Days and months fly by so quickly and you’ve probably settled in your new home in the Philippines. Congratulations! What’s next then? You’re slowly growing your own directory of establishments to visit regularly until you realize you’re missing one thing: Coffee shops!
Well, don’t worry! There are some things you can’t rush- like finding the perfect cup of coffee in a foreign land. But we’re not talking about just any kind; we mean artisanal or “third wave of coffee”. Good thing artisanal coffee is on the rise in Manila as more and more entrepreneurs focus on bringing high quality roasts produced sustainably and crafted meticulously by local and international growers. If you care much about your wine, it’s time to pay the same attention to your coffee and distinguish the difference between mass-produced and artisan coffee.
To help you identify these artisanal cafés in Manila, we made a list of shops you can visit for an afternoon coffee break or for an alone time to clear your head. Bookmark this page, take a tour and discover what third wave coffee really tastes like.
The Curator
134 Legaspi Street, Makati City
If there’s one thing to describe The Curator, it’s that it is a genius idea. By day, it’s this little coffee shop hidden in the back room of a wine shop and at night, it transforms into a hip cocktail bar. Talk about the perfect combination, right?
The café is open from 7AM to 7PM. Ask about their BOD (Brew of the Day) and be surprised as to how a cup of coffee can give you such an unforgettable kick. Remember to ask their featured beans of the day. You may also try their cold press juices, sandwiches and toasts.
Habitual Coffee
2135 Chino Roces Avenue, Legazpi City, Makati City
We won’t judge if you’ve had your third cup of coffee and it’s only 12 noon. There are some coffee that are worth palpitating for. Habitual Coffee is one of them.
Aside from brewing, Habitual Coffee uses the AeroPress, a device that utilizes air pressure to extract the coffee’s flavor. In fact, they’ve won several awards in the Philippine AeroPress Championship in 2015 and 2016. Complete your choice of drink with their delicious grilled cheese and you’re set for the rest of the week.
Habitual Coffee also has a branch in Uptown Place Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, so be sure to come by when you’re in the neighborhood.
Yardstick Coffee
G/F 106 Esteban Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City
Yardstick Coffee is a no fuzz, no-nonsense coffee shop in the quiet hood of Legazpi Village. Its simple, geometric and functional interiors speak volume- that they mean business and that is to produce the best coffee to satisfy every discerning customer’s thirst for a true and worthy artisanal experience.
Order a cold brew, a cup of decaf Americano or a flat white paired with a plate of savory waffle for a hearty afternoon while reading your new book.
If you want a taste of their coffee in your own home, Yardstick has recently launched The Circle, a subscription-based program where you can order their in-season origin coffee and espresso blends and have them delivered to your place every month. But if you prefer the ambience and aroma of a café, then by all means, go to Yardstick. You may also visit their coffee bar in Salcedo Village, Makati.
Magnum Opus
115 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City
If you live and work in the South, you’re in luck, as the next artisanal coffee shop on our list is located in the buzzing community of BF Homes, Parañaque.
Magnum Opus serves a great mix of coffe and food to complete your day. From their espresso- ask about their Belgian Heartbreak- to their Nitro Cold Brew and gooey and mouthwatering grilled cheese Monte Cristo, you’ll surely come out of this quaint café high with glee and with a grand plan to return again… very soon.
EDSA Beverage Design Group
209 EDSA, Greenhills, Mandaluyong City
Of course the North is not to be left behind when it comes to the booming coffee culture. Amidst the traffic jam in the busiest highway in the country is the EDSA Beverage Design Group.
With the passion to serve specialty coffee to every client, they source out the highest quality of coffee beans from top farmers from around the world. This is to ensure that every cup you order is worth every sip you take.
They’re open from 10AM to 7PM so swing by to try their espresso blends and single origin coffee.
This sums up our list of artisanal coffee shops. Check them one by one and have a brewin’ good time while you’re at it.
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