Press Release - April 23rd 2012
itsa… not just any cup of Joe!
Over a year has past since Domini and Peaches Kemp embarked on their mission of bringing their own signature coffee blend into their itsa… stores. Along with their team of ʻCoffee Lunaticsʼ – a group of coffee obsessives who assisted in the sourcing, selecting, roasting, cupping and re-cupping the beans, the finished product is now being enjoyed in all itsa… branches. “We want our coffee to be just as much a part of the culinary experience for our customers, a culinary beverage, as such…the origin and treatment of the coffee beans are shown respect, with a focus on preserving the integrity of the selected beans”, says Domini.
The itsa… espresso is a blend of Grade 1 Arabica beans from Peru and Mexico. This dark roasted blend has an oaky and chocolaty aroma which is harmonised with a hint of caramel and vanilla – akin to the fragrance of a freshly made crème brûlée. The recently opened itsa… Ranelagh branch (located on the Triangle in Ranelagh village) is also paying homage to retro and low-tech brewing techniques with their Bru Bar facility. The beans for the Bru Bar are a single origin Grade 1 Arabica from Haiti that are ground specially to order. The two-pour drip phase process means you wait an extra minute, but coffee connoisseurs will endure the extra time for a taste of this superbly well-made java. This blonde roast has a lively acidity but is well balanced with a nutty lingering mouth-feel, perfect for the discerning coffee drinker and ideally enjoyed without milk.
The sophisticated coffee experience now available in itsa… branches with its suite of unique roasts and blends are also available to enjoy at home. Beans can be purchased instore and drank at home as an espresso-based drink or French press. “Our aim is to begin introducing guest roasts and limited edition blends throughout the course of the year with distinct flavour profiles for our coffee-loving customers”, added Peaches.
Until the end of May, itsa… customers can enjoy double points on their coffee loyalty cards as well as a range of additional coffee promotions and competitions in-store and on their Facebook page. A series of specialty coffee evenings and events will be commencing in itsa… branches from June 2012. Those interested in attending can sign-up in any of itsa… branch or send an email registering their interest to info@itsa.ie
For further press information please contact Josh Whelan at itsa…
087 664 2986 / josh@itsa.ie
Notes for editors:
DOMINI & PEACHES KEMP, Founders and Directors
Domini & Peaches Kemp created the “itsa” brand in 1999 with the opening of the first itsa…, gourmet bagel store in Dublin 1. Since then, the sisters have used their respective
fine dining and catering backgrounds to expand the itsa… food company to encompass six itsa …gourmet bagel stores, an itsa… café in IMMA and Sandymount village (formerly itsa4 restaurant), a recently launched ʻDubh Linnʼ Tea Rooms in Dublin Castle as well as operating the restaurants in Brown Thomas Dublin and Cork.
Domini is a member of the Taste council, a Euro-Toques chef and is the main food writer for The Irish Times. Her third cook-book will be published by Gill & Macmillan in Autumn 2012. Peaches holds a post graduate diploma in Public Relations and has recently completed the advanced level WSET Wine Diploma in the Irish Wine Board.
