email: info@midletonnews.
com THE ORIGINAL MIDLETON AND DISTRICT NEWS
IT’S not often that the Midleton &
District News find themselves sat on
a wall by Loughaderra Lake, sipping
an excellent cup of coffee and talking
to a swan.
There’s worse ways to start your day,
writes Becky Grice.
For Nick O’Donoghue every day
starts like this - albeit much, much
earlier and involving fewer conversa-
tions with the local wildlife.
As owner and Barista with the
Rooskagh Coffee Co., you’ll find
Nick en situ at Loughaderra Lake
every weekday morning between
6am and 10am, offering travellers on
the N25 a hot cuppa and a warm wel-
come.
He’s only been in operation for three
weeks there, but business is already
brisk (as is the temperature outside).
Having completed a four year
Business Degree at CIT, followed by
a Masters in E-Business and four and
a half years at Stryker, Carrigtwohill,
Nick decided to go travelling, head-
ing to New Zealand and South
America.
It was in Colombia that he tasted his
first ‘proper coffee’.
COVERING ALL OF EAST CORK!
Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
DELIVERING CAFFEINE
TO YOUR DOOR IN
EAST CORK & BEYOND!
FROM THE
GROUND
UP...
While many tourists
would simply head to
the coffee plantation,
enjoy a cup or three of
the local brew, and
then pick up a bag of
beans for the trip
home, Nick decided to
get his hands dirty - lit-
erally.
Nick O’Donoghue, Barista and owner of The Rooskagh Coffee Co. with his
‘I went and worked on mobile coffee van at Loughaderra - Nick is more than happy to visit your business or
the plantation,’ Nick special event to help East Cork keep caffeinated!
tells us, ‘I was hand- ‘I’m a member of East Cork AC and Many sleepless nights later (possibly
picking the beans alongside the work- do a lot of Cross Country runs,’ he due to an overconsumption of caf-
ers. They were clearly on full caffeine notes. ‘There was never anywhere to feine), the Rooskagh Coffee Co. was
though, because they were working get a cup of coffee before or after the born.
much quicker than I was. I think I run and the idea just came to me: a
was more of a decaf kind of worker!’ mobile coffee van, serving excellent ‘I wanted to use local suppliers
Barista-style coffees, teas, hot choco- because, in Cork, we’re blessed to
Nick may have been slow at picking late and healthy snacks.’ have amazing produce all around us.
coffee beans - but the idea for the Badger & Dodo Coffee, based in
business brewed (pardon the pun) Arriving back in Ireland last October, Fermoy, ticked all the boxes.
quickly. Nick began to research his idea.
‘Their coffee is top quality and I
knew I wanted to serve my customers
LET US VISIT YOUR something out of the ordinary.’
BUSINESS ON A A customer has just arrived at
Rooskagh Coffee Co.’s mobile van at
REGULAR BASIS Loughaderra - and they’re about to
FOR A FULFILLING order something that’s definitely out
of the ordinary.
COFFEE-BREAK!
Meet Aoife, who works in the Village
Florist, Castlemartyr: she’s here for
her Coconut Cappuccino.
As Nick begins brewing (he attended
Barista School which, he admits, was
‘more complicated than the profes-
sionals made it look’), he explains
what makes the perfect Rooskagh
Coffee Co. cuppa.
Continues next page...
Tel. 087 3508909
email: info@midletonnews.com THE ORIGINAL MIDLETON AND DISTRICT NEWS Wednesday, March 21st, 2018

CALL US TODAY AND

BECOME A PART OF OUR
DAILY / WEEKLY ROUTES!

‘Every coffee has two shots of
Espresso in it,’ he notes - while
simultaneously appearing to have
four hands - he’s steaming milk and
pouring caramel coloured coffee into
a cup. ‘It gives the coffee a deep and
satisfying taste.’ To the coffee, Nick
adds coconut milk (soya, almond,
cashew, semi-skimmed and good old
‘as it came from the cow’ varieties
also available) and presents Aoife
with her Coconut Cappuccino.
‘If you ask for it, I can make it,’ Nick
grins. ‘Coffee has become much
more than just a drink these days.
When I attended Barista School,
there was so much to take in.
‘There are so many varieties and dif-
ferent options. It’s all about getting
the grind right. If you aren’t consis-
tent, customers will notice the differ-
ence. People have really become con-
noisseurs.’

Nick and Aoife enjoy some early morning sunshine, with a cup of the
Rooskagh Coffee Co.’s Coconut Cappuccino
And it’s not just customers at offering a unique coffee break experi-
Loughaderra who are getting the ben- ence.
efit of Nick’s knowledge.
‘If you’re working in an office all day
THE ROOSKAGH long, it’s nice to get up, go outside
and enjoy a proper cup of coffee,’
COFFEE CO. - Nick notes.

AVAILABLE FOR ‘I’ve recently been up at the NCT

EVERY EVENT
The Rooskagh Coffee Co. is more
than happy to attend corporate
events, weddings, private functions
and visit businesses in East Cork,
Centre in Little Island and I’ve been
amazed how many people come over
for a chat and a cuppa - I suppose it
takes their mind off what’s going on
inside with their car!’
Continues next page...

COVERING ALL OF EAST CORK! Tel. 087 3508909

email: info@midletonnews.com THE ORIGINAL MIDLETON AND DISTRICT NEWS Wednesday, March 21st, 2018

WEDDING DAY, SPORTING

EVENT, BUSINESS FUNCTION?
CALL US - WE’LL BE THERE!

Keeping the cyclists caffeinated in Midleton at the recent EQ18 Charity Cycle
Speaking of vehicles, we should
probably explain exactly how the
Rooskagh Coffee Co.’s van has been
transformed into a mobile coffee hub.
In a custom-modification job where
space was at a premium, Nick has
managed to turn the back of his van
into a complete, totally-contained
mobile café.
doors and there was syrup every-
where - I won’t make that mistake
again!’
Happily, that’s the only problem Nick
has encountered - apart from the
ridiculously early starts in the morn-
ing - although his grandad Paddy
Abernethy might disagree on that
one.
he notes, ‘I’m definitely my own best
customer.’ We’re not sure how long
that’ll be the case though, as he’s
already garnering a loyal following at
Loughaderra, where customers can
even text him their order in advance
and he’ll have it ready to hand to you
through your car window. ‘Some
people pull up on Monday and give in
their order for the week,’ Nick states.
‘They pay once and then, each day, at
the time they want, I’ll have their
order ready for them.’
Since starting the Rooskagh Coffee
Co. (named after Nick’s home town-
land, near Shanagarry - he admits to
thinking of plenty of coffee-based
puns but avoiding them), Nick has
already clocked up impressive
mileage at farmers’ markets across
Cork. Recent trips have seen the
Rooskagh Coffee Co. keeping
Ballymaloe caffeinated at their
Healthy Living Weekend.
Continues next page...

RISE & SHINE!

There’s a fridge, ample stacking
space for snacks (more on those in a
minute), a sixty litre water tank, a
professional, ridiculously shiny cof-
fee machine, slide-away drawers for
sugars, sweeteners, lids and stirrers
and countless cups.
And, when it comes to the Rooskagh
Coffee Co., their cups really do run-
neth over.
‘When I first got the van, I have to
admit there was an issue with the
caramel syrup lid not being on prop-
erly,’ Nick laughs. ‘I opened the back
‘I get up at 5.15 in the morning,’ Nick
smiles, ‘put the water heater on in the
van and I’m down at Loughaderra for
6am. My grandad used to run
Abernethy’s Bakery in Castlemartyr
and was up at 3.30am each morning,
so I get no sympathy there. As he
says, “I had half a day’s work done
before you’d got up!”’
Running a coffee company means
Nick doesn’t have an excuse for not
being ‘up and at ‘em’ in the morning
- it’s not as if he can’t get his caffeine
fix! Favouring a classic Americano,

COVERING ALL OF EAST CORK! Tel. 087 3508909

email: info@midletonnews.com
‘My brother Timmy went with me. I
worked as the Barista and he dealt
with the customers. I said to him at
one stage, “I don’t know if we’re
doing well.” He replied, “You haven’t
turned around from the machine for
three hours - we’re doing well!’”, and
a visit to Lyne & Lyne Auctioneers in
Carrigtwohill where, much like the
auction lots, the coffee was going,
going, gone!
COVERING ALL OF EAST CORK!
THE ORIGINAL MIDLETON AND DISTRICT NEWS Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
WE’RE KEEPING IT GREEN WITH
STRONG COFFEE & A STRONG
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHOS!
Perhaps most impressively, the
Rooskagh Coffee Co. was on hand
when Ed & Sarah were married at
Ballintotis Church.
‘They asked us to come to the church
so the wedding guests could get a tea,
coffee or hot chocolate and snacks
after the ceremony,’ Nick recalls. ‘It
was a bit worrying serving the bride
coffee in her white dress! An All-Ireland winning ribbon cutting by Cork’s Eimear O’Sullivan,
as Nick O’Donoghue is ready for road with the Rooskagh Coffee Co.!
‘The guests really enjoyed it and, on county if I sold anything else!’ Nick
a cold spring day it was definitely a laughs.
warming wedding treat.’
For those who prefer cocoa to caf-
Since he first said ‘I do’ to the wed- feine, Nick’s Hot Chocolate is a calo-
ding invitation, Nick has received rie-free (not true, but we choose to
other requests from couples looking believe it) delight, festooned with
to book the Rooskagh Coffee Co. for mini-marshmallows.
their big day.
On the Wednesday that ‘The Beast
While we’ve spent much of this arti- From The East’ started to descend on
cle talking about coffee, we’d like to East Cork, Nick took the Rooskagh
take this opportunity to tell you what Coffee Co. on the road to some hous-
else in on offer from the Rooskagh ing estates in Midleton. ‘People start-
Coffee Co. ed coming out of their houses and
there was a queue for hot chocolate,’
First up, there’s a range of herbal teas Nick says. ‘Lots of children got hot
and - as we like to call it - ‘proper chocolate - their parents tried it - and
tea’, also known to us Corkonians as then they were ordering one too!’
Barry’s Tea. ‘I’d be run out of the Continues next page...
Tel. 087 3508909
email: info@midletonnews.com THE ORIGINAL MIDLETON AND DISTRICT NEWS Wednesday, March 21st, 2018

BRING YOUR OWN CUP

& SAVE 10% ON
ANY HOT BEVERAGE!

ner that he is: he wants healthy other additives. A firm favourite at

snacks that deliver on taste.
Luckily, another Cork entrepreneur
was about to offer just that. Sarah
Milner is the mastermind behind
‘Pure Raw Energy,’ a snack brand
that does exactly what it says on the
tin or, in this case, the recycled pack-
aging.
Sarah makes healthy, all-natural ener-
Colm and Nick get themselves a warming coffee -
gy snacks with no added sugar, or any
Molly is already full of beans!
farmers’ markets, Sarah is delighted
to stock the Rooskagh Coffee Co.
with nutritious and delicious snacks -
including protein balls and flapjacks.
And, on the health front, Nick has
already been approached by leading,
Cork-based health drinks supplier,
Kinetica, with a view to stocking
their products too.
Continues next page...

KEEPING IT
ly composted, they will break down
in just six weeks,’ Nick adds.

GREEN ‘They’re a little bit more expensive,

but I’m not passing that cost on to my
Doing research into the coffee market customers. I think this is the way that
in anticipation of opening The business should be - and is - going.’
Rooskagh Coffee Co., Nick was
shocked to discover that - in Ireland - To encourage customers to reduce,
a staggering 2 million disposable cof- reuse and recycle, Nick offers all cus-
fee cups go into landfill each day tomers a 10% discount on their hot
(that’s just less than half the popula- drinks, if they bring their own mug of
tion of Ireland). Only one in 400 cups cup with them. And, on top of that,
is recycled. ‘The statistics were The Rooskagh Coffee Co. is proud to
shocking,’ Nick tells us. ‘I didn’t be particularly environmentally
want to add to the problem and, with friendly on the road too: their Citroen
the help of Down 2 Earth, who are Dispatch van is the most fuel efficient
based in Cork and are Ireland’s only medium-sized van on the market!
compostable packaging specialists, I
hope to be part of the solution.’ All
The Rooskagh Coffee Co.’s cups are SNACK TIME
100% compostable and will break When it comes to snacks, Nick
down in the waste. ‘If they’re actual- approaches his business like the run-

COVERING ALL OF EAST CORK! Tel. 087 3508909

email: info@midletonnews.com
Another customer has arrived at
Loughaderra and this time it’s Colm
and his canine companion, Molly.
While Colm, who lives in Killeagh
but works near Midleton, needs his
morning caffeine fix, Molly - a
Springer Spaniel - already has oodles
of energy (and is keeping a close eye
on that swan we mentioned earlier).
COVERING ALL OF EAST CORK!
THE ORIGINAL MIDLETON AND DISTRICT NEWS Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
WE’RE YOUR ONE-STOP COFFEE SHOP!
THE ROOSKAGH COFFEE CO.
IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL EVENTS SO YOUR
CUP CAN REALLY RUNNETH OVER!
Watching Nick at work is a master-
class in multi-tasking. When Colm,
his coffee and Molly are back on the
road, we ask Nick about making the
perfect cup of coffee.
We weren’t expecting the almost sci-
entific response we received… our
notebook soon resembles something
that Albert Einstein may have come
up with.
Continues next page...
Tel. 087 3508909
email: info@midletonnews.com
‘A flat white has less milk or froth,
compared to a latte, but with the same
double Espresso shot - it’s much
stronger than a latte, because it’s not
diluted with so much milk. Then you
have your Cortado which is a double
shot of Espresso with the same
amount of steamed milk, which gives
it a balanced flavour. The Espresso
itself is all about getting the correct
grind on the coffee beans, while dif-
ferent milks need to be treated differ-
ently. It’s all well and good having
COVERING ALL OF EAST CORK!
THE ORIGINAL MIDLETON AND DISTRICT NEWS
great coffee beans, but if you don’t
know what to do with them next,
you’ll never get a worthy cup of cof-
fee out of them.’
Whether pulling over at Loughaderra
any weekday morning between 6am
and 10am to get an Americano on the
go; taking a well-earned ‘proper cof-
fee’ break; or booking the Rooskagh
Coffee Co. for a special event, you’re
guaranteed an excellent cup of coffee
from a man who is, quite frankly, full
of beans (did you really think we’d
make it through this article without
one coffee-based pun? As they say,
‘Better latte, than never.’)
The Rooskagh Coffee Co. may spend
its time on the road, but its heart is in
every cup that Nick professionally
prepares.
A wise individual once said, ‘Behind
every successful enterprise is a sub-
stantial amount of coffee.’
The Rooskagh Coffee Co. is out to
prove just that.
The Rooskagh Coffee Co. is open
every morning at Loughaderra Lake
on the N25 between Castlemartyr and
Tel. 087 3508909
Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
Midleton from 6am to 10am. If you’d
like Nick to make a regular stop at
your business, please call him on 087
3508909. The Rooskagh Coffee Co.
is available for all corporate and spe-
cial events, where food and beverage
packages can be tailored to meet your
needs.
For more information, please call
Nick, find The Rooskagh Coffee Co.
on facebook, instragram and twitter,
email rooskaghcoffee@gmail.com or
visit www.rooskaghcoffee.ie - online
in April.