A good cup of joe is always the best way to start your day, especially when you are in a relaxed and warm environment, where you can work and lounge all day. With the general community quarantine (GCQ) implementation, the F&B industry has opened its doors to a 20% dine-in capacity while 50% seating capacity is allowed for alfresco or outdoor dining. This allows guests to unwind, rejuvenate, and have a change of scenery amid these challenging times while observing safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
If you are yearning to find the best place to be productive, chill out with your friends, or simply enjoy some quiet "me time", then look no further! Here is a round-up of minimalist cafes found in Metro Manila for your next coffee run.
Note: Not only will you taste great coffee and enjoy delicious food but also capture great memories that are perfect for the gram.
Prominent
Established in 2017, this caffeine haven creates its special coffee concoctions from scratch and heavenly dishes to give you the best dining experience. Guests are welcomed with a fresh ambiance, mostly of wood and white colors with a touch of grey accents for a simple yet elegant aura.
Inspired by the coffee community, Prominent offers a variety of specialty drinks such as Chocnut Latte (Php 150), Caramel Latte (Php 150), and Honeycomb Latte (Php 160). You can pair any of these beverages with their scrumptious dishes like Grilled Cheese (Php 260), Gochujang Chicken (Php 240), and Mushroom Truffle Pasta (Php 280).
Located in D. Tuazon Quezon City, Prominent also offers limited alfresco dining, and customers' information is obtained via the staysafe app. Check out their Instagram or official website for more details.
Ikigai Brew
Inspired by Japanese Culture, Ikigai Brew continues to inspire people's days by offering quality coffee.
Launched in July 2020, Ikigai Brew's coffee beans are made by local farmers from Sagada but also offer Japanese blends such as Matcha Latte (Php 150), Hazelnut Latte (Php 140), and their best-selling Black Sesame Latte (Php 150). The mix of Filipino and Japanese flavors and unique presentation is what makes Ikigai Brew special.
They also offer boxed coffee sets that are perfect as gifts to your loved ones. For more inquiries or orders, send Ikigai Brew a direct message on Instagram.
The Kula Press
After going through various designs, potential suppliers, and coffee flavors, three sisters, Ashley, Alexi, and Tasha Cantong launched "The Kula Press" online.
This home café began just after a few months while under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and continues to grow each day with its quality products.
Indulge in their top-selling concoctions: French Vanilla (Php 100), Caramel Dolce (Php 100), and Macadamia Latte (Php 100) or opt for a bundle of 5 flavors for Php 450. They also offer tea drinks such as Apple Rose Tea (Php 80), Tres Marias (Php 80), and Lychee Berry (Php 80) or score a bundle of 5 for Php 350. Drip coffees are available at Php 390 for a box of 5.
You can send your orders via Instagram or send an SMS or Viber message at 09278150633.
Perk Up Coffee
This online café uses locally sourced coffee beans from a small farm in Kalinga to support the local coffee industry.
Each brewed coffee and tea lattes are stored in reusable glass bottles as a contribution to eco-consciousness and promote sustainability.
Experience #CafeAtHome with Perk Up Coffee's Spanish Latte (Php 130/250mL), which has the perfect balance of dark roast coffee, sweetened cream, and whole milk, or French Vanilla (Php 135/250mL) that is creamy and sweet in the best way. It also contains their premium French Vanilla syrup for a more delightful taste.
If you love collecting unique and aesthetically pleasing mugs, you will love Perk Up Coffee's steel mugs, which is inspired by the legendary sitcom FRIENDS, for only Php 590.
Send Perk Up Coffee a direct message on Instagram for your orders.
Kale Cafe + Restaurant
Fairview's small neighborhood lies a hidden gem that offers great quality coffee and unique dishes to tickle your taste buds.
Kale Cafe + Restaurant was launched in 2018 and focuses on presenting different flavors and ingredients to give a unique and meaningful dining experience.
Inspired by their favorite cafés and restaurants in Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Korea, Melbourne, and Sydney, this coffee space keeps a simple and light decor that is perfect for catching up with friends or if you want to work in a warm and inviting ambiance.
Kale Cafe offers brewed beverages such as Spanish Latte (Php 150), Butterscotch Latte (Php 160), and Horchata (Php 125) as well as heavenly dishes like Baked Salted Egg Penne (Php 229), Salmon Donburi (Php 285), and Steak (Php 330).
They are open for both indoor and outdoor dining for a limited seating capacity at 2/F 527 Melting Pot, Omega Ave., Fairview, Quezon City.
For orders and inquiries, visit their Facebook page or Instagram < > .
Typica Coffee
After closing down its operations during the first few months into lockdown, Typica rebranded with a grab-and-go concept and set up a coffee counter in October 2020. Located in Taytay, Rizal, Typica's interiors drew inspiration from the Japanese idea of "Shibui" and welcomes guests with a clean and fresh ambiance.
Get a taste of their popular yet affordable beverages like the Spanish Latte (Php 100), Caramel Macchiato (Php 100), or White Mocha (Php 130) and pair them with delicious pastries such as Vegan Chocolate Chip (Php 55), Hokkaido Cheese Tart (Php 60), and Basque Burnt Cheesecake (Php 200). They also offer alfresco dining, which abides by IATF guidelines for safety protocols.
━━ Written By Dianne Mariano
