Exciting new Coffee Shop opens in Gort

Tal Vez Coffee, a new ‘third wave’ coffee shop, bringing a taste of Mexico to Ireland, has opened its doors in the centre of Gort, Co. Galway on Bridge Street. Focused on high quality coffee and service, Tal Vez Coffee caters to both connoisseurs and casual coffee lovers.

Offering a bold menu that goes beyond the classic Americano and cappuccino. Signature drinks like the Mexican Mocha, made with authentic Mexican chocolate and coffee beans specially roasted by Calendar Coffee (Oughterard, Co. Galway), are a must-try. Refreshing and eccentric cold brew mocktails, like the Coffee Lemonade, offer a unique twist. For coffee purists, pour-over options with Mexican coffee beans of renown Finca Chelin in Oaxaca, Mexico roasted in Bell Lane Coffee (Mullingar, Co. Westmeath) showcase the diversity of flavours. To accompany the drinks, Tal Vez Coffee proudly displays a selection of delicious desserts from The Lán Kitchen (Monivea, Co. Galway) and a selection of authentic Mexican snacks on the shelf – featuring the famously spicy and sweet combination of flavours only found in Mexico.

Annie De la Riva, a passionate barista, was born and raised in Mexico City (pop. 23 million). She created Tal Vez Coffee, the culmination of years of planning and training in top coffee shops like ‘Camino a Comala’ in her vibrant and chaotic home-city. In recent years, coffee culture has exploded in the ultra-cool Mexico City landscape, as it is both a coffee producing nation and a cosmopolitan destination. With a vision to share her love of coffee with the world, Annie brought her dream to Ireland when she joined her partner, artist Jim Ricks, in the charming village of Gort. Together, they transformed the historic 200 year old 'M. Barry' shop into a vibrant coffee shop that blends Irish heritage with Mexican soul. The result is a light and airy space that brings back to life the Georgian period building while combining state of the art coffee making equipment and beautiful bespoke ash furniture (the long bench is amazing!)

"We wanted to show the construction materials in their raw form, we believe there is an honesty in that. But we also tried to keep what we could, and to modernise what we needed to. For example, we preserved the beautiful worn lime plaster walls that have been here since 1831, and poured a new polished concrete floor and countertop alongside; we used steel electrical conduit for a light industrial feel and also restored the oldest shop front in town." Annie De la Riva says of the design.

The name 'Tal Vez' is a nod to Annie’s roots and the playful spirit of coffee, it literally means “Maybe” in Spanish. So, when asked if you would like a coffee, the answer is always “Tal Vez…” – a playful invitation to discover the unique experience that awaits you. Come to Tal Vez Coffee and enjoy a journey through flavours and culture in the heart of Gort, one of Ireland’s most diverse towns.

Follow on Instagram @talvezcoffee

Photos by David Ruffles