3fe began as a one-man coffee cart in a nightclub lobby. It is owned by Colin Harmon, a four-time Irish Barista Champion, and it now runs eight cafés around Dublin, a roastery in Glasnevin and a wholesale business that ships beans abroad. Colin Harmon has written two books about the trade: What I Know About Running Coffee Shops, which he brought out himself in 2017, and What I Know About Growing a Coffee Business.

The green buyer, Steve, travels to the farms and co-ops 3fe buys from, and the roasting team roasts only to order. Several farms return year after year, among them Los Chorros, the one-hectare farm of Efren Albeiro Erazo and Carmen Elisa in Huila, Colombia, and the Nicaraguan farms of Erwin Mierisch. Some bags carry artwork from the Artist Origin Project, which asks artists from coffee-producing countries to design them; the first Kenyan bag is by Barbara Makena. 3fe is the official coffee supplier to Irish Rugby and roasts a blend for the national teams, and another for Leinster Rugby.

The flagship café and Gertrude are both in Grand Canal Dock. Both have brunch menus, as do Five Points in Harold’s Cross and the Phibsborough café, and these four cafés and Clancy Quay in Islandbridge take table bookings and click and collect orders. The IFSC café, the Dublin 4 café and The Triangle in Ranelagh serve coffee and treats and sell beans, brewing equipment and 3fe merchandise.

Locations

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View a larger map© OpenStreetMap contributors
  1. 3fe Grand Canal Street32-34 Grand Canal Street Lower, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin, D02 TD58Grand Canal DockOpen in Google Maps
  2. 3fe Gertrude130 Pearse St, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin, D02 T322Grand Canal DockOpen in Google Maps
  3. 3fe Clancy QuayCamden Block, Clancy Quay, Islandbridge, Dublin, D08 WTX9IslandbridgeOpen in Google Maps
  4. 3fe Five Points288A Harold's Cross Rd, Terenure, Dublin, D6W V068Harold's CrossOpen in Google Maps
  5. 3fe IFSCMayor Square, North Wall, Dublin, D01 X0H7IFSCOpen in Google Maps
  6. 3fe Phibsboro363 North Circular Road, Phibsboro, Dublin, D07 C9CHPhibsboroughOpen in Google Maps
  7. 3fe Sussex Terrace7 Sussex Terrace, Dublin, D04 NP78Dublin 4Open in Google Maps
  8. 3fe The Triangle33 Ranelagh, Dublin, D06 R1X3RanelaghOpen in Google Maps

Partner cafés

Coffee on the shelf

Guatemala / El SalvadorSamhain Blend, product image from the roaster
  • Red apple
  • Flame raisin
3fe

Samhain Blend

Washed (Guatemala)Natural (El Salvador)
Dublin
El Salvador / Costa Rica / GuatemalaIRFU Blend, product image from the roaster
  • Fruity
  • Chocolatey
3fe

IRFU Blend

Washed (El Salvador, Guatemala)Natural (Costa Rica)
Dublin
Kenya / Guatemala / El SalvadorMalarkey Blend, product image from the roaster
  • Fruity
  • Juicy
3fe

Malarkey Blend

Washed (Kenya, Guatemala)Honey (El Salvador)
Dublin

Photograph: 3fe