Is the world’s best coffee in Galway?  

By Tara McGivern

It’s good news for Galway coffee lovers as five Galway coffee shops are in the running to be named in the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops. 

The coffee shops are Coffeewerk + Press in the city centre, My Little Flower Coffee in Oughterard, Kali Coffee in Salthill, Plámás in the Westend of the city and Tal Vez Coffee in Gort. 

The World’s Top 100 Coffee Shops is an international competition ranking coffee shops on a number of metrics: ambience and atmosphere, barista expertise, consistency, quality of food and pastries; innovation, coffee quality, customer service, sustainable practices and community. 

Votes were cast by both customers and the organisation’s expert judges who travel around the globe trying coffee – sign me up for that job! 

The top 100 list will be released next month, February 2026, at a ceremony in Madrid.

“It’s all about service and creating a unique experience”

“It’s amazing to be in a small city in the west of Ireland, and so many people know us,” said Daniel Ulrichs, owner of Coffeewerk+Press.

Daniel travelled as a musician and lived in London, before returning to Galway in 2009 to take over the family business. His family have owned Wooden Heart toy shop, just across from the café on Quay street, for over forty years. 

Having started Coffeewerk+Press in 2015, Daniel combined his publishing business with a long held desire to make a creative space for the local community.   

“I’ve always wanted to develop a space where I could be quite creative and that’s where I kind of merged the concept of coffee with design art, in an architecturally – what I feel is beautiful space,” he said.

If successful, this will be Coffeewerk+Press’ second year on the Top 100 list. Last year the café took home the 39^th spot. 

“We’re exceptionally honoured and humbled to be part of it,” he said. “We don’t do it for the recognition we love what we do. It’s all about service and creating a unique experience.”

Coffeewerk+Press collaborates with over forty roasters from all over the world every year to bring their community the very best coffee they can. Their house blend, Coffeewerk by April, often features artwork from local artists on its labelling as part of the café’s artist engagement program. The artist takes over the café’s upstairs gallery and exhibition space for an entire year, receiving 100 percent of the proceeds their work makes.

“I understand the amount of work artists put in,” said Daniel. “It’s a full circle, the system we’ve developed works for everyone.” 

Daniel was full of praise for his fellow Galwegians also nominated, “Everyone is doing a really amazing job.”

“The coffee culture in Galway is amazing. The speciality scene, the way it’s evolved in Galway and across the county in the last ten years is amazing,” Daniel said. 

“A lot of strangers start up conversations”

Another speciality café nominated is Kali Coffee Bar on Upper Salthill Road. 

It’s unassuming at first. A white stone washed house turned into two retail units. In the left unit, an E-cigarette store, one of many popping up around Galway. In the right unit, Kali Coffee Bar. 

Inside, out of reach from the winter cold, it’s not just the heating or the earthy toned decor that warms you up; it’s the bright smile waiting for you behind the counter, her name is Laura Kelly.

Laura and her business partner Enda Johnston founded Kali Coffee bar in January 2021.

“We just celebrated our fifth birthday there in January,” Laura told us over an oat mocha and cappuccino, served on a small wooden tray with two glasses of water.

“We both worked in hospitality for years. We lived in Amsterdam for a year in 2019, we worked in coffee there too. When we got back, we were like, let’s try it ourselves.”

Enda Johnston, who was previously named champion of the Irish brewer’s cup in 2023, studied engineering in college but fell in love with coffee.

“Enda comes back here nearly every evening just to brew coffee,” said Laura.

Laura and Enda have built a community with their customers, often calling them by name and seamlessly picking back up old conversations from days earlier over the course of the interview.

“We have a lot of regulars,” Laura said. “We’d be so stuck without them. A lot of people come here every day. It’s so nice that people start their mornings with us.”

Following Kali’s inclusion in the top 15 coffee shops in Ireland, the response from locals has been great for business. 

“There was a surge in following on social media,” said Laura.

What makes Kali so special? For Laura, it’s all about the coffee (of course) and the space. 

“I think because the space is so small it really forces people to talk to one another,” said Laura. “A lot of strangers start up conversations. There’s a friendliness. There’s very much a local feel, maybe that’s what makes us different.” 

What’s your favourite coffee spot in Galway? Let us know in instagram @galwaypulse