Coffee, Coffee, Coffee...

I was having second thoughts if I’m going to write anything about coffee. I am a coffee drinker but I have a very little knowledge on the kinds of coffee or how it was made or anything. But I think I can say that I can taste if the coffee is good or not.

Let me share you some of my favorite coffees that I drink, drank, and will be drinking. Regardless if it is brewed or instant, barista-made or store bought, still it’s coffee, right?

By the way, this is not ranked by how they taste. I might give some of them a rating for its taste or preference.

Let me start with some of my constants. Whenever I get a chance to order or go outside or simply happen to pass by the coffee shop, these are my usual orders.

TIM HORTONS' ICED COFFEE and STARBUCKS RESERVE'S VANILLA BEAN LATTE

I instantly fell in love with these two! Before when I was still working, Tim Hortons' and Starbucks are walking distances. So, when I have extra money, I buy these. But to be honest, Tim Hortons' coffee is way cheaper than Starbucks so I really prefer this over SB.

7 ELEVEN, MCDONALD'S AND FAMILY MART'S BREWED COFFEE

I always prefer the cheaper options because you know, we're not that rich that can afford to buy Starbucks everyday hahaha! Whenever I need a quick caffeine boost at an affordable price, these are my go-to. The price range is just below 100 pesos. 7 Eleven does not sell iced coffee for now. But they have variety of hot beverages available like hot chocolate and French Vanilla. As for McDo, they have many coffee flavors to choose from ranging from Iced Black coffee to the ones that has milk or vanilla in it. They also have hot black coffee and hot choco too. Family Mart has also the Hot and Iced versions of their black coffee. And I heard recently that they have the Matcha Flavors too (that I have to try soon!)!

TOBY ESTATES' AND BO'S COFFEE ICED MOCHA

When I don't feel like drinking hot or black coffee, my option will always be Iced Mocha (Mocha the coffee ha, not the person LOL!). And I can say that the best iced mocha that I have tasted so far is from Toby's Estate! Kind of expensive, but worth it!

After that Toby's mocha experience, I told myself that this will be my gold standard whenever I try new coffee shops. So, I happen to pass by Bo's Coffee (this was last year when the restrictions were loosened and I have to do errands at the mall.) and ordered Iced Mocha. It was not bad but it also doesn't match the taste that I remember at Toby's.

RAFABEL'S HOT MOCHA AND CELSIUS' ICED MOCHA

This is counted as one of my constants because, like I mentioned a while ago, whenever I try new coffee shops, I always go for Mocha.

Rafabels's Cafe and Patisserie is located in Naga City. I was with my now-huband and my mother-in-law when we had this in Rafabel's kiosk in SM Naga (pre-COVID). It taste quite well unlike the previous mocha coffees I have tried.

I can't remember how the iced mocha tasted like in Celsius Cafe Lounge since I was in the moment with my friends. I mean, we haven't seen each other for a year due to the pandemic and we took the chance to see each other when the restrictions loosened in Manila. This also explains why there are three coffees in the photo hehehe! What I can remember here is the staff that are really nice. I will go back here if I will be given a chance again. Celsius Cafe Lounge is located in Marikina City.

Now, let's go with the Instants. Some of which I discovered during the start of the lockdown.

CULTURE BLENDS' ITALIAN CREAMY WHITE AND AMERICAN BLEND LATTE

My friend April, who is also my coffee buddy in my previous work, recommended me these. Among all the available flavors of Culture Blends, these are my favorites! Because of these, my husband is now drinking coffee too whenever he's on shift.

BO'S COFFEE BOTTLED LATTE

I found this in the grocery. I told myself I want to try this since I haven't tasted this in a bottle. So far, it's just ok. It doesn't taste like a real coffee drink. Maybe because it has preservatives, IDK. Though, my husband liked it. But not much.

DALGONA COFFEE, MY VERSION

Of course, who will forget the iconic Dalgona Coffee. I also made one for myself at the start of the lockdowns. My first version does not taste what I expected since I used Nescafe Instant Coffee and Milo as its base instead of milk. It felt like my effort in whisking the coffee is not worth it of the outcome of the product.

However, in the second round of ECQ in Manila this 2021, I did this again. This time, I already had a milk frother for whisking the coffee much faster and a milk for the base. And this time, it tastes good and much better than the first one I did.

Next, we have the Beans. I am still learning until now how to make a homemade brewed coffee so I resorted in buying beans and other tools used in making coffee. To share with you, I bought a coffee press, coffee filters, and a Moka Pot. Just to satisfy my need of a hot black brewed coffee.

COMMUNE'S BENGUET ARABICA AND CAVITE ROBUSTA BEANS

When I learned that Commune has a delivery, I immediately ordered their beans. Some of its proceeds were donated to a certain charity that I forgot to take note. And I can say, this coffee is good! And it might be better if I learn how to brew this properly. I'm also glad that this is locally sourced. Support local!

KOPI AMARI'S BENGUET, MOCHA, AND HAZELNUT GROUND COFFEE

After my Commune beans, I purchased these from my husband's officemate. It's is way cheaper than Commune's but also deliver same great taste when brewed. It's just sad that recently they are out of stock of these.

Lastly, these coffees are from my friends' new business ventures.

BUT FIRST, COFFEE'S VIETNAMESE COFFEE AND ICED MOCHA

My former lead and also a friend, ventured out a coffee franchise of But First, Coffee in V. Mapa, Sta. Mesa, Manila last May 2021. And all I can say is that both coffees are really good! I can't wait to try other flavors of their coffee! I'm glad that recently they are already available in FoodPanda and Grab Food so they are more accessible now. Check out their FB page here!

BEAN BREWERS MANILA'S WHITE MOCHA AND ICED MATCHA LATTE

Another one of my close friend, together with his colleagues, opened their own coffee business last June. Their kiosk is located at Unbox PH in Greenhills, San Juan. I remembered this is really an effort in ordering this since they don't have FoodPanda or Grab Food yet. So we resorted in having Kuya Grab delivering this from Greenhills to Makati. I really enjoyed both the Matcha and the Mocha. The Mocha tastes really close to what I remember at Toby's! I can't wait to visit their branch! Hopefully soon! Check out their FB page here!

That's it for our coffee series! Comment below if you love coffee too or any other recommendations that I can try!

• Lead image c/o Unsplash

• Most of the photos were taken by me. Others are from Google as indicated in its captions