Cian Watters is so passionate about his coffee that you can, literally, hear it in his voice. He speaks about his personal journey which brought him from involvement in formal dining, though his adventures in Nepal, and leading him to found his own coffee shop and bakery in Carlow.

I reached out to Cian when I was visiting the area, and he responded so generously. We recorded the episode in the shop on a normal busy day, and Cian spoke with enthusiasm, energy and excitement about his business.

He shared some of the struggles that a small business goes through, particularly in those early days of starting up. He has thought deeply about what goes into the making of not just a perfect sup of coffee, but the connection between coffee, food, and community.

The title of this episode comes from how Cian highlighted the importance of water in making coffee and bread. It’s something I have heard time and time again from owners of coffee shops, and baristas, but I’m not sure how many customers appreciate the importance of the quality of this vital ingredient.

Waterlilies is a treasure in the heart of Carlow, don’t pass up the opportunity to visit. As Cian mentioned, they are open every day (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm; Sat 10-5pm; Sun 10-4), except Christmas Day. They also have a second location in Tullow, and maybe, in the future, we will record an episode there. They have a Waterlilies Website, and are active on the usual social media channels https://linktr.ee/waterlilies__?

Thanks for listening to the latest episode, I really appreciate all the support shown so far. Follow on Instagram, X and TikTok for extra fun, and don’t forget to visit http://www.beansandmore.coffee to listen in. If our brews leave you buzzing, consider sharing with friends, and please take time to leave a comment or review – I really want to hear from you. 

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