Dublin’s coffee culture: "Even in the face of the increasingly flashy make-it-at-home machines, the pull of the local coffee shop remains irresistible"

Whether it’s burritos, donuts, pizza slices, gin or bottomless brunches, a dizzying array of food and drink trends have hit Dublin over the years – some lasting longer than others. One love affair that’s only grown stronger with time, however, is our deep connection to coffee. Even in the face of the increasingly flashy make-it-at-home machines, the pull of the local coffee shop remains irresistible to many Dubliners – whether seeking out a hot drink on the go, or the precious escapism of a cup, saucer and quiet corner.

Dublin’s coffee culture stretches all the way back to the 17th century, but it’s undergone some dramatic evolutions in recent years – with baristas, roasters and coffee shop owners consistently finding creative new ways to meet the demands of customers who know their their pour-over from their espresso, and their cold brew from their iced coffee…

In this special feature, we’re celebrating some of the businesses at the forefront of this movement – including those who aren’t afraid to do things a little differently…

Late Night Spots

“Dublin can be heaven,” the old song goes, “with coffee at eleven…” But what if you fancy your cupán caife a little later than that? For a wide range of reasons, more and more people are seeking out spaces to socialise in the city that don’t revolve around alcohol, particularly in the late afternoons and evenings.

Thankfully, you don’t have to rely on the big international chains for your late caffeine fix – with innovative cafés like Mind The Step (24 Strand St Great, D1) serving specialty coffee, teas, hot chocolate and pastries until 11pm six nights a week, and until 8pm on Sundays. Tucked away between Liffey St and Jervis St, the unique space – which is also home to two dance studios – enforces a no-laptop rule after 5pm, ensuring there’s a vibrant, social atmosphere in the evening hours.

Mind The Step

Other brilliant options for a coffee later in the day include the warm, welcoming Adda (62 Clanbrassil St Upper, D8), which stays open until 9pm, as well as the charmingly artsy The Music Café (1 Wellington Quay, D2) which is open till 9pm Thursdays to Saturdays, and 7pm the rest of the week.

Socially-Conscious Cuppas

There’s something inherently social about a cup of coffee – whether you’re heading to a café with a friend, picking up an order for a colleague, or having your daily chat with your local barista. Several businesses in Dublin have harnessed this unique aspect of coffee for the greater good, by giving back to their communities in a real, meaningful way.

Mendicity, the oldest working charity in Dublin, provides work and training for people experiencing homelessness through its coffee truck, Hard Ground (9 Island St, Dublin 8), with proceeds reinvested in the social enterprise and Mendicity’s core services.

Out at their Dun Laoghaire Baths location, Happy Out Café have teamed up with the social enterprise Together Academy to offer barista training to the young adults with Down syndrome who work there – resulting in a wonderfully inclusive café.

Imbibe Coffee Roasters (9 Dolphins Barn, Dublin 8), meanwhile, give up 3.5% of all their revenue before the business makes a cent – with 1% going to their staff, 1% going to Women’s Aid, 1% going to bridge-building projects in the community in Columbia where they source a lot of their coffee, and .5% going to local initiatives.

Cosy Cafés & Innovative Spaces

What really makes Dublin’s coffee culture special, of course, is its variety. If it’s a warm welcome and traditional charm you’re after, Dublin has no shortage of classic cafés – including beloved city-centre spots like Metro Cafe (43 William St S, D2), The Pepper Pot Cafe (Powerscourt Town Centre, D2), Bewley’s (78-79 Grafton St, D2), and, of course, Keoghs Cafe (1-2 Trinity St, D2). From their famous full Irish breakfast and mouth-watering scones, to their incredibly helpful and cheerful staff, Keoghs have carved out their own wholesome corner in the middle of town – offering one of the finest places in the city to unwind with a freshly brewed coffee in one hand, and a book in the other.

You could also take refuge from the hectic pace of the city in the impossibly serene Mish.Mash (66 Capel St, D1), or explore more of a neighbourhood vibe at the likes of Bang Bang (59A Leinster St N, D7), or One Kinda Folk (28A Dartmouth Rd, D6 & 126 Leeson St Upper, D4).

Tucked neatly away in Rialto, you’ll find the cosy and friendly Four Coffee café (471 S Circular R, D8).  Upon entering, you'll find the friendly owners Flori and Rob behind the counter serving up delicious handmade toasties, fresh açai bowls, and tantalising baked treats – meaning you'll be spoilt for choice in this D8 haven. Boasting a cheerful neighbourhood atmosphere, Four Coffee locals enjoy the top-notch barista coffee seven days a week. The café is so big on top-quality coffee, that they have not one, but two machines – ensuring their customers get their much-needed caffeine fix.

Four Coffee

Of course, for the serious connoisseurs and on-the-go sippers, Dublin is also home to an ever-growing selection of slightly more stripped-back establishments, that are focused first and foremost on serving up fantastic specialty coffee.

If you’re planning a cuppa crawl, don’t miss: Brew Lab (17 Redmond’s Hill, D2), Proper Order (Unit 1, Distillers Building, D7), Søren & Son (1 Dean St, D8), Shoe Lane Coffee (7 Tara St, D2), Cloud Picker (42 Pearse St, D2), Kaph (31 Drury St, D2), Coffeeangel (multiple locations), Unfiltered Coffee Co. (205B Emmet Rd, D8), Indigo & Cloth (9 Essex St E, D8), Copper + Straw (multiple locations), Groundstate Coffee Roasters (48-50 James’s St, D8), Grindstone Specialty Coffee (multiple locations), flower&bean (113 Cork St, D8), Cool Hand Coffee Roasters (multiple locations), Two Boys Brew (375 N Circular Rd, D7), Clement & Pekoe (multiple locations), 3fe (multiple locations) and newer additions like MANTLE (11 Anglesea St, D2) – to name just a few…

Dublin is home to some renowned specialty coffee roasters, many of which (including several of the establishments listed above) operate their own cafés in the city.

Creed Coffee Roasters have drawn inspiration from Australia’s vibrant coffee scene – and ethically source, roast and deliver phenomenal coffees from all over the world. In addition to their roastery and café in Celbridge, you can try their coffee for yourself at their central Dublin location (80 Pearse St, D2), as well as in the heart of Rathmines (Rathmines Rd Lower, D6).

There’s other international coffee cultures to be embraced in Dublin too – including the soulful, deeply authentic Italian approach of Doppio Zero. In addition to their ristorante (4 Abbey St Upper, D1), you’ll find their caffè on the other side of town (1 Lower Pembroke St, D2). As Ireland’s official suppliers of the world-famous Mokambo coffee, which was originally founded in the ancient town of Chieti back in 1972, you can expect to be blown away by their espresso – with Doppio Zero’s owner, Angelo Simeone, reflecting that, “whoever drinks my coffee, drinks a piece of Italy.”

“It’s not just a drink,” he adds. “It’s a ritual, an identity-marker – a moment that brings people together…”

Read our full coffee feature in Best of Dublin – in shops now, and available to order online below: