Coffee culture in Dublin has exploded in the last few years. 

Which is probably the best thing to ever happen in our lives. 

Sad, but true. 

We love Dublin's independent coffee shops like they are our dear friends. 

And in recent weeks this particular one has been our nearest and dearest.

Feast your eyes on Curious Monkey Coffee Co. based in Dún Laoghaire:

This coffee shop's story is not something you'd hear everyday. 

It's unusual but pretty remarkable. 

Owners Caraí McMahon and Evan Williams were saving up for a big trip — a J1 to New York City in the summer of 2015 to get a taste of the American Dream. 

Both lads were working as baristas at the time to save up for this trip when they came across the vacant premises that now houses their coffee shop. 

They were so infatuated with the site, in fact, that the pair decided that instead of jetting off for the summer, they'd stay in Dublin, take up second jobs and use their pooled savings as capital to chance their arm at entrepreneurship. 

They contacted the landlord and began to design and build Curious Monkey Coffee Co. from the ground up with the help of their friends and family. 

Owner Evan Williams has a background in graphic design, and took inspiration from Andy Warhol's famous banana when designing their own branding. 

It's eye-catching and intriguing... which was actually how I first found them — I saw someone strolling around banana-printed coffee cup and, naturally, I was gonna ask where they got it from. 

And the name? 

"There was method to the madness of it. We linked the fact that our shop was on George's Street in Dun Laoghaire with the monkey Curious George and thus Curious Monkey Coffee Co. was born."

They were inspired by coffee shop culture in the likes of Shoreditch, Williamsburg, Bushwick and Melbourne — the coffee capitals, some might say. 

And you can definitely feel this upon strolling into the shop. 

They opened in September of 2015 and have been serving consistently excellent coffee ever since

"Our focus on delivering the perfect cup of coffee every time is our main priority"

Curious Monkey Coffee Co. has the kind of atmosphere where a customer feels at home.

You have a wee poke around and have a chat with the chilled, cool staff before downing your bev. 

Their merch is also super slick, so if you've been hunting for a banana beanie for your entire life (like I have) then you can pick up one here. 

The perfect spot to visit over the weekend, and if you're out there over summer — promise me you'll try their cold brew coffee. 

You won't be disappointed. 

You can find Curious Monkey Coffee Co. at 

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