Erin Spro Bragh! Ireland’s mighty specialty coffee scene gets a fresh entry here in our last week of Build-Outs, as we take a closer look at Ebzerys Boutique Cafe & Tea Rooms in Foynes, in County Limerick. More cafes should have working fireplaces, don’t you think? Tuck into the pub vibes and make yourself comfortable. This wins this year’s Build-Outs award for the new cafe we’d personally most like to visit.
The 2024 Build-Outs of Coffee is presented by Ceado and Dona. The 2024 Build-outs of Coffee is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, Acaia, and Ghirardelli.
As told to Sprudge by Martin Frawley.
For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?
EBZERYS Boutique Café & Tea Rooms is a family run business catering for the growing need for locally sourced, artisan crafted food and beverage offerings in the village of Foynes. With a focus on providing a welcoming and atmospheric space to local people, local companies, passing commuters, tourists both Irish and international Spearheaded by Rosarie with creative and homemade menu options inspired by Ballymaloe Cookery School and old family recipes in addition to modern methods, practices, and tastes.
Can you tell us a bit about the new space?
W.Ebzery is an old property built out of cut-stone, red-brick and pitch-pine circa 19th Century. It started out as a spirits and provisions merchant house, i.e. public house later becoming a wine bar in the 1990s. Ebzerys in 2024 is envisioned as a Boutique Café & Tea Rooms, becoming a speciality shop consisting of three spaces—coffee/wine bar room, shop area seating, and sun/garden room in addition to outdoor spaces under the shop-canopy an in the garden. This will be a place for people to unwind and relax in a very sociable setting.
What’s your approach to coffee?
Initially, Ebzerys will provide an Irish artisan roaster coffee bean option. Dingle Coffee Roasters and Cloud Picker are the preferred choice to provide exciting and tasty coffee. A choice between a house blend mix of 50% South American and 50% African and a select Ethiopian or Honduras light roasted bean will be the starting off point for our coffee world journey. Coffee should be enjoyed, within reach with at least two different price points, sustainable, and fair price given to and received by farmers.
Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?
Initially we are going to utilize a refurbished 2006 Fracino two-group espresso machine (kindly provided by Valentia Ice Cream Dairy) in tandem with a Mahlkönig grinder. We will be offering wine-on-tap from kegs and counter barrel dispenser supplied by Wine Lab in Kildare and provide a house selection of white, red, rose, and prosecco on tap. Our teas will be loose leaf and specialist supplier is Cahill’s Tea in Limerick (the oldest shop in Limerick City) with an Irish breakfast house blend and offerings from Sri Lanka, India, and Japan.
How is your project considering sustainability?
We have repurposed old furniture from kitchen dressers, sugan chairs, Irish settles, custom made bar from old timber floor-boards, and reclaimed beechwood restaurant tables. Lighting has been upgraded to LED luminaires. Coffee and tea beverages will be served in old ceramic cups and pottery vessels. Any takeout drinks or food will be in compostable cups, lids, and straws, and we will be recycling and composing. A good amount of our equipment purchased is used or secondhand to cut down on waste. Our goal is to plant one tree per month when in business. Vegetables will be sourced locally with minimal carbon footprint
What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?
Estimated and hopeful target date is for a soft opening with complimentary treats mid-October 2024 and official opening towards end of October.
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention? ‘
Adare Shutters in Limerick provided bespoke plantation shutters in Shop & Bar and were very good to deal with and matched the timber perfectly to existing aged timber surrounds. Russell Blinds in Limerick are providing the awning/canopy over shopfront and excellent service and design consultation with them. DTOPS in Newcastle West provided vintage style porcelain tiles for refurnished sunroom floor. It’s a family affair AND our children Vivienne, Lochlann, Grace, and Florence have all contributed to the creative energy to pull the refurbishment project and design, social media, and branding together into a cohesive but unique look and feel.
Thank you!
Thank you Martin & Rosarie (Slainte ☘️)
The 2024 Build-Outs of Coffee is presented by Ceado and Dona. The 2024 Build-outs of Coffee is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, Acaia, and Ghirardelli.
