Coffee Dogs is modelled on authentic American hot dog stands and aims to mix classic street food with a fine-dining experience. The menu is unique and includes the company’s garlic-butter fries as well as frozen custard, an alternative to traditional ice cream.
The purpose-built unit has been designed by Born Design, an award-winning London-based design consultancy whose clients include the British Council and RIBA.
The perfect hot dog
Managing Director of Coffee Dogs Robert Tame said: “Coffee Dogs is inspired by the hot dog stands I visited on a road trip to Chicago last year. I was eating at eight dog shops a day all in the name of research and I’m really proud to have brought the best of the American Mid-West to London's King’s Cross.”
Head chef Austin Latimer said: “We’ve waded knee deep through sausages and dogs across the country and beyond in our search for the very best hot dogs. We’ve visited specialist sausage factories, deli counters, farms, a German gentleman’s front room and a back street warehouse.
“Tastings occurred weekly in Dog HQ and the criterion for quality includes taste, snap, smoke, succulence, spice, saltiness, drag, skin and colour. We’ve eaten 500 dogs of all shapes and sizes to reach our chosen five, with a few specials in the pipeline. We hope our customers enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed chasing them down.”
Coffee and treats
Coffee Dogs is as much about the coffee experience as hot dogs. The company will use its own special blend of coffee beans - called the Mutz Nutz - which are sourced, mixed and roasted by coffee Q Grader Mike Riley.
Riley said: “I've been on the road a lot during the past twenty-something years, travelling the tropics looking for the best coffee beans I can lay my tasting spoon on. I know loads of incredible coffee farmers in far flung corners of the tropical world and over the years I’ve imported a lot of their top beans.
“I was well-chuffed when Coffee Dogs asked me to put a knock-out blend together for them. The brief was simple, to create the Mutz Nutz of coffee blends from three fantastic farms and farming communities in Central and South America, where conditions are perfect for growing top quality Arabica coffee. All of the components of the blend are certified and supported by The Rainforest Alliance.”
Coffee Dogs is also working in partnership with the Dum Dum Donutterie to provide donuts and cronuts at the kiosk.
Throughout the opening week Coffee Dogs will be offering samples of hot dogs, hamburgers, donuts, frozen custard and garlic-butter fries on Southern Square.