Graeme and I have known each other a LONG time! I had wanted to get him on the Podcast before there even was a Podcast! He has a great energy and drive which is reflected in the passion he has for his family, business, community.

In our discussion, we also reflected on his support for the plight of the Palestinian people, which we hear about at the very beginning of this episode. I fully endorse his comments.

Can I refer you to the following links to support the people of Gaza IPSC; Action Aid; UN Crisis Relief. * Other agencies are also available.

Our conversation was warm and engaging. Graeme has a sharp sense of the business and understands the hard work it takes to build something from the ground up. We reminisced about his beginnings and the journey to opening his second café, Finegan & Son, which offers a distinctly different atmosphere compared to his first.

We also touched on one of my favourite aspects of his first café, Grounded, which embraced a late-night coffee culture. They used to stay open until midnight (now until 11pm), a rarity in the specialty coffee scene.

Graeme’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication have significantly enriched Newry and its surroundings. At one point, I considered calling this episode “Doing the Dishes,” reflecting both the ‘initiation ritual’ for his customers and Graeme’s belief in never asking someone to do something he wouldn’t do himself.

I enjoyed hearing Graeme speak about the freshness of the beans, the importance of good water, the passion of his staff, and the appreciation of his customers.

Don’t miss out on the coffee experiences offered by Grounded Espresso Bar (open 364 days a year from 5am-11pm) and Finegan & Son (open 9am-4pm, seven days a week, with breakfast until 12:30pm, lunch from 12:45pm, and all-day breakfast on Sundays).

Though Graeme didn’t choose a tune himself, I’d suggest that The Best Day Of My Life, by American Authors captures the essence of his journey.

Join me on BeansandMore.coffee Podcast for lively conversations and deep dives into the coffee universe.  Follow on Instagram, X and TikTok for extra fun. 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. 

You can also support the pod on Buy Me a Coffee. Let’s spread the love for coffee together, and if you’d like your local coffee shop or barista to take part, get in touch to nominate them.

Thanks for listening to the latest episode, I really appreciate all the support shown so far. A little update on the schedule for the podcasts. Originally I was aiming to release an episode every week.  At the moment, the schedule is more like every two to three weeks – but if you subscribe wherever you listen, you’ll be notified every time a new episode drops, and if you have any suggestions, or comments, or to nominate a local coffee shop or barista, just get in touch.