Kaph

Kaph is a specialty coffee shop on Drury Street, in the Creative Quarter that runs between Grafton Street and George's Street. It is a regular stop for people who work and shop in the area as well as for visitors looking for good coffee.

Coffee is the focus. The house blend is roasted by 3fe, the Dublin roaster that also runs its own cafés around the city, so you can expect carefully prepared espresso drinks and filter coffee. Alongside the coffee there is a selection of cakes and pastries, and the café encourages pairing a coffee with something sweet. The food offering is simple rather than a full brunch menu, which keeps the focus on the cup.

Kaph suits solo travellers, couples and anyone happy to take a coffee to go and explore the surrounding streets. If you want a seat, try mid-morning on a weekday or later in the afternoon, when the lunchtime rush has eased. Ask the barista about the current filter options if you are curious; specialty coffee shops often rotate coffees through the year, and staff are usually happy to explain the differences. If you take milk, say so when ordering, as the drinks are made to order.

Opening hours are posted on the café's website and social media; at the time of writing, the café's own posts give opening from 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday, but check before making a special trip, as the website shows more than one set of times. The shop is a good early stop if you want a coffee before the city gets busy.

Drury Street has plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, so Kaph is easy to combine with shopping or a long lunch nearby. Grafton Street, St Stephen's Green and Trinity College are all within about five minutes on foot. If you enjoy the coffee, 3fe's own cafés, including the one on Grand Canal Street, are worth a visit too.

Because it is right in the shopping district, Kaph works well as a morning starting point: pick up a coffee and pastry, then walk through the surrounding streets before the shops get busy around midday. It is also a useful afternoon pick-me-up on a long day of sightseeing.