Best coffee in Dublin?

starlit · 07-07-2010 1:59pm

vanilla or caramel latte at cafe sol

Zombienosh · 13-07-2010 12:17am

I must try this 3FE place, im never really on that side much,

I usually always go for small independant places.

Places I hate:
Starbucks,
Insomnia,
Fixx.

Everywhere else floats on the average mark right now.

Daffs · 15-07-2010 4:55pm

I went to 3fe a while ago, enjoyed a really nice filter Coffee there. I did share a little grievance like someone else about 'the milk issue' that was brought up here recently. In fairness, Colin dealt with it admirably. Look forward to going back soon.

I also have enjoyed very nice Lattes delivered by Brock of Badger & Dodo in the Point Village Market..very nice also.

Zombienosh · 15-07-2010 5:25pm

HotRodLincoln wrote: »

If anyone is looking for an unusual coffee experience I would highly recommend a visit to the Havana Cafe on Grafton St.(it's part of The Decent Cigar Emporium). I have been a cigar smoker for some years now and they have always served coffee but they have recently invested in a new machine and opened part of the shop as a coffee shop. They only serve cuban coffee, normally cubita i think, but if you like strong flavour coffee its worth a try.

Tried one of these today, was amazing. Nice guys working there and well priced too.

Daffs · 16-07-2010 9:50am

They get a mention here too:

http://dublinobserver.com/2010/07/5-dublin-city-spots-for-a-decen-coffee/

graviton · 25-07-2010 9:11pm

Carlucchios do quite nice coffee too there on dawson street! The waiting staff outside are not the best and are quite ignorant but they do a nice coffee

Coriolanus · 25-07-2010 9:42pm

graviton wrote: »

Carlucchios do quite nice coffee too there on dawson street! The waiting staff outside are not the best and are quite ignorant but they do a nice coffee

Yeah, that pretty much says it all about Carlucchios. If the food wasn't so good either, I'd never darken their door.

Zombienosh · 26-07-2010 8:18pm

Finally got into 3FE, its great.

hardly on the side of the city though, so Havana Cafe for me on southside, 3FE on north

Chuchu · 27-07-2010 8:44am

Just lurking in here as I sip my morning coffee

I'm shocked that the Bald Barrista only got a couple of mentions... it is far and away the BEST coffee in Dublin. I've been getting my coffee en route to work there for the past 3 years or so (ditched Java/Insomnia as soon as I tasted the BB stuff)
I would literally crack up if I arrived some morning and it was closed or gone.:o Their coffee is now available on Dawson St. in a newish place called Fixx (named after their coffee blend). The owner of the original Bald Barrista is a New Zealander called Buzz (!) and he is just so passionate about it and will wax lyrical about coffee to you all day if you wanted. I'm no expert but I can defo taste a difference between this and all the other muck!!
Anyway just thought I'd give it my thumbs up, esp as some people might be put off going in (it is at the front of a hostel but it's actually just a regular coffee shop after the back packers head off for the day.)

Slaphead07 · 27-07-2010 9:20am

You can get your Fixx (pun intended) at a few spots around the city. The Dublin Coffee Company beside (and part of) The Dandelion across from the Luas terminus is a handy one for a quick caffine top-up.

snollup · 27-07-2010 10:34am

Chuchu wrote: »

The owner of the original Bald Barrista is a New Zealander called Buzz (!) and he is just so passionate about it and will wax lyrical about coffee to you all day if you wanted.

If you quiz him a little you would be amazed at how little he actually knows about coffee! Will tell you one thing one day and something completely the next. Never gives a straight answer and cant tell you anything about the source of Fixx beans!

Zombienosh · 27-07-2010 10:41am

I had fixx a few weeks ago and wasn't impressed at all....

maybe ill retry.

barryj · 27-07-2010 11:59pm

AlcoholicA wrote: »

I had fixx a few weeks ago and wasn't impressed at all....

maybe ill retry.

I'd agree on that - I've been a few times - almost no crema on an american and the hot water is too hot. Shame as the place is nice.

I think Insomnia on the other hand have a fairly consistently good americano - always a nice crema - roast date displayed, and staff that remember what you like. As far as chains go in Dublin I think they're well up there.

- barry

Slaphead07 · 28-07-2010 8:12pm

barryj wrote: »

I think Insomnia on the other hand have a fairly consistently good americano - always a nice crema - roast date displayed, and staff that remember what you like. As far as chains go in Dublin I think they're well up there.

It's amazing how tastes and perceptions differ. I would rather drink from the toilets in Insomnia than drink their coffee.

donnacha · 28-07-2010 8:24pm

insomnia display roast dates :eek:

IRLConor · 28-07-2010 8:49pm

I'm fairly spoiled. I live near 3FE, which sorts me out for my Saturday coffee. I work near Milk + Honey which is my morning coffee. In the office there's a Gaggia bean-to-cup jobbie that is filled with Fixx beans and turns out OK espressos. I'm not a massive fan of Fixx coffee, but it's better than average and certainly appreciated as an office amenity.

If 3FE was on my way to work and open a little earlier I'd have a tough choice between it and M+H. The reason I know I'm spoiled is that on Sundays I have nowhere really near to get good coffee and usually end up being lazy and go to Insomnia.

My real challenge is on the Sundays where I get up early to go off to the wilds where Nescafe Gold Blend is considered the pinnacle of coffee excellence. :eek: Does anyone know of good (or even just decent) coffee available in the city centre before 0930 on a Sunday?

Coriolanus · 28-07-2010 8:52pm

If 3FE was on my way to work and open a little earlier I'd have a tough choice between it and M+H.

Yeah, they don't open til 10am now which is a shame. Means I have to skip them for my morning coffee, haven't been in in a while now because of it.

Does anyone know of good (or even just decent) coffee available in the city centre before 0930 on a Sunday?

Not that I know of, unfortunately. I work the odd Sunday, so I'd be interested in knowing this as well.

barryj · 28-07-2010 9:04pm

Slaphead07 wrote: »

It's amazing how tastes and perceptions differ. I would rather drink from the toilets in Insomnia than drink their coffee.

I hadn't been to Insomnia for some time until the last few months as I didn't like their coffee - but recently I tried again and thought it pretty OK - I don't know whether they changed or I did, but I don't recall them having fresh roasted beans a few years back.

Zombienosh · 28-07-2010 10:27pm

Strange this

The Fixx coffee i got from DC coffee company (beside dandelion) was nicer than the coffee i had in Fixx coffee house.

Fajitas! · 29-07-2010 11:19am

I really wasn't impressed by The Bald Barista. Nothing tasted outstanding, it just tasted like generic coffee.

3FE is still my out and out favorite, with The Decent Cigar coming in second because it's on my walk into town. It's just a shame 3FE doesn't open as early these days - I often have to pop into the Epicurean instead.

Daffs · 29-07-2010 11:52am

Just had a really lovely Latte from Coffee Angel...Very More-ish

That_Guy · 29-07-2010 10:58pm

You can't beat a bit of Topaz coffee.

JNA · 31-07-2010 3:28pm

I had to give 3fe a go after reading the rave reviews on this thread.

First time i went i got what was (in my opinion) a very mediocre double espresso. I chalked that down to bad luck, perhaps the barista was having an off day, and i dont think it was Colin Harmon serving. But i've been back a few times since and it has definitely not improved. In fact, after the piss poor espresso i got today (it had a weird chemical taste) i'll not be going back. This is my first post so i don't want to mouth off too much but i seriously can't understand the enthusiasm for 3fe.

Again this is only my opinion but i think the Bald Barista is hands down the best espresso in Dublin. Lilliput Stores in Stoneybatter is also good (i don't think that's been mentioned yet). Cigar Emporium is nice and consistent as well. In regards to the chain stores i think Butlers is grand for an americano.

Coriolanus · 31-07-2010 5:59pm

JNA wrote: »

(it had a weird chemical taste)

If it's still the blend they were using last weekend I actually love it. A really tannic mouthfeel and a nice subdued finish.
Than again, maybe I spend too much time over my coffee!

snollup · 31-07-2010 6:11pm

JNA wrote: »

I
Again this is only my opinion but i think the Bald Barista is hands down the best espresso in Dublin. Lilliput Stores in Stoneybatter is also good (i don't think that's been mentioned yet). Cigar Emporium is nice and consistent as well. In regards to the chain stores i think Butlers is grand for an americano.

Maybe because they use an automatic coffee machine in there.

evercloserunion · 03-08-2010 4:44pm

Exactly whereabouts on Abbey St is 3FE?

sourgrapes · 03-08-2010 4:56pm

Just up from the Epicurean Food Hall, at the back of Twisted Pepper

evercloserunion · 05-08-2010 1:16am

sourgrapes wrote: »

Just up from the Epicurean Food Hall, at the back of Twisted Pepper

Cheers, I may give it a go!

The_Joker. · 10-08-2010 10:14pm

3FE is nothing special wouldn't bother going out of my way to go back.

Bald baristas and Butlers

snollup · 11-08-2010 8:38am

The_Joker. wrote: »

3FE is nothing special wouldn't bother going out of my way to go back.

Bald baristas and Butlers

Just proves there's no accounting for taste, I would consider Fixx coffee (Bald Barista) as some of the worst coffee around! Sure each to their own!

donnacha · 11-08-2010 11:56am

It took me until yesterday to finally try out the bald barista - though the barista was nice enough and did a good job in creating my espresso I wasn't a lover of the coffee they use. In fact if you get the right barista across the road from coffee society then they do as good a job. For me the only 2 establishments that I'll keep going back to are 3FE and Coffee Angel.

snollup · 11-08-2010 12:32pm

donnacha wrote: »

It took me until yesterday to finally try out the bald barista - though the barista was nice enough and did a good job in creating my espresso I wasn't a lover of the coffee they use. In fact if you get the right barista across the road from coffee society then they do as good a job. For me the only 2 establishments that I'll keep going back to are 3FE and Coffee Angel.

Havent really tried Coffee Angel, where they based?

The_Joker. · 11-08-2010 2:56pm

snollup wrote: »

Just proves there's no accounting for taste, I would consider Fixx coffee (Bald Barista) as some of the worst coffee around! Sure each to their own!

I never went to fixx! I am talking about the original bald baristas in aungier street.

3FE is average coffee ,served in a smelly little depressing dump.
I can't see what the attraction is unless you are a depressed vampire without any sense of smell.

evercloserunion · 11-08-2010 5:09pm

Had a coffee in Chez Max just of Dame St, very nice coffee and nice atmosphere as well.

Coriolanus · 11-08-2010 8:32pm

The_Joker. wrote: »

I never went to fixx! I am talking about the original bald baristas in aungier street.

Who uses fixx coffee. Take a look at fixxcoffee.com, there's definitely a vested interest there.

pavcro10 · 11-08-2010 8:35pm

In the stall in Twisted Pepper on abbey st, the guy is the world coffe making champion. (so his awards say) So if you dont get a good cup there, you wont get it anywhere.

snollup · 11-08-2010 8:37pm

The_Joker. wrote: »

I never went to fixx! I am talking about the original bald baristas in aungier street.

3FE is average coffee ,served in a smelly little depressing dump.
I can't see what the attraction is unless you are a depressed vampire without any sense of smell.

They use the same coffee.

evercloserunion · 11-08-2010 8:41pm

pavcro10 wrote: »

In the stall in Twisted Pepper on abbey st, the guy is the world coffe making champion. (so his awards say) So if you dont get a good cup there, you wont get it anywhere.

I'm guessing this is 3FE?

Coriolanus · 11-08-2010 9:01pm

evercloserunion wrote: »

I'm guessing this is 3FE?

Yeah. Colin won the Irish Barista 09 and 10, and came fourth in the world both years as well.

The_Joker. · 11-08-2010 9:02pm

He might use fixx coffee,but I read somewhere that someone said a fixx coffee
shop was open near st stephens green, anyway my point is that you may go to two different establishments that use the same brand of coffee,and you get a much nicer cup in one.

alastair · 12-08-2010 10:55am

The_Joker. wrote: »

He might use fixx coffee,but I read somewhere that someone said a fixx coffee
shop was open near st stephens green, anyway my point is that you may go to two different establishments that use the same brand of coffee,and you get a much nicer cup in one.

No offense, but if you rate Butlers as some of the best coffee in Dublin, I think you're looking for something different in your cafe experience. Butlers has positives, just as Starbucks is grand (and I like some of Starbucks offerings), but I think there's an obvious qualitative difference in the coffee product being offered in the likes of 3FE - even if you don't care for it, and don't like the environs, it's not just 'average' coffee.

The_Joker. · 12-08-2010 1:43pm

alastair wrote: »

No offense, but if you rate Butlers as some of the best coffee in Dublin, I think you're looking for something different in your cafe experience. Butlers has positives, just as Starbucks is grand (and I like some of Starbucks offerings), but I think there's an obvious qualitative difference in the coffee product being offered in the likes of 3FE - even if you don't care for it, and don't like the environs, it's not just 'average' coffee.

We all have our own taste, some people find caviar a luxury delicacy ,others find it disgusting.

alastair · 12-08-2010 2:03pm

The_Joker. wrote: »

We all have our own taste, some people find caviar a luxury delicacy ,others find it disgusting.

True - but you generally don't hear about it being 'average'.

Iolar Iontach · 12-08-2010 10:55pm

It appears that anyone in this thread who declares a dislike for 3FE risks being censured by its coterie of sycophantic aficionados. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the coffee there, however, this is a discussion forum- it is not a requisite requirement for everyone to have the same opinion, surely.

3FE has lots of positives but there are also evident negatives. I am yet to come across any establishment in the food and drink sector, which is unflawed. I've also noticed a huge price increase in 3FE lately, which is perhaps unwise at the moment- €3 for a flat white, which cost €2 a few months back!

I don't think anyone has added Murphy's Ice Cream stores yet. They're using the same (Hasbean) coffee as Colin and he has some involvement with training, I believe. The environs are certainly more pleasing than 3FE.

Mr Magnolia · 12-08-2010 11:12pm

Iolar Iontach wrote: »

It appears that anyone in this thread who declares a dislike for 3FE risks being censured by its coterie of sycophantic aficionados. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the coffee there, however, this is a discussion forum- it is not a requisite requirement for everyone to have the same opinion, surely.

The thread is about the best coffee in Dublin. I've seen no rebuttals as far as 3FE goes apart from when the quality of coffee is questioned or referred to as 'average' or 'nothing special' when in fact the absolute opposite should be obvious to anyone with any sort of appreciation of good coffee.

Iolar Iontach · 12-08-2010 11:55pm

I've seen no rebuttals as far as 3FE goes apart from when the quality of coffee is questioned or referred to as 'average' or 'nothing special'.

Well, that depends on a individual's personal experiences. If I pretend that I've never visited a café in London or the Nordic countries, then I could declare the coffee in 3FE as something "special". In the context of this thread, I would say that the coffee in 3FE is above average. That's my opinion, I believe I'm allowed to hold one.

alastair · 13-08-2010 12:43am

Iolar Iontach wrote: »

Well, that depends on a individual's personal experiences. If I pretend that I've never visited a café in London or the Nordic countries, then I could declare the coffee in 3FE as something "special". In the context of this thread, I would say that the coffee in 3FE is above average. That's my opinion, I believe I'm allowed to hold one.

Well, aside from the whole business of trying to win friends and influence people with the 'sycophantic' nonsense, I think it's worth pointing out that the context of this thread isn't Nordic or London coffee, it's about Dublin coffee, and I'm not sure how you can resolve the notion of coffee that a month a go you yourself proclaimed "excellent" as now being 'nothing special'. Maybe your distaste for supposed 'sycophants' clouds your judgement/memory?

btw - I've not suggested 3FE in this thread - for the simple reason that I've never bought a drink from them - they don't sell what I'm looking for. I'd also hazard that, regardless of my personal experiences, Colin has earned his spurs on the 'something special' front (as have Karl Purdy and Stephen Morrissey) in the court of international competition. For what it's worth my better half reckons the best cappa she's ever had was from Gwilym Davies' cart, but does that mean that she can't consider the same from 3FE something special too? Not really.

Feel free to hold whatever opinion you like, but try and make it a consistent one, and preferably free of insults to those who don't share it., eh?

Iolar Iontach · 13-08-2010 2:30am

Well, aside from the whole business of trying to win friends and influence people with the 'sycophantic' nonsense

I'm attempting to do nothing of the sort!

I think it's worth pointing out that the context of this thread isn't Nordic or London coffee, it's about Dublin coffee

Yes, that unique product known as Dublin coffee. Coffee is available elsewhere and wait for it.......... isn't endemic to Dublin! I'm drawing on experience- people tend to do that and not think within narrow, linear parameters. I actually stated "In the context of this thread"! I must remember to suppress all knowledge of everything else when responding to an OP.

I'm not sure how you can resolve the notion of coffee that a month a go you yourself proclaimed "excellent" as now being 'nothing special'.

I don't need to resolve anything because I never said it was "nothing special". That was a different poster. Perhaps you should consult a dictionary for the meaning of "excellent"; "above average" is consistent with definitions used by OED and Merriam Webster. "Special" has very different connotations and nuances.

Maybe your distaste for supposed 'sycophants' clouds your judgement/memory?

No, not really.

btw - I've not suggested 3FE in this thread - for the simple reason that I've never bought a drink from them

So, essentially you're criticising people who have patronised the establishment in question for declaring the product as "average" (I'm not one of them, btw), yet you've never sampled same? Astonishing! When you have an informed opinion based on direct experience, I'll take you seriously.

Feel free to hold whatever opinion you like, but try and make it a consistent one, and preferably free of insults to those who don't share it., eh?

It is consistent and even if it wasn't, can opinions not alter? Perhaps you should take heed of your own advice, eh? I noticed something, which I regarded as unpleasant within the thread, you've provided a QED moment, Alastair.

Finally, I think you missed what I said here:

I'm a fan of the coffee there

alastair · 13-08-2010 9:35am

Just so there's no ambiguity - I'm criticising you for being insulting, and switching from a position of stating the coffee in 3FE is "excellent" to "If I pretend… then I could declare the coffee in 3FE as something "special".". Now that's some pretty impressive backpedaling (and inconsistency) in anyone's terms. Well done on getting great coffee abroad, but this is a thread about the (not to labour what should be obvious) 'Best coffee in Dublin'.

Now, for your ongoing arse-mongering, you've earned yourself a nice 'ignore in future' prize - well done on that.

Iolar Iontach · 13-08-2010 10:33am

alastair wrote: »

Just so there's no ambiguity - I'm criticising you for being insulting, and switching from a position of stating the coffee in 3FE is "excellent" to "If I pretend… then I could declare the coffee in 3FE as something "special"."

I have contributed several posts to this thread, which have suggested where to obtain the best coffee in Dublin IMO. There was no backpedalling by me, however quite the demonstration of the art in your post above. "Above average" does not mean "average" nor does "special" mean "excellent". This is basic English comprehension. Just so there's no equivocation: Excellent -very good of its kind; Special - unique.

arse-mongering

Your "holier than thou" attitiude is marvellous. I presume you're oblivious to the self-referential nature of your posts when discussing my ostensible insults. That's the worst insult in the thread. Nice to see you've ceased from falsely attributing quotes to me, though.

Feel free to ignore me, I'd imagine you've been ignoring lots things most of your life- I'm sure it's blissful. For your own sake, however, a dictionary would be a wonderful addition to your book-case.

As I've said ad nauseam, I really like 3FE's coffee and I've actually sampled it on many occassions.

Best coffee in Dublin?

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