blended coffee – Jellybeans in the City

I have no problem admitting it: I don’t consider myself fully awake unless I’ve had my morning cup of coffee.

I love coffee in almost anything – from gourmet dishes to decadent desserts – but my favorite coffee experience remains starting my day with it.

When the aroma of coffee brewing begins tickle my nostrils, the smell beckons me to get up and face the day. As I sip from my coffee cup, I enjoy the flavors and full-bodied feel of it in my mouth .

Throughout the day, I would try to find little snippets of time in which to enjoy my favorite drink and the extra energy boost it gives me.

I know I’m not alone in my love for this drink.

Filipinos have a deep love for coffee, consuming 170,000 metric tons of the stuff in 2018, in fact. Sadly, a huge bulk of this consumption come from dried coffee beans imported Indonesia and Vietnam.

More’s the pity because 200 years ago, the Philippines was a powerhouse in coffee production, being the fourth largest coffee producer worldwide.

Coffee-loving startups like Upgrounds MNL seek to help in revitalizing the local coffee industry urge it back to a thriving level by bringing the best local coffee beans to Filipino homes for an upgraded coffee experience.

It started out by selling its coffee beans during weekend bazaars, showcasing coffee beans sourced from the Cordillera region.

Not only does this help in broadening the coffee-drinking public’s horizons regarding this beverage, it also supports local coffee farmers and gives a welcome boost to their rural economy.

Upgrounds’ coffee bean variants included:

Arabica (with bittersweet, nutty taste and a smooth finish; available in Dark or Medium roast)
Robusta (with strong, full-bodied taste and a smokey finish; available in Dark and Medium roast.
House Blend (blend of Arabica, Robusta, and Excelsa coffee beans; available in Dark or Medium roast)
Mountain Blend (blend of Robusta, and Excelsa coffee beans; available in Dark roast)
Hazelnut (mix of Dark Roast Arabica and Robusta beans infused with flavored Hazelnut oil)
Caramel (mix of Medium Roast Arabica and Robusta beans infused with flavored Caramel oil)

These coffee variants are conveniently packaged according to the coffee lovers’ various preferences: in 250g and 500g pouches, in 8g single drip packs with mug-attachable filter, in 125g packs as part of a coffee sampler set.

When the pandemic hit the country, Upgrounds saw the demand for coffee and coffee-making at home. It moved its business online, taking advantage of social media and e-commerce platforms to increase its reach and distribution while also expanding its product portfolio to include home coffee essentials such as premium and collectible coffee tumblers and mugs, coffee scooper and French press.

Coffee beans and accessories are also mixed and matched into gift sets which any coffee lover would be so happy to receive this holiday season.

I just love the coffee possibilities that Upgrounds brings.

If you’re a coffee lover like me, check out Upgrounds beans and coffee essentials at its website or Shopee page or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature story.

On a night when I needed to let off some steam, I hied over to the Starbucks outlet at the Imperial Place Suite building along the Tomas Morato Extension, some walking distance from my workplace.

Armed with the 12 Beverage stars on my mobile phone’s Starbucks App which entitles me to a free handcrafted beverage, I set about looking for my drink for the night.

I decided on one of Stabucks’ new flavors – the Caramel Cinnamon Cookie Frappuccino. It is a rich conconction of espresso enhanced by a decadent caramel sauce and spicy hints of cinnamon, topped with frothy whipped cream and sprinkled with lightly spiced cookie crumbs.

And since I couldn’t resist, I asked the barista to add some coffee jelly into the drink.

The drink is a like a taste of the much-anticipated holiday season in my mouth – a cold beverage combined with a sweet dessert treat that warms my tummy and my heart, helping me set aside my frustrations of the day.

Starbucks’ Caramel Cinnamon Cookie flavor is also available in hot and iced formats.

This Starbucks outlet is located at the Ground Floor, Imperial Place Suite, Tomas Morato Extension, Quezon City. Other branches nearby can be found at: