Coffee Socials

There are very few sensations in life that hit you the same way, second time around. Coffee on the other hand, seems to hit the same way every single time!

For a lot us, in the last year or so, a trip to the coffee shop has been one of the very few social outlets at our disposal. It has provided us with an opportunity to meet friends (at a social distance of course) and to discuss that last blade of news we might have for one another, that is not COVID related!

Some of us, who hardly ever drank coffee BC (before COVID) have become ‘connoisseurs’ of the trade, seeking out every last café in the surrounding area and discussing whether or not they prefer Arabica or Liberica beans. The usual kind of rubbish we seem to be talking on a daily basis lately.... and it's certainly no different on our end!

Two K coffee has been a personal outlet of ours, since its opening at the beginning of the year. It’s a coffee shop that is run and owned by two local friends, and has become our go to coffee for a number of reasons, some of which are not necessarily coffee related….

The Coffee itself

First of all, the coffee truly stands out against its local competitors. Two K uses 100% arabica beans from South America which tends to have a smoother, sweeter taste, with flavour notes of chocolate and sugar. Coffee made from Arabica beans are light to medium-bodied, and have hints of fruits and berries.

Compared to other coffee varieties such as the Robusta and Liberica, the caffeine content of Arabica coffee is considered mild. If brewed perfectly, the resulting cup of coffee is less bitter and will not give you caffeine jitters!

The lads also have a mouth-watering range of sandwiches, from Ham and Cheese to the

Reuben – Pastrami with gherkin and lashings of melted cheese! Then last, but not least, the Chicken Pesto – Chicken, Pesto, Tomato and tons of melted cheese – It's a cracker!

The interaction

A big part of buying your cup of coffee in the current climate is the human interaction between yourself and the barista. This is an aspect of every day life that we have always taken for granted and have missed dearly since it has been taken away from us. One promise we do make is that you will leave Two K with a smile on your face.

Ryan Carrick who has taken Social Media by storm in recent times, is one of the several friendly staff members who makes a quality brew and is constantly up for a chat with customers! Like we said above… something we really took for granted BC.

The Scenery

One of the unwritten rules of modern society is that you must take a picture of your coffee cup and put it on your Instagram story just to ensure everyone knows you’re sound and into coffee. We’re fairly sure this will be written into the constitution in the coming years so it’s probably best practice to continue doing it.

Where better to take these pictures though, than the Phoenix Park? Another area which has been underappreciated by a lot of people for so long, it truly has blown us away in the last year. Whether it’s spending time in the triangle with friends, enjoying a cup of the ‘black stuff’ (would prefer a pint of it, but “you can forget about take-away pints” as Micheál said) or capturing the view from the ‘Popes Cross’, the Phoenix park is a true gem for Ireland and one that needs to be used and cared for by us all.

Conclusion

As you can tell by now, coffee is so much more than a pick-me-up in the morning to us. It’s a positive outlet that you can enjoy with friends anytime, anywhere.

Quick tips to enhance your coffee experience:

- Get yourself a Chicken & Pesto Sandwich from Two K

- To our fellow flat-white lovers, ask for it extra hot next time. it will last longer on your scenic walk

- Be sure to use the ‘Lagos’ filter on Instagram to really enrich your coffee related story!