Naked Bakes, Warm Vibes, and Coffee with Heart – Meet Chiara.

This week on the Beans and More podcast, we pull up a chair at Naked Bakes in Dublin 8 and chat with Chiara — the warm, wise, and wonderfully chatty manager of this vegan bakery-meets-coffee haven. From her sunny personality to her strong sense of community, Chiara embodies everything we love about great local cafés. Naked Bakes may be a relatively new player on the coffee scene, but it’s already buzzing with good energy, creative treats, and people who care deeply about what they do.

Chiara’s own story is a beautiful one — starting out in education before finding her way into coffee through curiosity, creativity, and a love for people. Her approach to managing the café is all about building genuine connections, supporting her team, and making customers feel at home. Whether it’s the schoolteacher down the street, the tourist from California, or the mum navigating life with young kids, every visitor becomes part of the Naked Bakes story, even if only for a moment. Chiara reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful encounters happen over a cappuccino and a smile.

The cafe serves Cloud Picker Coffee (both in-house and retail), and in our chat we dig into what makes a cup of coffee truly special—not just the roast or the pour, but the heart behind it. Chiara believes that love is the secret ingredient, and honestly, we think she’s right. You can have technically perfect coffee, she says, but if the atmosphere is cold or the service feels transactional, you’re unlikely to return. Naked Bakes offers that magical mix of quality and warmth that keeps people coming back—not just for the coffee, but for the feeling.

We also got a glimpse of the café’s creative side: house-made syrups, secret specials (watch out for that pistachio project!), and collabs that have sent queues down the street. Their Valentine’s Day flower-and-coffee combo was a viral hit, and it’s clear that innovation and fun are as baked-in here as the pastries themselves. The team takes pride in doing things a bit differently—whether it’s their playful TikTok presence, their homemade matcha raspberry concoction, or their ever-growing collection of jazzy playlists curated by the beloved Carla.

One of the most touching moments in our chat was Chiara’s story of a mother who opened up about her child’s upcoming autism assessment. It was a raw, gentle exchange that stayed with her—and with us. As Chara says, baristas often catch glimpses of people’s lives that others don’t. There’s a kind of sacred space that can form between a customer and the person handing them their morning coffee. It’s fleeting, but it’s real.

As we wrapped up, Chiara shared her favourite theme song for the café—Friday I’m in Love by The Cure. It’s a perfect fit for a place where joy, routine, and a little bit of magic come together in a cup. Naked Bakes isn’t just about vegan pastries and plant-based milk (though they do those brilliantly); it’s about community, kindness, and creating a space where everyone feels seen.

So if you’re in Dublin 8, drop by Naked Bakes, at Hen’s Teeth
open Tuesday to Friday from 8am to 3:30pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. You’ll find great coffee, a warm welcome, and maybe even a surprise or two that isn’t on the menu. Trust me, it’s worth the visit.

Follow Chiara on Instagram and Facebook at @nakedbakes and @hensteethdublin to stay updated on all the latest brews and news.

Listen to the full episode on: www.beansandmore.coffee

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