Popular Shantallow drive through Cuppa Joes set for bigger site and new menu options
Shantallow’s Cuppa Joe’s Coffee to Go, run by couple Maria and Christopher Doherty, has seen a surge in popularity since opening in August 2025, with the business now thriving, they are planning to build on their drive-through coffee shop with an expansion.
Cuppa Joes works with a simple but effective business model, great coffee and zero fuss. It took the business six months to set up since they initially bought the container in February.
Christopher, a long‑time coffee enthusiast, said he had always dreamed of opening his own coffee spot.
“I’ve wanted to do coffee for years and years. I was at a drive through just outside Belfast and thought it was a really good idea, and since there wasn’t anything like it in town, I decided to go for it.
“I got the container in February and spent six months working to get it open.
“It’s the window, I’m betting on the handiness of it. If you make something easy for people, they’re going to use it.”
The couple said the business has grown so quickly that they plan to remove the car wash from the site to make room for an expanded Cuppa Joes.
“The new container will be here in a couple of weeks. The car wash is closing to make way for a bigger coffee drive through. I’ve been here 15 years with the car wash, and the coffee has completely taken over,” Christopher said.
Maria added: “The queues are the problem. With a bigger container, we can have more staff and keep the cars moving faster. We don’t like the road being blocked.”
The new additions will also add a seating area to the coffee stop.
Cuppa Joes offers more than coffee and has plans to expand the menu with the larger operation.
They currently offer acai bowls, smoothies, protein smoothies, tray bakes and more. With the larger site, they hope to introduce milkshakes and expand their food range, potentially including hot food.
An important part of Cuppa Joes’ success, the couple said, is their connection with local businesses. They take pride in the coffee and milk they use, sourcing their beans from local roaster Opal Roast and their full‑fat milk from The Milk Bar in Donegal.
“We could half our milk bill but then you are compromising the taste in your coffee,” said Christopher.
Maria said: “We like to give trade to local businesses, supporting our own.”
The couple said they are proud of what they have achieved with Cuppa Joes, though they acknowledged it has taken a lot of hard work.
Maria said: “It’s been hard work and long hours, but it’s worth it. It’s nice to see something achieve so much in such a short space of time. The locals and people in the area are supporting us, we’ve even had people come from as far as Belfast. We’re definitely proud of it.”
Cuppa Joes’ drive‑through coffee spot is located on Racecourse Road and is open from 7am to 7pm daily, except on Sundays when it opens from 9am to 7pm.