Tea has long been the favourite ever since it reached Irish shores, but as coffee shops appear to dominate the high street, has coffee finally overtaken it as the hot drink of choice?

Journey through Ireland's stunningly preserved coastline and you'll find more tea and cakes than cappuccinos. However, explore the bustling inner-city streets to discover it is coffee spots which are popping up more frequently than tea rooms, so is there a change brewing under the surface?

Global Reach

2016 was a big year for coffee in Ireland with Dublin hosting the world barista championships and the world brewer's cup for the first time. Ireland is clearly producing world class baristas right now,  their skills both recognised and appreciated where they had not been before. There has also been a heightened awareness of geography and sustainability among coffee drinkers. A fresh desire for speciality coffees is spreading, and it's becoming infectious.

"Treat coffee in the same way you would wine. Get to know regions, Countries' flavour profiles and how geographic location affects the body and mouthfeel" Tom Stafford, Vice Coffee.

Sales of fresh coffee in Ireland are continuing to drive consumer interest, but it is the independent coffee shops that appear to be taking flight. One of the reasons for this is that many more health-conscious consumers are choosing to socialise in coffee shops in place of pubs and bars, and those with a distinct character and atmosphere appear to be attracting the masses. Despite reports of business closures on the rise in 2017, the previous two years provide strong evidence of a resurgence for coffee ahead of its leafy counterpart.

"According to Euromonitor, coffee continued to witness a surge in popularity among Irish consumers in 2015. Retail value grew by 18%, reaching sales of 96.5 Million Euros. Sales of fresh coffee continued to drive growth, as overall sales of instant coffee continued to decline." Peter Gaynor, Executive Director of Fairtrade Ireland.