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Our story

In the beginning

Established in 2013 by Frank Kavanagh & Peter Sztal. Having worked in graphic design and corporate banking respectively, we took the leap and opened up our own coffee roastery. Our coffee isn’t just roasted in Dublin, it’s chosen for its personality which means we go beyond the usual places to find it. 

Whats in a name?

The name 'Cloud Picker' came from our trip to Northern Thailand where we visited a coffee farm in the Doi Chang area on the Thai / Burma border and where we went up through the clouds to see the coffee pickers! Thailand wasn't known for it's speciality coffee back then so it's interesting to see how far it's journeyed since. 

Our approach

We hand roast weekly to order. Born from passion, curiosity and the quest to create a unique coffee product for the Irish market. While we roast on Stannaway Drive, Crumlin our café is at 42 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Feel free to pop in and say hello and grab a coffee.

About the founders

As a trained Graphic Designer, it has been a dream come true to apply that discipline to everything you can see and touch at Cloud Picker. All of our products are individually hand-labelled, and every finish and tiny detail is lovingly considered. I’m so proud of our passionate team and what we’ve created together, to watch our hard work blossom is out of this world.

> Frank Kavanagh

Good Food and flavours are in my DNA. I grew up observing my mother, a passionate cook, and all of her magic tricks in her kitchen. 

From an early age, I learned ‘Good Food’ doesn't mean rich, expensive ingredients. It means flavour and nourishment. A hug for the soul. It’s about knowing what to add to make a dish complete. Good food is also a lot of hard work: just ask the farmers, growers, chefs and kitchen porters. 

For me, preparing a meal is never a chore. It’s always been a calming ritual that brings me back down to reality and my surroundings. Selecting the freshest, local ingredients is part of that ritual and the foundation for all of our menus and coffees at Cloud Picker. 


> Peter Sztal

Our storytellers

The quality of our coffee is one of two things we take very seriously. Having a laugh with our customers is the other. 

Engaging with all of our customers in a light-hearted way is what Cloud Picker is all about. Our team is passionate about coffee and if you’re a curious newcomer, we’re ready to teach, not preach.

Sourcing

We like the idea of going where no one has gone before. That’s why we’re not afraid to venture off into new coffee zones to find the best coffee on the planet. 

Picking beans at the right time is crucial to their flavour: the small producers we work with care as much as we do about great coffee. We make sure our pickers are treated more than just fairly, so that they’re happily invested too.

Our beans

We know our beans inside out. 

That includes roasting them gently to champion the best flavours. Every cup tastes like we care. And, we never cut corners - quality and honesty are at the heart of absolutely everything we do. Always. Our coffee speaks for itself.

Our vibe

Making an effort for the planet is important to us.

Sustainability is an overused word that is often an under-used concept. It’s at the top of our core values and we go to detailed lengths to uphold it in every business decision we make. 

From our compostable packaging to specially designed Irish made reusable drums, delivered in our 100% electric van - even where something can't be recyclable, we'll pay the extra to offset it and thus making it carbon neutral. We're not perfect but we do try and care. A few tiny steps in the right direction.