Coffee. Food. People. These are the three cornerstones of Esquires – The Organic Coffee Co., which was started in 1993 in Delta, British Columbia, founded by two entrepreneurial business graduates on a mission to bring delicious coffee to their local area. Today, the brand is still doing just that, only on a much wider scale, having expanded from one coffee shop to a family of stores worldwide, including several locations across Ireland. For more on this organic, community-driven coffee brand’s presence in Ireland and beyond, we caught up with its own Brendan Duigenan.
Regardless of whether a person walks into one of Esquires’ stores in Ireland, the UK, Portugal, or across the Middle East and Asia, they will be greeted by the friendly smile of a barista dedicated to this international franchise. The reputation and growth experienced by the brand across the years can be attributed to the expertise of its people and the effectiveness of its partnership model, not to mention the quality of its coffee.
Known for its organic coffee, Esquires is committed to ethical sourcing and serving coffee that is 100% Fairtrade, ensuring fair wages for farmers and that environmentally responsible practices are followed. Its organic, Fairtrade coffee is then ground fresh for every cup using top-of-the-line barista technology, leading to the distinctive rich and full-bodied taste that these coffee-based beverages are known for. Of course, coffee is not the only thing it serves, with speciality teas, fresh smoothies, iced drinks, and moka pots also available.
Equally as important as its beverage menu is its diverse food menu, with Esquires baking most of its produce on-site in each of its stores, using only the highest quality ingredients to make sure that every customer enjoys fresh, wholesome, hearty food across every bite. Be it a full Irish breakfast, one of its choice selection of sandwiches, loaded fries, salads, or pastries, every item on this menu is befitting of Esquires’ knack for quality.
“Esquires also stands out for its extensive food menu, which sets us apart from other well-known café brands. We put a strong focus on providing a wide selection of cooked options, as well as sandwiches and breakfast and dinner specials.”
Besides the exceptional coffee and array of food options on offer across these locations, further setting Esquires’ cafés apart is the fact that they are each led by local franchisees, resulting in a strong community focus. This is the same regardless of whether the store is in the heart of Dublin or inside of a Tesco Extra, resulting in welcoming spaces that support local regions and local people – something most other chains do not do.
Exploring this further, Brendan explained: “One of the key advantages of being based in Ireland for us here at Esquires is this strong sense of community the country nurtures. This aligns perfectly with our brand, as one of our main focuses is creating that warm, welcoming, and friendly atmosphere in our stores.” Such a strong community focus also resonates with the brand’s customers, something which is also true of its sustainability pledge.
Many of Esquires’ customers are increasingly conscious of a business’ sustainable practices and want to know that the money they are spending supports an operation that is both ethical and responsible. It is on the back of this that the brand has been doubling down on its ESG efforts, not only on a corporate level, but also measurably through its stores. For example, more people are now opting for plant-based alternatives to milk, and use compostable takeaway cups, straws, and napkins. It is these little tweaks that add up to real change.
Since the world of coffee and cafés is always changing, Esquires must keep up with these trends if it is to continue to appeal to new and existing customers alike. One of the key trends recently involves matcha, which has become the go-to drink for health-conscious people across Ireland and beyond. The brand even delivered a campaign focused solely on matcha drinks, which it has introduced into its menu in recent months to acclaim.
Another development worth talking about – one that the brand has been at the forefront of over the last few years – is technology. Technology is playing a bigger role across in-store experiences, particularly as many customers are now seeking convenience and speed during their visits – be it grabbing a coffee on their way to work or a bite to eat to break up their shopping trip. As a result of this, self-service kiosks are today a mainstay in cafés worldwide, but Esquires was one of the pioneering brands introducing them into these environments.
However, this push towards technology has in no way impeded the excellent customer service Esquires is known for, with the goal of strengthening the brand as a team remaining at the heart of the culture here. Discussing this, Brendan told us: “Our internal culture is built on empowerment and trust. Team members are given the autonomy to make decisions within clear boundaries, encouraging creativity, initiative, and the opportunity to deliver results they can be truly proud of.” This alignment is driving Esquires’ evolution.
Rapid expansion has been a key element of this, with the brand growing from 16 stores at the start of 2024 to 26 stores by the end of March this year. Strengthening the appeal of the brand and this growth has been several key partnerships, including with Dairygold, which saw Esquires launch its first company-owned stores in four Dairygold Co-Op Superstores – Carrigaline, Mallow, Midleton, and Raheen, respectively.
As briefly touched on above, another instrumental partnership has been struck with Tesco, this marking an exciting new chapter for the brand. With Tesco being the second biggest supermarket chain in Ireland, Esquires opening five new locations in Tesco Extra stores – Tullamore, Clonmel, Youghal, Waterford, and Wexford – is bringing new eyes to the brand, and paving the way for potentially limitless growth further down the line.
Finally, Brendan turned his attention to the immediate future of Esquires, which is aiming to continue this steady growth, in the process bringing its commitment to serving organic, Fairtrade coffee to more locations across Ireland. Its equally sharp focus on providing high-quality food and outstanding customer service, all in a warm, friendly, and community-driven environment, further sets the chain apart, and it is on the back of all this that we are delighted to recognise it here as the Organic Coffee Shop Enterprise of the Year 2026.
More on this leading organic and community-driven coffee brand in Ireland – including a full list of its locations across Ireland – can be found by visiting the official Esquires – The Organic Coffee Co. website, the link to which is listed below.
Contact Details
Contact: Brendan Duigenan
Company: Esquires – The Organic Coffee Co.
Web Address: https://www.esquirescoffee.ie/
