3fe

3fe is the cafe that started it all. Colin Harmon — WBC commentator, two-time book author, and one of Europe's most recognisable specialty coffee voices — opened 3fe in 2009 from the lobby of the Twisted Pepper nightclub on Abbey Street, then expanded into the standalone Grand Canal Street flagship in 2011. It set the template for everything that followed in Dublin.

The coffee programme runs on weekly-rotating single-origins, roasted by the team at their own Pearse Street roastery and poured on both espresso and filter. Sourcing is direct-trade where possible, with origin stories on the bean cards and a serious commitment to seasonal cupping. The space doubles as a training centre — staff competition pedigree is part of the room's identity, not a marketing afterthought.

Inside, the Grand Canal Dock flagship is bright, busy, and built for both the quick takeaway and the lingering catch-up. The food programme is genuinely strong (the brunch menu pulls a weekend crowd). For anyone wanting to understand where Irish specialty coffee came from, 3fe is the first stop.