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20th December 2016
12:10am GMT
The story of 3fe is one of Dublin's great "overnight success" stories.
One minute you'd never heard of it, and the next you'd drive across town for one of their coffees or see their coffee in other cafes and shops around the country.
The truth is they are nearly six years old. I use "overnight success" almost in jest, because that's what people always think about the great businesses. Of course, the truth – as usual in these cases – could not be more different. Success has come by learning, investing, making hundreds of superb cups of coffee day after day after day, and by constantly improving the little things.
Nobody remembers hardly any punters showing up on that December day to a makeshift counter in the Twisted Pepper (possibly the last place I'd choose to start a coffee business) at the height of the worst recession in a generation.
As they expanded into a shop of their own, training upcoming baristas and offering pretty great food, 3fe gradually – yes, gradually – became one of those things that makes this city great.
People often ask me if I've invested in the company, or but the truth is I'm just a happy customer. We're pretty open here at Lovin Dublin about celebrating the things that make this city great, and this place delivers on that front with astonishing consistency – even if you weren't a big fan of the coffee, it would be hard to argue against that.
They've raised the level of coffee throughout the city and are true masters of their trade – in the same way the likes of Bunsen and Murphy's Ice Cream are – homegrown Irish food companies boasting products that are as good as what you'd fine anywhere in the world.
Well, third if you count the Roastery they have down in the docks.
But in the new year Colin and his team will open their second shop – and while it will be different, and it'll have a focus Although it will be different and have a focus on training you will be able to drink great coffee there.
We can't reveal the exact venue just yet, but it's within spitting distance south of the Grand Canal – and, by way of one tiny clue, it's next door to what I'd consider one of the top five restaurants in the country.
People have urged them to open more premises for ages, and I've begged for one on my own doorstep in D8 to satisfy my craving but it always fell on deaf ears. All in its own good time.
Well my own needs may not be satisfied – the cheek! – but now is the time for the expansion. We can't wait to see what they have planned.
