Coffee shops in Metro Manila brewing local coffee
The local coffee scene is resurging nowadays – thanks to the community of passionate baristas who’re bringing the richness of Philippine coffee beans back into the limelight.
There are actually lots of local coffee shops to see around – because from our lowland to mountain regions, our soil conditions are perfect for growing coffees, making us one of the few countries producing four varieties of coffee – Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. So if you’re looking for a place to catch up or hang out with your friend, here are 10 local coffee shops in Metro Manila where you can also have a little appreciation sesh for local coffee beans.
1. Commune – cafe bar amidst Poblacion
Image credit: @communeph
Standing amidst Poblacion, Commune offers a quiet haven in the Makati nightlife district.
Image credit: @communeph
They have been dedicated to featuring local coffee beans since they opened, brewing Commune, their blend of Arabica and Robusta, brewed and espresso-based coffee. Their beans are all sourced from the farms of Benguet, Sagada, and other regions in the country.
Image credit: @communeph
Ask your barista to flex their creativity with a cappuccino (starts P120, ~USD2.40) with cute animal faces. Pair it with their rendition of the classic Chicken and Pork Adobo (P265, ~USD5.31) with generous sauce servings.
Image credit: @communeph
Address: 36 Polaris corner Durban Streets, Poblacion, Makati City 1210, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Mon–Wed, 8AM-10PM | Fri–Sun, 8AM-11PM
Telephone: (2) 8275-6324
Website
2. Latitude Bean + Bar – neighborhood cafe in Malate
Image credit: David Ballesteros
The Latitude Bean and Bar is a coffee shop you wouldn’t usually find in neighborhood areas. It stands out with its deep blue, minimalist interiors adorned with Scandinavian furniture.
Image credit: @latitudebeanbar
Their beans are sourced from a local roaster in Quezon City. The Malate (P145, ~USD2.91 hot; P155, ~USD3.11 iced) drink is a crowd favorite, a combination of Spanish latte and ristretto with sweetened milk.
Image credit: @latitudebeanbar
Pair your Malate drink with their Mushroom Grilled Cheese Sandwich (P190, ~USD3.81). Made of a crunchy sourdough loaf filled with Shiitake mushrooms and two kinds of cheese, it can be dipped into a tomato sauce and be complemented with chips on the side for added layers of flavor.
Image credit: @latitudebeanbar
Address: 1851 Pilar Hidalgo Lim St. Corner Remedios St. Malate 1004, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 11AM-6PM, Daily
Mobile: 0967 221 5545
Website
3. The Curator – coffee shop by day, bar by night
Image credit: @sassydrinkscoffee
The Curator crafts only specialty coffee sourced locally and around the world. Their local beans come from EDSA Beverage Design Studio, a laboratory in Manila known for roasting unique flavors of local filter coffee.
Image credit: @edsabdg
Keep in touch with their latest drops on their social media accounts, as they are constantly changing their coffee lineups. But they have had Philippine Sitio Belis, a blend of flavors of Fuji apple and purple grapes dipped in chocolate fondue, as well as Siverhaze, a combination of Colombian and Philippine ingredients, 70% of which come from Planadas in Colombia while the remaining 30% is from Ifugao.
Image credit: The Curator
Beans sourced abroad are referred to as ‘guest beans,’ and the ones they have brought to our shores include beans from Ethiopia, Australia, Thailand, and even South Korea.
Image credit: @dancamawow
While The Curator is filled with the aroma of coffee during the day, at night, it’s alive with the spirit of cocktails. This winning combination has been landing them in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list since 2016.
Address: 134 Legaspi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati 1229, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Mon–Thurs 7AM-8PM | Fri–Sun 7AM-11PM
Mobile: 0916 355 4129
Website
4. SGD Coffee Bodega – Médaille Gourmet Award-winning beans from the farmers of Sagada
Image credit: SGD Coffee
SGD Coffee Bodega sources their 100% Arabica, single-origin, Médaille Gourmet Award-winning beans from the farmers of Sagada. You can start with their best-selling cup, the SGD Black (P120, ~USD2.41), a velvety, dark complexion of solid bitterness best enjoyed as is.
Image credit: @pinkfish15
Pair your glass with their Coffee Fried Chicken (P250, ~USD5.01), their original fried chicken recipe with fresh tomatoes, pickled green mangoes, and black mountain rice.
Image credit: @homecuisinera
Address: No. 45 Maalalahanin St., Teachers Village East, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 8AM-8PM, Daily
Mobile: 0917 826 9537
Website
5. The Den Coffee & Contemporary Culture – cafe showcasing local artists’ works
Image credit: @thedenmanila
The resident cafe of HUB: Make Lab in Escolta, The Den Coffee & Contemporary Culture is more than just a coffee shop. It also puts the limelight on local contemporary culture through the exhibits and workshops it’s spearheading. Their coffee beans are sourced from Kalsada, an organization championing Philippine specialty coffee.
Image credit: @thedenmanila
The Den’s special drink – Berg’s (P175, ~USD3.51) – is a nod to Berg’s department store that once thrived in the place the cafe now calls home from the 1930s to the 80s. It’s a blend of tropical flavor in espresso shots of Philippine coffee, a coconut milk blend, and muscovado syrup.
Image adapted from: @thedenmanila
Enjoy your Berg’s alongside meals such as the Tuna Apple Sandwich & Asian Citrus Salad (P190, ~USD3.81). Their croissant loaf, filled with their house recipe tuna mayo spread,and sliced apples, is paired with a mix of greens, mandarin oranges, and spiced-citrus vinaigrette.
Image credit: @thedenmanila
Address: 413 Escolta St., Binondo 1006, Manila
Opening hours: Mon –Fri 10AM-5PM | Sat –Sun 10AM-6PM
Telephone: 279 603 650
Website
6. Blocleaf Cafe – neighborhood shop with Japanese-inspired interiors
Image credit: @blocleafcafe
While this cafe’s aesthetic is something you can see in Japanese coffee shops, their menu is everything Filipino. Blocleaf Cafe partners with Kalsada to source their coffee beans, and their meals from Longganisa Pasta to Tuyo Puttanesca are breakfast staples close to our hearts as Filipinos.
Image adapted from: Epicurean Foodies PH
Their mocha (P150, ~USD3.01) is a must-try, nuanced with layers of flavors and well-roasted beans.
Image credit: blocleaf cafe
To pair your drink with something a little bit sweet and bitter, their Single Origin Chocolate Cookies (P349, ~USD6.99 half dozen, P649, ~USD12.99 one dozen) are soft and chewy cookies baked with single-origin beans, 70% dark chocolate, and muscovado sugar.
Image credit: blocleaf cafe
Address: 1850 M. H. Del Pilar St, Malate 1004, Manila
Opening hours: Tue–Fri 11AM-7PM | Fri –Sat 9AM-5PM
Website
7. MA+D Manila – has varied methods of brewing from pour-over to drip
Image credit: MA+D Manila
MA+D stands for Make, Advocate, and Delight, because for this coffee shop, the drink is as much a beverage as it is an avenue for advocacy. For MA+D, besides simply making coffee, their cafe adopts a sustainable model to support local communities.
Image credit: MA+D Manila
They serve all kinds of single-origin coffees from Kalinga down to Sultan Kudarat, and offer varied methods of brewing that you can choose from: pour-over, french press, aero press, espresso, syphon, and drip. Their best-selling drink is their hand-crafted Pour Over (P90, ~USD1.80).
Address: 118 Matahimik St., Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 10AM-10PM, Daily
Mobile: 0917 994 2479
Website
8. Habitual – champion baristas expert on aeropressed coffee
Image credit: @habitualcoffee
If there’s one habit Habitual excels in, it’s the brewing of coffee through an AeroPress machine. They are no-nonsense in this craft, producing baristas who have made their names in national championships of AeroPressed coffees, known for their intense flavor.
Image credit: @habitualcoffee
They source their coffees from around the world and local farmers, and one of the coffees to try out is their Flat White (P120, ~USD2.40), balanced with the right acidity, oozing with aroma, and velvety with milk.
Image credit: @habitualcoffee
True-blue Philippine specialty coffee connoisseurs can also take home their coffee beans. They stock branded beans from Kalsada to Brazil to Kenya that they can ship straight to your doorstep.
For a list of branches, click here.
9. West Town Coffee – has a coffee-profiling machine
Image credit: Shang En Wu
West Town’s Coffee is known for its unique, coffee-profiling machine that allows baristas to brew 100 flavors from one type of bean. They have as many options to choose from as their coffee beans come from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Brazil and local communities from Benguet, Sagada, and Mount Apo, for example.
Image credit: @westtownscoffeeph
Their Mt. Apo and Atok, Benguet beans are the most requested for their Pour-Over Premium (P190, ~USD3.81).
Image adapted from: West Town’s Coffee
The Pounder Burger (P345, ~USD6.88) is a mouthwatering pan-grilled, homemade beef patty with tomato, cucumber, melted cheddar cheese, and romaine lettuce that you can eat alongside your coffee. To top it all, it’s dressed with homemade garlic sauce and honey mustard.
Image credit: West Town’s Coffee
Address: The Milano Residences Piazza, Valdez St., Century City, Makati 1210, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 10AM-7PM, Daily
Mobile: 0977 803 09 17
Website
Local coffee shops in Metro Manila
We often associate coffee shops with Western chains, but we don’t need to look further, as our local coffee scene is thriving once again.
There’re a lot of reasons why we should support our homegrown beans in various coffee shops in Metro Manila. We’re not just promoting the richness of our own coffee beans, we are also ensuring a sustainable livelihood for our farmers, the people who toil and sweat just so we can enjoy a cup on our tables.
Also check out:
- Restaurants with al fresco dining spots in Metro Manila
- Romantic restaurants in Metro Manila
- Sourdough Cafe in Quezon City’s twist on the classic pandesal
Cover image adapted from: @blocleafcafe, @thedenmanila