Best Place for a Coffee OUTSIDE of Dublin

kiwipower

In response to the thread "Best Coffee in Dublin" just wondering if anyone has good suggestions for coffee places outside Dublin?
My personal favourite being Arabica Coffee in Galway. 95% of the time they get my Extra Shot Regular Latte Just right; Strong at a good temperature. (ie I can pick up the cup with my hand and take a good swallow WITHOUT burning a whole in my mouth!

mandarin

Cork Coffee Roasters (Bridge St, Cork) gets my vote. Great cafe/ambience as well as great coffee.
Funnily enough, I was about to start a related thread - not exactly 'where is the best coffee outside Dublin', but a list of decent coffee places throughout Ireland so that when you're passing through a particular town/area, you know where to try for coffee. The idea was more to get a list of acceptable haunts, given that so much coffee served in Ireland is just woeful.
Kiwipower, do you want to keep this thread for top recommendations, or will a more generalised 'these places aren't bad' do?

kiwipower

mandarin wrote: »

Cork Coffee Roasters (Bridge St, Cork) gets my vote. Great cafe/ambience as well as great coffee.
Funnily enough, I was about to start a related thread - not exactly 'where is the best coffee outside Dublin', but a list of decent coffee places throughout Ireland so that when you're passing through a particular town/area, you know where to try for coffee. The idea was more to get a list of acceptable haunts, given that so much coffee served in Ireland is just woeful.
Kiwipower, do you want to keep this thread for top recommendations, or will a more generalised 'these places aren't bad' do?

I think you are right on there Mandarin!
I travel a huge amount around the country and am often found desperate for a coffee +/- a bite to eat! Most definitely interested in suggestions for great coffee before 9am!

mandarin

Ok, let’s get the ball rolling. Obviously below list only reflects my own limited experiences so hoping that others will chip in and we end up compiling a pretty comprehensive list so that when travelling, you don’t end up in some place that serves a massive mug of diluted crap. If somewhere does exceptional coffee, that’s great, but ‘good’ should be enough to make this list, considering the state of coffee in Ireland.
I’ve also mentioned a few places that don’t do good coffee but are otherwise really nice cafes(!).

CORK city
Cork Coffee Roasters in Bridge St, as already mentioned, does really great coffee. Great atmosphere too – traditional American coffeehouse feel to it with an old Probat roaster on the premises and good music.
There’s a nice little spot in the middle of the English Market called Coffee Central, consists of a few stools around a small counter (think the coffee is Clive McCabe’s).
Café Gusto (Washington st, Lancaster quay) has its coffee supporters. Never been there myself.
Café Depeche (cafes in North Main Street, Lancaster Quay and in court house on Washington st) markets itself as an espresso bar and some people like it. Again, never been there myself.

CORK county
Ballymaloe – Small café at the back of the craft shop serves Badger and Dodo Red Rock espresso blend. Would prefer if they ditched those dainty china cups for proper coffee cups,however.
Kinsale – Lovely little cafe called Tom’s Bakery does great coffee (Badger and Dodo Blackwater blend).
Ballinspittle (5 or 6 miles south of Kinsale) – Diva boutique bakery and café well worth a stop. Coffee not remarkable, but not bad either, and the food/café is nice.
Clonakilty – The Winery. The coffee (Illy) doesn’t do it for me at all, but it’s a nice and relaxing place for a stop.
Skibbereen – Riverside café does Cork Coffee Roasters coffee. Not nearly as good as what you get in CCR, but still good.
Ballydehob – West Cork Gourmet Store. No espresso machine, just ordinary coffee in a French Press. However, it’s a lovely, eclectic little spot, which is why I’m mentioning it.
Bantry – Stuffed Olive. Deli/café, great food and Cork Coffee Roasters coffee.

KERRY – Dingle
Murphy’s Ice Cream in Dingle offers Hasbean on V60. However, must be only a couple of them in the café as I was told none were available on my visit. Settled for an americano which was v poor, to be honest (think that they use Maher’s coffee for americanos).
Wren’s Nest espresso bar and arts centre in Dingle – bit like the Ballydehob entry, listing this purely because I like the spot rather than the coffee (Nespresso, I’m afraid). Is a lovely spot though, where one might easily happen upon a spontaneous music session.

LIMERICK city
Café Kaos in the Milk Market is definitely one for serious coffee geeks – does range of Badger and Dodo coffees, offers Aeropress and V60s, 21g of coffee in espresso servings, also had plans to buy a beautiful kees van der westen coffee machine (may have done so by now). Cons? Personally, not keen on the café itself, smell of pizza doesn’t compliment the coffee experience, music was way too loud when I was there. Still, can’t fault the coffee credentials.
Also in the Milk Market is Ponaire, who roast their own beans. Coffee didn’t do much for me when I was there – it’s only served in takeaway cups, which is a big con. However, they do different blends at different times, so who knows. I believe they also have a café/roastery just outside the city

CLARE – Magnetic Music Café in Doolin. Gorgeous music café in old thatch house.

GALWAY – Mocha Beans roast their own beans and apparently have cafes throughout Galway city, in Salthill and Athenry. Never been there myself.
Tuam – The Galway Roast roast their own beans in store (think this may have been Mocha Beans previously, although could be wrong on that). Café itself is lacking in character, imo (generic design more reminiscent of the chains). Coffee I was served was ordinary enough, but I bought beans for takeaway and enjoyed them at home.

MAYO – Mocha Beans apparently have cafes in Ballina and Westport.

barone

this one

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2056368145

PPC

I went to Mocha Beans Salthill last time I was in Galway, I think I'd rather eat some Nescafe with a spoon that drink there again.

Mo14

Cafe Mocha in Kilkenny is where I always go back to for my coffee, best I've found anyway.

exaisle

The bookshop in Blessington Co Wicklow on the main street (N81)....surprisingly good...

(I'm a customer only....no other connection).

e

kiwipower

mandarin wrote: »

LIMERICK city
Café Kaos in the Milk Market is definitely one for serious coffee geeks – does range of Badger and Dodo coffees, offers Aeropress and V60s, 21g of coffee in espresso servings, also had plans to buy a beautiful kees van der westen coffee machine (may have done so by now). Cons? Personally, not keen on the café itself, smell of pizza doesn’t compliment the coffee experience, music was way too loud when I was there. Still, can’t fault the coffee credentials.
Also in the Milk Market is Ponaire, who roast their own beans. Coffee didn’t do much for me when I was there – it’s only served in takeaway cups, which is a big con. However, they do different blends at different times, so who knows. I believe they also have a café/roastery just outside the city

GALWAY – Mocha Beans roast their own beans and apparently have cafes throughout Galway city, in Salthill and Athenry. Never been there myself.
Tuam – The Galway Roast roast their own beans in store (think this may have been Mocha Beans previously, although could be wrong on that). Café itself is lacking in character, imo (generic design more reminiscent of the chains). Coffee I was served was ordinary enough, but I bought beans for takeaway and enjoyed them at home.

MAYO – Mocha Beans apparently have cafes in Ballina and Westport.

Mandarin you are quite the soruce of information!
I must try Cafe Kaos next time I am in the milk market.
I would agree about Ponaire, the paper cups and all, plus their blends seem a little on the light side to me, but then I love super duper punch my teeth out coffee!

I know Mocha is a Galway institution, (didnt know they roasted there own beens though) but cant say I think much of their coffee. The one thing I do like is their bagels for a hangover, and that the use to make flat white coffees in Salthill, but that was about 9 years ago.

I will have to try the other Galway places recomended over the next few months, though I cant see anything weaning me off Arabicca!

Must also mention in Roscommon Town, Glessons Deli, The Girls there are very proud of their espresso machine and training, and will do their best to make a cup of coffee you would like! There sambos are out of this world to!

mandarin

I'm afraid my knowledge of decent Irish cafes is far from exhaustive Kiwipower (it must be, as I tend to end up drinking dishwater when in unfamiliar surrounds).
Suppose I should mention Dunne and Crescenzi's in Kildare village shopping centre - strong Italian coffee, nice crema etc. Can't stand the place though.
Another West Cork addition to the list - Golden Pheasant in Courtmacsherry is now using Badger and Dodo's Blackwater blend, according to B&D's Facebook page.

mandarin

Skelligs Chocolate Cafe in Killarney (near Quill's) also stocks Badger and Dodo (haven't been, just came across online reference to it).

LizT

Chocolate Brown - my local is Tullamore but they're also in Mullingar and Portlaoise.

kiwipower

So has anyone here tried Cafe Lounge in Carrick-on-Shannon?
Am going to be working here over the next few months, spotted the shop but didnt go in (YET) then stumbled across their website.
They state that they roast there own so I cant wait to try them.

Review Pending!

d4v1d

i'm all for arabica in galway. they serve a very nice flat white. my favourite was the one in the commercial area next to riverside in mervue. happily used to go out of my way for a coffee from there. forget the name of the place now.

out of interest, the coffee they serve is the ''blue earth" blend from java republic. i buy this coffee for my own brew at home which, if we're including non-commercial enterprise, is by far the nicest in ireland. i make a damned good coffee.

kiwipower

kiwipower wrote: »

So has anyone here tried Cafe Lounge in Carrick-on-Shannon?
Am going to be working here over the next few months, spotted the shop but didnt go in (YET) then stumbled across their website.
They state that they roast there own so I cant wait to try them.

Review Pending!

Had a fantastic Flat White here, while not quite as smooth as 3fe in Dublin. It is of a good strong strength smooth and with a good kick. Would defo recommend if passing through Carrick-on-Shannon will be back over the next few weeks!

I was so impressed I bought some of their beans, there advice on what ones to try seemed very knowledgeable. As they guided me towards on that likes milk and away from beans that don't like milk.

cianisgood

my gaff , i make a mean coffee

kiwipower

cianisgood wrote: »

my gaff , i make a mean coffee

Is that an offer?

Dermighty

Italee on Oliver Plunkett Street Cork, very, very good.

gusto on Washington Street, Cork is excellent also.

Cork Coffee roasters is easily the most overrated I've ever been to, I really dislike both their coffee and the place itself.

kiwipower

Dermighty wrote: »

Italee on Oliver Plunkett Street Cork, very, very good.

gusto on Washington Street, Cork is excellent also.

Cork Coffee roasters is easily the most overrated I've ever been to, I really dislike both their coffee and the place itself.

Funny I came across Cork Coffee Roasters Rebel Roast down in Bantry, thought it was so good, I bought a bag of beans home. Then last week paid nearly €8 in Sligo for a ground bag for a friend with an Italian Stove top Espresso maker.

We both think it is excellent, but then I love my coffee strong enough to punch my teeth out!

The Toff

In terms of Cork Coffee Roasters, I'm not sure if they have been overly hyped, but you have to take them in context. I found their espresso to have a hint of sweetness, which sets them above the vast majority of coffee shops in Ireland, but especially Cork. The coffee was nothing like the standard of the specialty coffee shops in Dublin, however. I had a filter brew from their Marco Filtro Shuttle as well, and it was drinkable, but didn't really stand out as it was a bit bland. I'd still go back there for espresso, even if it can be ultra cramped in there.

mandarin

Dermighty wrote: »

Italee on Oliver Plunkett Street Cork, very, very good.

gusto on Washington Street, Cork is excellent also.

Cork Coffee roasters is easily the most overrated I've ever been to, I really dislike both their coffee and the place itself.

I like Italee’s coffee, very gutsy stuff. Lots of people like Gusto, doesn’t do anything for me (they use Java Republic, afaik).
Re CCR, I’ve already said I think the coffee is great. Taste is subjective I suppose, but coffee aside, I think you have to give credit re. the café itself. Sure, it’s small and cramped, but it’s a genuine American-style retro coffee house. The old Probat roaster, the coffee bags on the bare stone walls, the great music, the chilled out ambience, the brown ACF coffee cups with the pic of the roaring grizzly, the retro shop-front - “one of the glories of Cork city”, as Bridgestone once put it.
http://bestofbridgestone.blogspot.com/2008/04/fishing-for-coffee-beans.html


A great coffee experience should be a highly atmospheric and individual one, whether it be in a classical European café or a more buzzy North American coffeehouse. A lot of people on this forum rave on about 3fe, but whatever one thinks about the coffee, it fails on other levels. I was last there in 2010, and I believe there have been changes made since, but I can understand the Boards poster who once complained that it best suited depressed vampires. The aforementioned Italee in Cork does a fine Italian-style coffee but the place itself is very bland. Café Kaos in Limerick (now closed) was really serious about coffee but the quasi-militant vibe and headbanger music were off-putting, to say the least. Many other places I mentioned on this thread, on the other hand, are lovely spots but the coffee is mediocre.
I think that CCR inspires a lot of devotion because it does great coffee in a great setting.

mandarin

Seeing as this thread is about coffee outside Dublin and seeing as I just mentioned Cafe Kaos - the guy behind it recently set up Espresso Project in Celbridge. Badger and Dodo coffees, Kees van der Westen machine, multiple grinders, etc.

murphyebass

Hi guys,

I think it'd be a good idea to have thread devoted to good quality coffee shops outside of Dublin or even Ireland for that matter...

For example I was in Sheffield on the weekend and made a point of doing a bit of googling before I went so that I'd not have to rely on pot luck when wandering in to get my morning brew.

http://tampercoffee.co.uk/

Cant recommed this place enough. Went on both Saturday and Sunday and will be back next time I'm over in Sheffield for sure.

I tried their espresso, filter and flat white. All great. The staff were very friendly and knowledgable. It reminded me of places like 3FE.

2nd one is in London. Went here last year.

Place called Milk Bar, sister cafe to flatwhitecafe, see link.
http://www.flatwhitecafe.com/milkbar.html

Its in Soho London. Very similar story to the place in sheffield. Both serve excellent coffee.


I've got to the stage where I have to look these places up before going anywhere. I hope I'm not the only one mad enough to do this. lol.

mandarin

Similar thread here, which I'll update myself in a minute...
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056367052
You won't find many references to 3fe-type places that specialise in filter/aeropress and so on, mainly because there aren't many, tbh.
Thing is, when I'm passing through some relatively unfamiliar town or village, whether it be on a west of Ireland break or a pitstop on a motorway journey, I'm not crying out for a hipster joint where the barista is rhapsodising about the subtle blueberry notes, or whatever. Something approaching decent coffee would do in most cases, rather than getting that sinking feeling when you're presented with a massive cup of watered-down coffee. Asking for a double shot and not too much water helps, although it can on occasion cause bemusement/embarrassment:(
That's why it's be nice to get a bit more feedback on semi-decent haunts/places that make some kind of an effort (and perhaps even criticism of places that market their coffee, but actually sell crap).

mandarin

For a long while, it was easier to get Badger and Dodo coffee in Dublin rather than Cork, despite being Fermoy-based. Not so much these days - L'Atitude wine bar/cafe in Union Quay stocks B&D, and so does Farmgate in the English Market. Farmgate is a stunning cafe (English market is great, and Farmgate has the best location) and it's nice that they're finally doing decent coffee (used to stock stale Cofesa stuff, as far as I know). Think they are using B&D's Tanzanian Ngorongo Blue coffee, which is extremely distinctive and worth trying (they may well regularly move from one single origin coffee to the next, I don't know).
You can get Ponaire coffee in the Bookshelf, on the South Mall. The coffee doesn't do it for me (very dark and mugs are huge), but some people like it. It is a nice space, although it could be a lot nicer, given the high ceilings, etc.
Gulp'd in Triskel Arts Centre rotates freshly roasted coffees from Mark Kingston (Golden Bean). Had a Guatemalan a few months back, was terrific. (Triskel is also well worth a wander).
One of the guys working in Gulp'd is currently opening up a place on George's Quay called Filter. Will be a brew bar/espresso bar. Think stocking Badger and Dodo, although may well be doing Golden Bean too (don't know for sure, but meant to be opening around now). V60s, etc.

Mr Magnolia

Threads merged.

carolinespring

This place in Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim does amazing coffee. Well worth a visit https://www.facebook.com/CafeLounge?fref=ts

Perdit

There's Boss Hogg just off the Square in Maynooth. They serve a fabulous range of single origin coffees with an assortment that is constantly changing. Had a superb Yiracheffee espresso in there a few weeks ago. The owner Daniel really knows his stuff.

kiwipower

carolinespring wrote: »

This place in Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim does amazing coffee. Well worth a visit https://www.facebook.com/CafeLounge?fref=ts

Definitely a great spot. They know what they are talking about and where able to explain to me properly what a flat white was in technical terms.

Cafe Rua in Castlebar is a solid decent cuppa

Cafe on Main Street in Templemore does a reasonable Lavazza coffee as well.

I now always ask for triple shot late with lightly steamed milk where ever I am. Seems to give me something close to an NZ Flat white. Which is why I would recommend the above.

Vombata

There's Espresso Project on the Main Street in Celbridge. Dropped in the other day and had a honey processed El Salvador bean which was super tasty. Joel the owner uses a really beautiful 3-group Kees van der Westen machine and pulls awesome shots....

LordSutch

Located on Castle Street Bray, Co Wicklow (opposite Superquinn).

Espresso, Coffee, pots of Tea, soup of the day - All day breakfast - sandwiches, scones, buns, breads, Yum yum yum )

Its just opened, so its all very clean and fresh, the expresso machine is a thing of beauty, and if you are into your espressos & cappuccinos I'd say you'd love it. Personally I'm a tea man and the tea is just great there. The Bridge is very warm & comfy inside & they even have a small kids play area - nice & warm atmosphere + lovely soft comfy seats.

Daily blackboard with specials.