First Sip: Cup Point

Sunnies Studios seamlessly grew its brand from fashion to food as if the two go hand in hand. By tickling everyone's love for aesthetics, Sunnies even attracted the non-lipstick user me to check out its famous Fluffmatte lipsticks. And I actually liked it that I bought two! And to celebrate my new beauty finds, I dropped by Sunnies' cutesy coffee shop, Cup Point. 

Hello, Cup Point!

Cup Point is the slightly hidden cafe behind Sunnies Specs SM Megamall. 

Late Bites: Coffee Project

There are times when I get bitten by the lazy bug and couldn't drag myself to cook something to eat. Thankfully, there are a bunch of places to grab food within my area. And last weekend, I visited our neighborhood's Coffee Project. 

Hello, Coffee Project.

Coffee Project has been a popular Instagram spot since it opened a few years back. I was actually lured to visit its first store in Quezon City because of its picturesque interiors. However, its food and drinks did not exactly match its wonderful look. 

First Sip: Cafe MOH

There are only three things I consider for a coffee shop to be a worth going back to--good coffee, great ambiance to catch up with friends or to work and reliable internet connection. I often find myself putting the last two as top priority with my never ending battle to beat deadlines. And with my search for a place to work like a mad lady, I stumbled upon Cafe MOH at Ayala Malls the 30th. 

Hello, Cafe MOH.

MOH? What does that mean? Mocha Or Honey? Macchiato Over Hand? Okay, it doesn't make any sense. Apparently, it means Moment of Happiness. I didn't get much details on why it was named as such as I was in a rush to finish something for a client. 

First Sip: Olivia & Co.

It is sometimes challenging to find a spot where you could work without any distraction and with reliable internet connection. Most of the coffee shops I've been to were too noisy or have Wi-Fi connection that loves to play hide and seek. Though there are co-working spaces here and there, I still prefer a real coffee shop where I could order a much needed cup of coffee that tastes good. And last week, I tried Olivia & Co. 

Hello, Olivia & Co.

First Sip: % Arabica

Coffee lovers rejoice! Japan's famous coffee shop, % Arabica is finally in Manila and it is on its soft opening in W City Center, Bonifacio Global City.

Hello, % Arabica.

I've seen a few % Arabica posts from some friends a few months back. Unfamiliar with the brand, my appreciation for it was limited to its minimalist interiors and simple logo which I love. And so, when the buzz came out that % Arabica will be opening in Manila, I couldn't really understand why everyone's semi-palpitating with excitement.

First Sip: Dark Specialty Coffee

I found myself getting lost in SM North one afternoon. As I try to look for a camera store that sells the lens I plan to buy for myself as Christmas gift, I spotted Dark Specialty Coffee. And since I love anything with caffeine, chocolate or tea, I decided to take a break from getting lost and have a drink. 

Hello, Dark Specialty Coffee. 

First Sip: Common Folk

I'm usually a morning person. But I turn into a grumpy old lady whenever I lack sleep for days. Thankfully, cafes are popping here and there for that needed source of energy. And one of the coffee shops I've been targeting for months is located just a few steps away from my latest shoot location. 

Hello, Common Folk. 

First Sip: Cafè Barbera

Italians are known to be particular with what they eat and drink. To some extent, they can be what millennials describe as savage when they eat anything non-Italian. I can't blame them though as they have been spoiled by the finest ingredients. However, not everything that Italians love and rave about is well received by the local market. But for something universal as coffee, it's a different story. 

Hello, Cafè Barbera.

This Italian cafè has been around for over a century and has grown from a small street coffee vendor on the streets of Naples to a global franchise. You'd think that this place would most likely have the best coffee. After all, espresso is something deeply rooted into the Italian way of life. 

When in Korea: Raccoon Café Kkukkune

I've been to various kinds of cafés. There are the common ones like dog and cat cafés and more interesting ones like owl café. But on my trip to Seoul, Korea, I chanced upon another quirky cafe. A raccoon café! 

Hello, Raccoon Café Kkukkune!

Apparently, raccoon cafés are now the craze in Korea and we were lucky to experience this one of a kind trend during our stay in Seoul. 

Second Sip: Craft Coffee Revolution

My mom is a big fan of Craft Coffee Revolution ever since she tasted this third wave coffee shop’s cakes. I only had its cappuccino on my first visit and I wasn’t exactly impressed. But since my mom was craving for its sansrival cake, we found ourselves having afternoon snack at my mom’s favorite café.

Hello, Craft Coffee Revolution!

My mom quickly ordered a slice of Macadamia Sansrival (PHP170) while I ordered Flat White (PHP140). My sister didn’t order any as she was not in the mood for cakes and wasn’t fond of coffee from cafés as she find it too strong for her liking. 

My mom’s cake was served first and it was… just okay for me. It wasn’t sweet so I guess that’s why my mom liked it. It had a light taste and it was not overly buttery making me feel less guilty for having a few bites. There was a relatively generous sprinkle of macadamia bits and that is probably the reason why a slice is a bit expensive. 

First Sip: Satchmi

I have been hearing a lot of good things about Satchmi, a hipster café located at SM Megamall’s posh Fashion Hall. I’m actually familiar with the brand as I know one of the owners way back when they were still selling vinyls in bazaars. Satchmi sure is a brand that shows how passion plays a key role in a business’ success. Anyway, this entry is about my coffee experience.

Hello, Satchmi!

It has been almost a year since I have planned to visit this place. However, the place is always packed whenever I pass by. 

As an impatient foodie, I simply could not wait more than 10 minutes for a cup of coffee especially when there are a lot of coffee shops nearby. But my last Megamall visit was a lucky one as I spot an empty spot at the communal table when I passed by the adorable café with inviting interiors. 

First Sip: Costa Coffee

I love coffee and anything with caffeine. I always smile whenever I get a sniff of the mouthwatering aroma of coffee. Combining good coffee with well thought of interiors make me go crazy. Subspace, Single Origin, CO/OP and Caravan Black are just a few cafés with notable interiors. Popular UK coffee chain Costa Coffee came in recently but I’ve always thought that it is just another Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. I was wrong.

Hello, Costa Coffee!

The place is adorable! The first thing I spotted was the red phone booth which screams London. Apparently, English-theme seems to be the overall theme of this branch.  (Or is it the same for all branches?)

I waited outside for the people I was scheduled to meet that day. And surprisingly, despite the scorching late summer heat, it was pretty cool at the al fresco area. I guess Eastwood was able to design the place well and ensured proper air flow. 

After a couple of minutes, J and G arrived and we headed upstairs to discuss a campaign. J and I headed down again to order and I got Caramel Latte Cream Frostino (PHP150 | Primo). We got a wait number and headed back up for the meeting. 

First Sip: Luna Specialty Coffee

To cap our impromptu BGC food crawl, C and I decided to head to Luna on the ground floor of NAC Building for a nice cup of coffee. It was raining then so it was the perfect last stop. 

Hello, Luna Specialty Coffee!

The place was quite packed around 5:30 pm so we opted to sit by the bar. It wasn’t really a bad idea as it had the best lighting and we could watch the baristas in action. 

Since I was full, I was a bit fickle-minded. After a few questions, I settled with the limited edition Ethiopia Wild Cherry (PHP200) thinking it would be interesting to blog about a limited offer. But I came to my senses and went with the bestseller The Luna Brew (PHP130) instead to be paired with my Inutak Ube (PHP65). C went with Flavored Latte with Honey (PHP150) and Leche Flan Yema (PHP65).

Our drinks and kakanin shots were served within 10 minutes and after a few snapshots here and there, we started to indulge.

My cup of coffee was quite strong that I had to put a few teaspoons of muscovado in. I was worried that it would make me acidic as I just had gastroenteritis a few days ago. 

But despite its strong taste profile, this cup of coffee didn’t make my sensitive tummy grumpy. 

It also complemented my kakanin shot. 

First Bite: Frank & Dean Café x Kitchen

After a heavy brunch from Locavore, my favorite foodies and I craved for some sweets to cap the meal. We read mixed reviews about Frank & Dean so we were a bit hesitant to head there. But the bright sun made the decision easier for us. Since Locavore and Frank & Dean are within the same area, we opted to just give it a try and see if it is really a waste of tummy space as others say. 

Hello, Frank & Dean. 

The place was rather empty when we got there around 1 pm. Only two or three tables were occupied and they didn’t even seem like customers. Apparently, we were right. They were scheduled to showcase their talents during Frank & Dean’s Common Ground (which serves as a venue for local artists to be heard and discovered). We decided to stay for a while since we heard that they will be serving free coffee and pastries for the ones who will watch the show. (Hey, don’t judge. It was a tempting offer.)

As much as we like free treats, we also try our best to be loveable customers so we ordered Paprika Fries (PHP190) and Beignets (PHP60). 

These two dishes were served in less than 10 minutes and we ate it as slow as possible to give us a reason to stay a bit longer. 

The beignets are like bavarian munchkins without the filling and left inside the fridge to be forgotten for weeks. The doughnuts were quite hard and not worth its price. It says a lot when you only had to pay PHP60 yet feel that your order was still a rip off. It was a really sad dish. 

At least the paprika fries did not disappoint. It was just like the ones I get from Pablo’s Pub. (Trivia: Frank & Dean and Pablo’s Pub in Forum are under the same owner.)

New Café in Town: Caravan Black Coffee Company

Say hello to the newest coffee shop in BGC!

The Caravan Black Coffee Company is currently on its soft opening and is ready to serve you from 8am to 9pm, Mondays to Fridays and 8am to 5pm on Saturdays. For now, they are closed on Sundays until further notice.

The shop is close to Manam and a Japanese restaurant I failed to take note of. Just look for a hat and you'll find Caravan Black! 

Moving on...

The door was quite heavy and I failed to open it myself. Luckily, one of the owners saw me struggling and helped me. 

I went straight to the counter and was greeted by the friendly cashier. I wasn't in the mood to drink anything hot so I settled with Iced Caravan Choco (PHP130) and had it to go as I wanted to be home before it gets really dark. 

I was given a piece of numbered paper and was asked to wait for my drink. 

While waiting, I admired the nice interiors of the café. I find the hat lights so adorable! There is also a communal long table for solo diners (I think). Communal tables are becoming a trend now in cafés and restaurants. Sadly, only a few are open to mingling with fellow diners. I guess most still strictly follow the "Stranger Danger" rule. 

First Sip: Precynct

Checking Looloo or my Instagram feed never fails to make me drool. I always see new dishes, drinks or places I have yet to try or visit. And one of the drinks that made me drool (and stalk) was the Faux Cappuccino of Precynct, one of the new coffee shops at The Grove by Rockwell. I planned to pay Precynct a visit last December only to be greeted by a closed sign. Apparently, they made last minute announcements on their holiday shutdown. Boo! But my curiosity remains strong and I tried to stop by again last week and it was a successful visit!

Hello, Precynct!!!

We arrived around 3PM and we were famished given that we skipped breakfast AND lunch. I was starting to see flying crispy pata and fried chicken when we got to the small and quaint coffee shop.

The server gave us the menu and it was all drinks. Nothing else. I got confused why they didn't offer any savory dishes and it made me check their Instagram account again and confirmed that they do serve meals. However, I didn't know that it is only available during lunch and dinner time. >.<

Anyway, we opted to have lunch elsewhere (*ahem* Backyard) and come back here for an after meal drink. 

When we got back, I finally ordered Faux Cappuccino (PHP160). YAY!

The server told me that it is best enjoyed by sipping from the cup. I read it somewhere too  so I gave it a try. It was a messy, not exactly cute, sip.

When in Hong Kong: Charlie Brown Café

I have lived in Seoul, South Korea for a few months and I never had a chance to visit a cute café throughout my whole stay. Vending machine was my friend, companion, and favorite barista. And the 250 Won price tag on coffee was hard to resist. And so when I saw my friends post photos of their visits in Hello Kitty Café or Charlie Brown Café, the foodie in me bawled in the ugliest way possible. I remember that I saw Hello Kitty Café and Charlie Brown Cafe in Incheon Airport on my way to LA. I wanted to take photos with the adorable merchandise. But since I travelled alone, I wasn’t able to take a selfie with the cafés. (I was also too shy to ask since I had no plans of buying.) Then again, during my recent Hong Kong trip, I got to visit one of the cute cafés and this time, I have someone to share the experience with!

Hello, Charlie Brown Café!

I was hesitant at first to try this place since the food’s quite pricey for its serving size. But I guess R sensed that I really want to visit this place so we stopped here before heading to Ocean Terminal for our cruise.

The place is adorable!!!

The stairs alone already made me stop to take quick snapshots of the mini statues of Snoopy and friends.

When we went to the third floor, we were greeted by a mini fountain adorned by Peanuts merchandise.

The ceiling too is worth mentioning as it is beautiful.

We decided to get a glass of Caramel Coffee Frappa (HK$41, grande) and Tiramisu Cup (HK$40).

The Tiramisu was fluffy and light. It goes well with a flavorful drink. But as is, it might be a bit bland for those with sweet tooth. It was hard to eat this though. 

I mean it has Charlie Brown’s face on it. Plus the price kinda hurts (given it’s such a small cake).

I enjoyed the caramel coffee frappa a lot! It was a great drink to cool us down. (It was quite hot in Hong Kong when we visited.) It was sweet yet not too sweet and you could definitely taste the coffee flavor. There were also small bits of ice you get to munch on for texture.

First Sip: Habitual Coffee

The summer heat is making me cranky. It is just too intense these days. But I could never turn down a free cup of coffee.

Hello, Habitual Coffee!

This small coffee shop located at Ortigas Home Depot is one of the silent players in the world of third wave coffee.

Upon entering, I fell in love with the shelves that display cute knick-knacks. My sister finds it pricey though.