Mar Post:

While training for the Irish Barista Championships we had Rachel Coss from Bewleys at Café Krem for a little bit of last minute instruction. Good for her , good for us.( The event was subsequently won by Rachel’s boyfriend Andrius, also from Bewleys on Grafton Street).Grounds Coleraine.As part of our Barista Exchange program, I spent the day in Grounds Coffee Shop in Coleraine last month. Really nice people, open friendly and so full of ideas for quality service and product. Hopefully we can return the favour in the near future.Definitely the coolest shop in the North West/East Gelati

New Coffee Shop on Monaghan Street Newry.

Called in with Graham from Grounded to wish them well. Lovely shop nice décor and lighting with a broad Ice Cream and coffee offer. Try them and let us know.Grounded.Graham Finnegan “The hardest working man in show business” (Now that James Brown is dead)

Still putting in 14 hours a day 7 days a week.

Weekend music I hear is very popular.

Windsor Bakery Banbridge

Recently opened very swish bakery and coffee shop on Bridge Street Banbridge just down the hill from Café Krem. We wish them all the best!

( Café M Banbridge has gone and the rumour is to be replaced by a Thai Restaurant. Lets wait and see)

Feb Post:

Believe the new store on Monaghan Street is open so I have to get round and try it Gelato Gelato Gelato. Yum Yum Yum.In Banbridge Good Luck to the Champions of the Bakery business “The Windsor”who have reopened their Bridge Street store and it looks great from the outside. Reports and reviews please.In the foodie business Tao noodlebar on the Dublin road in Belfast is incredibly good value, though the dishes marked with a small chilli pepper on the menu are liable to leave you burning!!

Mary the brownie queen in the “Kitchen” in Warrenpoint is still doing the best ever Fishcakes. ( She was also very good to let the Krem team practise on her La Spaziale coffee machine before the competition.)

Jan Post:

The boys at Grounded have got off the ground, (couldn’t resist the pun) churning out their wares on a La Marzocco fb70 which for those in the know is a real Rolls Royce of an espresso machine. Hope things go well for them in 2007.Nearby Sparkles has opened but I haven’t got there yet so please mail me if you’ve been and tell me what it’s like.Monaghan Street is getting yet another Coffee shop in the near future on the site of the old Newry Computer Centre. Watch this space……..Since my last post I have been in Gent in Belgium to judge the Belgian National Barista Championship and to Glasgow to take part in another UK barista guild jam session.Both were great fun and more opportunities to expand coffee knowledge and experience.

Dec Post:

Welcoming the arrival of new coffee babies at Grounded Monaghan street Newry. Expecting great things from these enthusiastic parents. Good luck guys and girls!

Greenbean roasters and now retailers. Banbridge outlet for these long established roasters in their stylish new premises Townsend Street. Good luck on your new venture.

Local Roasters Tony and Willie. Former Bewleys, Greenbean and Java Republic roasting experts have now teamed up to do top quality grade A Arabica roasting in a brand new site in Silverbridge.

The Kitchen. Warrenpoint. Mary O™ Hare has just installed a new 2 group La Spatziale traditional espresso machine and is selling the North South coffee. While there, try her to-die-for brownies.