with our sister business ParadICE Hawaiian Shave Ice & Ice Cream, which was actually our first business. We opened ParadICE in 2018 and has since become a local and visitor favorite for dessert however, we realized the need to offer something warm during the winter months and also during the morning hours. Since Lee and I have always been passionate about coffee, it was a easy decision on what to do. We linked up with Dylan and began hustlin’. More so than ever, the year 2020 has shown that life is a grind and we are all doing our best to hustle through it together. Maintaining a positive outlook is vital, and so is good fuel to keep us moving in the right direction. Hustle & Grind embodies this by supporting and partnering with other local businesses, such as Cajé for their premium locally roasted coffee, and Helena Bakery for their freshly baked bread, which is used for the shop’s toast selection. Good coffee, good people, good vibes is what its all about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in Santa Barbara, CA is like a mini paradise. We are surrounded by the mountains and the sea. Lets say it is the middle of summer, 85 degrees with the sun out. The first day would be a full on day at Rincon or Leadbetter Beach with a cooler with food and drinks, frisbee, Bluetooth speaker and surf boards. Other days would be filled with hikes in the mountains of Montecito, winery or brewery hopping around Funk Zone and dining out literally on State Street as it is now closed to traffic so restaurants can finally utilize space for outdoor tables (one of the few positives of COVID). Just about every eatery is fantastic so you cant go wrong.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many people I could shoutout but my wife Catalina Esteves is always a huge support and help with my projects. She runs her own business called Cat Therapy, which helps save cats facing euthanasia and homelessness by fostering, socializing and rehoming them in a beautiful, cage free Cat Cafe, as well as online store featuring cat inspired apparel. She is also the mother to our amazing 1 year old son, Felix. She handles both… in style. The year 2020 has thrown everyone multiple curve balls but she charges through, taking on the constant surprises and setbacks but still celebrates the successes. Her drive is unstoppable and is inspiring.

Website: https://www.hustleandgrindcoffee.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hustleandgrindcoffeecompany/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mareknold/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HustleAndGrindCoffeeCompany/
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hustle-and-grind-coffee-company-santa-barbara