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By Kendrick Go, Contributor
Have you tasted REAL Filipino coffee? Real
refers to the four coffee varieties Robusta, Excelsa, Arabica, and
Liberica served in Kape Isla located in Serendra. The coffee shop
dedicated not only to local coffee but to all things Filipino has
been a favorite haunt of coffee lovers since it opened two years
ago.
Kape Isla, the brainchild of the Philippine
Coffee Board, showcases the best Philippine coffee while promoting
Filipino values. Unlike other of its kind that serve imported
coffee, Kape Isla only features local brews. So whether you would
like to try the strong Barako from the south or the delicate Arabica
from the north, Kape Isla has something to suit your taste.
The store retails coffee from around 20 coffee
merchants and the coffee that they serve is cycled every two weeks,
guaranteeing a different brew for the consumer. Some of the
merchants that sell in the store include Figaro, Montañosa, Monks
Blend, and many more.
The store offers unique Filipino twists to
coffee exemplified in their Coffee Chocnut shake. It is basically
the standard coffee shake with a bar or two of Chocnut topped with
whipped cream. They also offer traditional Filipino snacks like
Bibingka and other kakanins that come in servings for two.
Aside from just coffee and snacks, the store
also serves lunch and dinner. The meals are provided by Kusina Salud
from Laguna which was established by Patis Tesoro. It features
traditional Filipino dishes like Adobong Kalabaw, Kaldereta Lasagna,
and many more.
Another aspect that sets Kape Isla apart from
other coffee shops is the ambience. The store exudes the Filipiniana
feel with its décor and furniture resembling the likes of a coffee
museum. The walls are decorated with various blends and types of
coffee served by the store’s coffee merchants, along with a brief
background on coffee. Also it has a clean and simple look,
contrast with other shops that are usually filled with too much
lights or furniture.
The store may be less than two years old but it
has already attracted a steady clientele. According to Marge Barro,
the store’s general manager, a lot of their clients are foreigners
and students. A lot of them, she says, are curious about Filipino
coffee while others are coffee lovers buying their coffee beans.
Celebrities like KC Concepcion are also said to drop by the store
once in a while. Barro says that unlike other coffee shops, Kape
Isla exists as a social enterprise to promote Philippine coffee. In
that aspect, Kape Isla has been very successful raising awareness
one cup at a time.
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