Monthly Archives: March 2016

Only 3 Philippine Shops in PayWithAPoem 2016?

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(image from the official Julius Meinl website)

There are certain times of the year when we celebrate coffee. There’s the International Coffee Day, for example, which takes place on October the 1st every year. There are the many international Barista championships, the International Queen of Coffee Beauty Pageant…and then there’s the PayWithAPoem initiative.

As someone who loves both coffee and poetry, I feel the need to write an entire blog post dedicated to this event.

What is the PayWithAPoem initiative?

This global event was initiated in 2015 by Austrian coffee manufacturer and retailer Julius Meinl in honor of World Poetry Day. Basically, on March 21 of every year, you can step into participating shops and pay for your coffee with an original poem.

The official website of Julius Meinl provides resources for this initiative (the one they made for 2016 is here). The hashtags “#PayWithAPoem” and “#PoetryForChange” are often used on social media by poets and shops to indicate their participation.

Which Philippine shops participated in this year’s PayWithaPoem initiative?

Since the official map of participating shops on the Meinl website didn’t yield any hits for the Philippines, I had to turn to Google.

In a country like the ours, where many small and medium-sized businesses don’t have a strong social media presence, Google is admittedly not the most reliable tool for compiling resources. However, it felt like the only tool I had at my disposal. That, and Tagboard, which helped me crawl through social media sites via hashtags.

My feeble cyber-detective skills were severely tested, and on World Poetry Day itself, my research turned up only 3 names:

I use the term “shops” and not “cafes” or “coffee houses” because of course you don’t have to be a cafe or a specialty coffee shop to participate. Also, I wouldn’t strictly classify Kamuning Bakery as a cafe. It is, in fact, a local culinary institution, having been around for 77 years.

Of the three shops listed, only Kamuning Bakery posted updates about patrons’ contributions to World Poetry Day – leading one to wonder how successful it was at the other cafes mentioned. It seems like it was a good day for Kamuning Bakery, however! Lots of lovely contributions shared on their Facebook page, for example:

One of numerous diverse #poems by customers yesterday at #worldpoetryday celebration in #kamuningbakerycafe #poetry #poet #literature #nofilter #picoftheday #instalike

Posted by Kamuning Bakery on Wednesday, 23 March 2016

#poetry in #photography by #kamuningbakerycafe customer Giselle Kasilag, this picture taken yesterday during celebration…

Posted by Kamuning Bakery on Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Visual #poetry by #kamuningbakerycafe customer Giselle Kasilag in her beautiful #photography, displayed alongside…

Posted by Kamuning Bakery on Wednesday, 23 March 2016

#Poetry, #coffee, good foods & pugon-baked cakes/breads… One of the delightful #poems by customers of…

Posted by Kamuning Bakery on Wednesday, 23 March 2016


Why Would Philippine shops want to participate?

That’s a good question. I guess one way to find out is to ask the establishments that participated, and the ones that knew about it but chose not to participate. I may get back to you later on this.

Speaking for myself, as a coffee-lover who loves literature: I want more people to see for themselves how coffee can fuel the creative writing spirit. I want more people in my very literate country to participate in World Poetry Day, and I want more shops to offer an incentive for that!

If you know of other shops located in the Philippines that participated in the PayWithAPoem initiative, either this year or in the past year (2015, when the movement began), please let me know in a comment on this post!

Coffee Shop Spotlight: Style Studio Cafe etc. in Marilao, Bulacan

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One of my objectives for this blog is to feature lesser-known cafes and coffee shops in the Philippines. So, besides writing about coffee kiosks, I’d also like to write about remarkable coffee houses in less popular areas. One such coffee house is the newly-opened Style Studio Cafe etc. in Marilao, Bulacan.

This is a place I’ve passed by many times, but it was the first time I found it open. As it happens, I usually pass by it in the mornings, and Style Studio Cafe etc. in Marilao, Bulacan opens at 1 PM.

The fancy storefront catches attention. The signage is shiny and new, and who can resist hanging around to ogle those lovely dresses on display?

I stepped in, and found the interior of the cafe to be cozy and roomy. And certainly a pleasant break from the heat of the summer sun!

Inside, I was fortunate enough to meet one of the cafe’s two owners, Ms. Eileen Conde. She very nicely answered my questions and let me roam the cafe, taking photos, while I waited for my order.

Ms. Eileen is a professional events organizer. She said she and her business partner, Mr. Ross Paris, opened the cafe only this January.

I asked why they didn’t decide to open at SM Marilao, where there’s more foot traffic. She said SM Marilao is easily flooded, which I have to admit is true. The current location of Style Studio Cafe etc. is more or less flood-free. As it’s also near a private hospital and a major crossroads, I feel it’s a great choice for an independent establishment.

I asked Ms. Eileen about the dresses on display. She said the dresses were part of their “theme.”

Ms. Eileen’s business partner, the General Manager of Style Studio Cafe etc., Mr. Ross Paris, is a photographer. He’s in charge of the second floor studio, which I was not able to enter. Ms. Eileen said I was welcome to explore it later in the evening, but I guess I’ll just see if I can take a peek up there, the next time I come by.

Samples of his work grace one wall of the cafe. Mr. Ross Paris, a chef, is also in charge of the food and drinks in the cafe.

The one who prepared my order was Ms. Ice (I hope I got the spelling right!), who was very accommodating and friendly. She told me they use Batangas Arabica beans for their coffee.

This was the drink I got. I was only able to take a photo of it when I got home, and it was already late…sorry for the lousy lighting!

It’s their Coffee Jelly drink (P120), which Ms. Ice said was their bestseller. I liked it! I found myself wishing it had just a bit more coffee, though, because the cream flavor was a bit overwhelming. But fans of cream-based drinks will certainly enjoy it.

I thought it might be good to pair up the coffee jelly drink with a cupcake. I asked Ms. Ice for her recommendation, and she said the red velvet was their bestseller.

I do not regret taking her recommendation. It was probably the BEST red velvet cupcake I’ve ever had. And I’m not even a fan of red velvet cupcakes! I generally find them too bland, so I was not prepared for how the Style Studio Cafe etc. red velvet cupcake (P55 – P65 if taken home in a box) exceeded my expectations.

The cream cheese topping is rich and just perfectly whipped. I especially like how citrusy it is. Balance it out with a cup of your favorite iced coffee blend for a nice, smooth sugar rush.

The next time I’m in the area, I’d like to try their other blends. And maybe their hot coffees, too, even if the weather is warm.

If you come by hungry, they also offer pizza, pasta, pancakes, sandwiches, and salads, among others. Style Studio Cafe etc. is overall a cool, restful place to hang out, alone or with one’s friends.

——————————–

Style Studio Cafe etc. in Marilao, Bulacan
Location: Poblacion 2 Mc Arthur Highway Marilao Crossing. Marilao, Bulacan
Landmarks: Near Foodmaster, Mercury Drug and St. Michael Hospital
Schedule: Open daily, Sunday-Thurday 1pm to 11pm. Friday-Saturday 1pm to 12am

Visit their official Facebook page.

Philippine Coffee Kiosks Series: Foss Coffee Review

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I’m kicking off the Philippine coffee kiosks series with a Foss Coffee review.

Foss Coffee is a fairly recent addition to SM Marilao, a small but cozy mall near Manila. Since SM Marilao is a place I frequent, I think it would be reasonable to start my kiosk series with a Foss Coffee review.

As someone who hangs out at that mall a lot, I can say for a fact that the brand arrived at just the right time to fill a void – namely, the void populated by people who’d rather avoid Starbucks…which is, for the record, the ONLY big-name coffee specialty shop currently operating in the entire mall.

Don’t get me wrong – I have massive respect for Starbucks, and other big-name shops. But one has to admit the cost of coffee in such shops is a bit restrictive. If you absolutely MUST have your fix on a daily or near-daily basis, cheaper alternatives are a must.

Foss Coffee SM Marilao is located on the ground floor, near the Event Center and Food Court. A perfect setup, I must say, for people who prefer to have coffee for dessert.

Every day the kiosk gets a fair number of patrons, and even if there are other options, there are loyal fans (such as myself) who keep coming back.

Their bestseller is the Java Chip. It’s the one I often get, too. It’s pretty much their most “basic” blend, but I believe it’s a favorite precisely because of its simplicity.

Curiously, their coffee only comes in one size: Grande, which appears to be roughly the same size as a Starbucks “Tall.”

I want to ask: why would they impose just one size, when other coffee kiosks and shops offer more options? There’s a recent move to market a smaller size (I’m not sure why) but it isn’t being done in SM Marilao yet…and truth be told, I’m not sure it’ll catch on. People generally want MORE coffee, not less, right?

On the up side, it is a simple setup: pay a set fee, get a set product. No need to rack your brains trying to work out how to best enjoy your coffee; what you see is what you get.

And no need to break the bank with add-ons! If you don’t like how they prepare one flavor, simply try another. The low price of P55 per glass should encourage you to try as many flavors as you can.

I distinctly remember asking a long time ago if I can get more chocolate chips for my Java Chip coffee if I pay more, and being told they don’t customize their formula. It’s not a big issue, as too much chocolate chip may in fact ruin the flavor.

(photo from Zomato.com)

I don’t have photos of the other coffees, I’m afraid. Someone else I know who likes Foss Coffee says Dark Mocha is also a good flavor. I’ve personally also tried Chocolate Mint and Black Forest, which turned out to be too sweet for me; Java Chip seems to have gotten the flavor just right.

They have cream-based drinks, too – blended drinks that don’t have caffeine in them. I was told that among them, the bestselling flavor is Chocolate Cream Chips.

As with most coffee kiosks in the Philippines, Foss Coffee is open for franchising. You can view the franchise kit online here. You can also visit Foss Coffee’s official website, their Facebook page, or the FB page of their SM Marilao branch, for more information.

And with that, I wrap up my Foss Coffee review!

Got a local coffee kiosk franchise you’d like to read a review of? Leave a comment here!

New Signature Image, Plus Facebook and Twitter Accounts!

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I have family to thank for this beautiful, brand new header image, which I’ll also be using as the signature photo for the blog’s official social media accounts.

By the way, did you know COMM (yep, that’s this blog’s alternate name!) has a Facebook and Twitter now? Feel free to add me there and let’s talk about coffee!

The social media accounts will be used for sharing interesting news, articles and other blog posts. For the most part, this blog will be used as a home for fresh content, some of which may be inspired by the things posted on Facebook and Twitter. Expect a couple of memes and other fun stuff in those places, too!

You may notice from the already existing content that I share news related to the Philippine coffee industry more often than not – that’s just in keeping with this blog’s objective of promoting Philippine coffee. However, I also enjoy the freedom of writing whatever I want about coffee, so there will be all sorts of coffee news, too. There’s more than one kind of coffee in the world, after all, and more than one country that makes really good ones. The diversity and easy availability of information is what makes being a coffee lover in the Internet age so great!

Back to the header image: this one is all-original*. Family shot this themselves, using a digital camera and whole beans and a double-wall glass from our treasured collection. Double-wall glasses are among our essential equipment as coffee lovers. One of these days I’m probably going to write about our collection, because it is spiffy.

There are two kinds of beans in the photo. The green beans are Benguet arabica beans that have yet to be roasted, and the medium roast beans are from Kenya.

* so PLEASE do not steal or reproduce it, or copy any part of it for any purpose!

Philippine Coffee Kiosks Series: Introduction

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I’ve decided to start a series called “Philippine coffee kiosks.” By the title alone, you should be able to guess what it’s about.

For clarity’s sake, “kiosks” are stalls that pop up smack in the middle of public areas, usually mall corridors. They are normally not independent businesses, but instead are franchise options.

Franchising is often spoken of as a great way to learn about running a business. It is attractive to small investors especially because, for fees that are usually smaller than what’s needed to start up your own brand, you can already set up a money-making venture. You can even start it up with partners, and in that way get to know the ins and outs of managing a business with other people!

So, if you’re a dedicated coffee lover based in the Philippines, and want to earn from your passion for coffee, why not invest in a kiosk?

I want to write about how to buy and set up a coffee franchise in the Philippines, but that would have to be at a later time. For now, I’d like to do reviews about the different coffee franchises already out in the local market, and what we can expect from them.

But before I post my first review, I wish to address the question of why a small blogger would want to write about coffee kiosks…instead of, say, larger and more established boutiques.

I can understand the confusion. I want more people to read my blog, and brands like Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, Gloria Jean’s, etc, are more familiar names, so people are more likely to want to read about them.

Moreover, people who know me well, know I don’t even like blended coffee much (with a few exceptions, which I’ll get into in another post)…and most coffee kiosks sell nothing BUT cold, blended coffee! I’m very much a piping hot, black coffee person, so why even bother with kiosks?

The simple reason is: I like what coffee kiosks are doing. Which, off the top of my head, are the following things:

1. providing cheaper alternatives to expensive coffee from multinational labels, thereby making coffee accessible to more people;

2. providing business options to entrepreneurs, especially entrepreneurs who love coffee (there’s always room in the market for you wonderful people!); and

3. supporting coffee farmers in the country, as local beans are a ready ingredient for new shops.

I think kiosks need a bigger place in cyberspace, and I’m happy to provide it to them – as an independent consumer, who is – and i wish to emphasize this – NOT PAID or compensated in any way for my reviews.

Now that’s been said, the first review for the “Philippine coffee kiosks” series will be posted soon 🙂

3 Brands Claiming to be “the Strongest Coffee in the World”

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I can easily claim that Filipinos are a ready market for the strongest coffee in the world. Over here, there’s a running joke that we like our coffee strong enough to fight for us – “kapeng matapang, kaya akong ipaglaban.”

We use the word “matapang” for coffee in a way that means either “rich in flavor” or “has a strong kick” (it bears mention that “matapang” is also used in many different ways outside of coffee – sometimes it’s used to mean “brave,” sometimes “fierce,” etc). So if there’s coffee out there that claims to be “matapang” in both flavor and caffeine content – I say bring it over!

Quite a few brands compete for the honor of being called “the strongest coffee in the world,” but I’d like to spotlight four specific brands, which catch attention due to their aggressive online marketing campaigns. If you happen to be both a social media addict AND a coffee lover, you must’ve encountered these brands on your Facebook feed at least once recently.

dw-small

(image from the Death Wish Coffee Official Website)

1. Death Wish Coffee – The company that manufactures this brand claims that a single bean has 200 percent more caffeine than regular coffee.

A review on Huffington Post says it definitely has a formidable kick: it is Not Kidding when it says the caffeine is strong. However, if flavor is important to you, the review also says this may not be a brand that’ll get you hankering for more.

Also, in terms of caffeine content, it seems that this year Death Wish took a backseat to…

forto-espresso

(image from the FORTO Strong Coffee Official Website)

2. FORTO Strong Coffee – One of the benefits of the cold brew process is that the end product usually has higher caffeine content than regularly brewed coffee. So it’s no real surprise that a cold brew was named the strongest coffee in the world earlier this year, beating even Death Wish and Nespresso.

You may want to dilute this reigning caffeine champion in quite a bit of water. Or enjoy it as it is! Just note the manufacturer’s warning: “Limit 2 bottles per day, several hours apart. Not for children, nursing or pregnant women – they will have to wait to experience such joy.”

nespresso sampler

(image from the Nespresso Official Website)

3. Nespresso – If you look through “world’s strongest coffee” lists, such as this one, you may find that Nescafe brewed or brewable products often top those lists. When it comes to amount of caffeine per ounce, Nescafe simply doesn’t scrimp.

Before I end this writeup, I believe one kind of coffee that’s grown here in the Philippines deserves special mention, for its claims to strength of flavor AND kick:

barako coffee

(image from Philippine Herbal Medicine)

Barako Coffee – This coffee is made from liberica beans, which are grown not in the highlands of Northern Luzon – but rather in the fields of Batangas, in warmer Central Luzon. Liberica beans are only grown under special conditions, which makes barako quite rare and hard to find outside of Malaysia or the Philippines.

The name “barako” itself loosely means “stud,” and is a very, very masculine term. Studies on exactly how strong its caffeine content is have been few and hard to find, but sometimes studies are not required: from smell alone, one could tell that it’s Really Strong Coffee. And barako is such a large part of our daily lives, you’d be hard pressed to find a Filipino who claims he or she does not like the taste of barako.

Could it someday be counted among the strongest coffee in the world? A nation can hope!

Barako coffee deserves a post all its own. I’ll be working on that soon.