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9 Types of Coffee and the Best Metro Manila Cafés that Offer Them
Here are various types of coffee from various coffee shops and cafes!
By: Patricia Marie Prado | May 31, 2018
Most people see coffee as an overrated drink. And it’s easy to see why, because—let’s be honest—who would pay PhP200 for a cup of joe when you can make one with just PhP10? But for coffee aficionados, this drink is more than just roasted beans with milk and sugar: it’s an art form.
If you’re sick of the usual 3-in-1 sachets or are curious of the many types of coffee you can order aside from the plain brewed one, read on! Below are nine different types of coffee you can find in Metro Manila and the best cafes and coffee shops that serve each.
1. Espresso
Recommended Café: Exchange Alley Coffee House
Location: Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
An espresso in the making at Exchange Alley Coffee House
Image: Exchange Alley Coffee House Facebook Page
Espresso is made with coffee beans and a bit of water to brew or process the coffee and nothing more. The result is a bittersweet drink with a rich and heavy texture that will kick-start your engines with its high caffeine content.
One place to try a shot of espresso is Exchange Alley Coffee House or EACH. EACH is a specialty coffee house that personally sources the coffee beans they use and roasts them in-house. Although they are situated way south in Muntinlupa, their careful selection of beans and the scientific process of brewing make their espresso (PhP100) worth the drive.
2. Americano
Recommended Café: Common Folk
Location: 79 Katipunan Avenue, White Plains, Quezon City
Partner Common Folk’s Americano with some of their desserts
Image: Peter Gaw
Americano, or Café Americano to some, is a diluted version of espresso. To make this drink, hot water is poured on a single shot (or two) of espresso. History says that it’s the American soldiers in Italy during the Second World War who invented the drink. They added water to the usual espresso to get the familiar taste that they were used to back home.
Common Folk is a great place to try Americano (PhP130). They follow the third wave coffee movement, taking careful preparation in every cup that they make. You can even ask their baristas if you want to use manual coffeemakers like Chemex or Aeropress to enjoy different flavors of your Americano.
3. Latte
Recommended Café: Happy Beans
Location: 2/F Metrowalk, Ortigas Avenue Pasig
Have your latte with lively colors at Happy Beans.
Image: Happy Beans Facebook Page
Latte, also called Café Latte, literally translates to “milk coffee.” It is made by adding steamed milk to a shot of espresso and topping the mixture with micro foam. The result is a diluted version of the usual espresso drink which is sweeter due to the addition of the steamed milk.
One place where you can experience a fun cup of latte is Happy Beans. They use 100% Arabica beans sourced from Benguet, and they add a delightful twist in presentation with a touch of colors in the foam. The drink is appropriately called Rainbow Latte (PhP148).
4. Cappuccino
Recommended Café: SGD Coffee
Location: No. 45 Maalalahanin St., Teachers Village East, Diliman, Quezon City
How about an award-winning cappuccino from SGD Coffee to brighten your day?
Image: @candycoatedwaterdrops
Similar to a latte, a cappuccino is made with double espresso in which steamed milk is added. The main difference is the micro foam on top, as the ones in a cappuccino are much thicker compared to those in a latte. The micro foam creates a huge difference as it makes the milk lighter and gives a velvety feel to the drink.
Although you can get a cup of cappuccino anywhere, one of the coffee shops where it’s best to try it is SGD Coffee. The place is an award-winning coffee shop, and they use coffee beans sourced from different parts of the country. Just imagine having cappuccino (PhP145) made with beans from Ilocos or Sagada!
5. Flat White
Recommended Café: Toby’s Estate
Location: Various branches
Who better to create the best flat white other than Toby’s Estate?
Image: Toby’s Estate Facebook Page
Flat white is like the Australian version of a cappuccino. It has the same ingredients, but the steamed milk is evenly mixed with the double shot of espresso, leaving only a thin coating of micro foam on top. The result is a smoother mix of espresso and milk, creating a nice blend of bitter and sweet tones from the two ingredients.
For a true flat white experience, head to Toby’s Estate. Since flat whites (PhP160) are known to have originated from Australia and Toby’s Estate also hails from the land down under, you know you’ll get the real deal here. The specialty coffee shop also directly sources the beans from Panama and hand-roasts them in-store.
6. Affogato
Recommended Café: Local Edition
Location: 116 Perea Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City; Ground Floor, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Local Edition’s affogato put’s its salty spin on the classic drink/dessert.
Image: Local Edition Facebook Page
Literally translating to “drowned” in English, affogato traces its origin in Italy, and it is made when a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream is topped with a shot of hot espresso. Although the inclusion of ice cream makes it debatable if it’s a dessert or a beverage, in the end it tastes great (and that’s what matters!).
If you want to experiment a little, you can visit Local Edition and try their version of affogato (PhP135). The café uses locally-sourced beans for their espresso, which is poured over a salted caramel-flavored ice cream. The result is a burst of flavors consisting of a mix of bitter, sweet, and salty in one cup.
7. Long Black
Recommended Café: Habitual Coffee
Location:
2135 Chino Roces Avenue, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Fourth Floor, Uptown Place Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Level 4, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Habitual Coffee’s version of long black
Image: David Prichard
Some may argue that long black and Americano are the same because both are made up of espresso and hot water. The difference, however, is in how they are made. A long black is made by pouring a double-shot espresso over hot water, while an Americano is made the other way around. As such, long back has a stronger taste and aroma.
For a fine long black coffee (PhP90 for small, PhP110 for medium), you can head to Habitual Coffee. The specialty café follows the single origin approach and uses an Aeropress device when concocting their drinks. The unique process of brewing will give your long black a new dimension of flavors.
8. Mocha
Recommended Café: Caffé Bene
Location:
SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
G/F The Meeting Place M.A. Roxas Highway, Brgy. Malabanias, Angeles City
G/F Multinational Bancorp Center Valero Access Road 4, Makati City
Taste Caffe Bene’s medium roast espresso through their hot mocha.
Image: Caffe Bene Philippines Facebook Page
Mocha, also called caffe mocha or mochaccino, is composed of a shot of espresso and a spoon of chocolate or cocoa powder which is then topped off with steamed milk and sometimes a bit of whipped cream. The result is a play between bitter and sweet, perfect for those who are not into strong coffee.
Although you can get mocha in any café, one coffee shop where you can try it is Caffé Bene. The Korean coffee shop is known for its medium roast espresso, a lighter roast compared to the dark roast that other cafes often use. This will make your mocha (PhP150/PhP170) a bit fruit while still carrying the bittersweet and chocolatey flavor.
9. Macchiato
Recommended Café: Costa Coffee
Location: Various branches
Appreciate Costa Coffee’s Mocha Italia blend through their macchiato.
Image: Costa Coffee Facebook Page
Macchiato or café macchiato is often compared to a cappuccino as it is also made with espresso and milk and topped with milk foam. However, a smaller amount of milk is added in a macchiato, thus making the strong flavors of the espresso shine and not be overwhelmed by the sweetness of the milk.
For a macchiato with a British touch, try Costa Coffee’s creation. Costa Coffee is a London-based coffee shop chain and is known to slow-roast their own coffee beans in their headquarters in London. The result is their famous Mocha Italia blend, a mix of Arabica and Robusta beans, perfect for your macchiato (PhP115 for single shot; PhP125 for double shot).
Check out our list of cafes in Metro Manila or browse the Dining & Leisure category of the ShoppersGuide Directory.
There’s more to coffee than the simple brewed ones we are used to. Which type is your favorite, and which coffee shop do you frequent to get it? Let us know in the comments section below!
About Patricia Marie Prado
Patricia came from the field of business and accounting but is now pursuing her dreams of being a writer. She is a self-confessed introvert and is passionate about reading, travelling, writing, movies, coffee and God. When she's not writing, she loves discovering new coffee shops/cafe and doing TV-series marathons.
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