How to choose a specialty coffee roaster in Ireland

To choose a specialty coffee roaster in Ireland, look past the label and check four things: a real roast date on the bag, a named origin, tasting notes you can understand, and delivery that reaches you while the coffee is fresh. Ireland has plenty of good roasters, so the right one comes down to how you brew and what you like to drink. This is how we would choose, as a roastery in Youghal, County Cork, if we were buying a bag for our own kitchen.

What does "specialty coffee" actually mean?

Specialty coffee is usually defined as coffee that scores 80 points or more out of 100 on the Specialty Coffee Association's cupping scale. Trained tasters judge qualities such as aroma, sweetness and balance, and the coffee must also have very few defects. The score is a useful starting point, but you will rarely see it on a shelf, so the rest of this guide looks at what you can check for yourself.

Is there a roast date on the bag?

This is the first thing to look for, because coffee is a fresh product and its flavour fades with time. A roaster who prints the roast date is showing you how old the coffee is, and you can read more on why roast date matters. Coffee is at its best in the first weeks after roasting, so buy an amount you will finish within about a month.

Can they tell you where the coffee comes from?

A good roaster can tell you more than the country. Look for the region, the farm or washing station, the elevation and the processing method, all of which shape the taste in your cup. A single origin coffee makes this easy to follow, because it comes from one place, and our guide to what coffee processing means for your cup explains the words you will see on the label.

Do they describe the coffee in words you understand?

Tasting notes are there to help you, and a note such as blueberry or caramel describes how a coffee tastes, not something added to it. If the descriptions leave you confused, try a roaster who explains things more simply, or ask one directly. The roasters worth buying from are usually happy to talk you through what is in the bag, however new you are to all of this.

Does the roast suit the way you brew?

Most specialty roasters offer coffees suited to espresso or to filter, so start with what sits on your kitchen counter. If you are not sure, see which brew method fits your life. Lighter roasts keep more of the character of the coffee itself, and you can read more about light roast if you are curious.

How quickly will it reach you?

An Irish roaster has a short trip to your door, which helps when freshness is the whole point. Check how long delivery takes and when the coffee is roasted compared with when it is sent. Irish orders from our roastery in Youghal travel by An Post tracked delivery and take 1 to 3 working days.

Taste before you commit

Start with one small bag, brew it a few different ways and see whether you want a second. A café that serves the roaster's coffee is another easy way in, and you get to try it before buying a bag to take home. When you find a roaster you trust, a subscription saves you from running out on a Monday morning.

Ready to try one?

At Boardwalk Coffee we roast single-origin specialty coffee in small batches in Youghal, County Cork, on the Wild Atlantic Coast, and every bag shows its roast date. Shop our coffees, or subscribe to our soon to be live Coffee Club subscription.

FAQ

What defines a specialty coffee roaster in Ireland? A specialty coffee roaster buys high-scoring coffee, usually 80 points or more on the Specialty Coffee Association's scale, and is open about where it comes from. In practice, look for a roast date, a named origin and clear tasting notes on the bag.

What makes coffee beans specialty? Specialty coffee is judged by trained tasters on a 100-point scale, and a score of 80 or more is the usual benchmark. The beans must also have very few defects.

How do I know coffee is fresh when I order it online? Look for a roaster that prints the roast date on every bag, and check it when your coffee arrives. Buy an amount you will finish within about a month.

Can I get specialty coffee beans delivered in Ireland? Yes, many Irish roasters deliver nationwide. Boardwalk Coffee sends orders from Youghal, County Cork, by An Post tracked delivery in 1 to 3 working days.

Is Boardwalk Coffee a specialty coffee roaster? Yes. Boardwalk Coffee is an independent Irish roastery in Youghal, County Cork, on the Wild Atlantic Coast, roasting single-origin specialty coffee since 2021.

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