It’s already a hit with Cork’s early risers.

A new drive-thru and walk-in coffee shop in Togher is finally giving the people what we need: good coffee and lots of it at 7am in the morning.

Sam’s Coffee in Togher is one of few independent cafes in Cork catering to the on-the-way-to-work crowd and word spread quickly among caffeine-starved customers.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 7am to 3.30pm and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. They’re dog-friendly too so it’s an ideal destination for a morning dog walk.

Owner Sam Ryan, who has a degree in chemistry, quickly found work in a lab after he finished college, but yearned to follow his dreams of opening a special little coffee spot.

Then the perfect opportunity for a career change came knocking.

“Covid hit and I said feck it. I have always had a passion for coffee and wanted to open my own cafe eventually. I knew the lads in Three Fools Coffee and they took me in.

“I got a lot of knowledge over my time there. From barista skills to roasting, to helping pick out coffees to get into retail and the shop, they were a great help to me. This opportunity came up then, and I couldn’t turn it down.”

Sam says the early morning opening has been key and business has been buzzing: “I love meeting new people,” he told us.

“Already the shop is developing a real community feel.”

You’ll find Sam’s Coffee in the car park of Saint Finbarr’s GAA Club, Neenan Park, Togher, T12DC58.