cold brew coffee – Jellybeans in the City

Escape the holiday rush at The Cabean Cafe

With the Christmas season now in full swing, the mad rush to finish pending year-end work and holiday shopping do seem overwhelming. At times like this, wouldn’t you appreciate the chance to just sit back and sip some good brews or munch on some tasty chews and just pass the time?

If that’s the case, this quiet haven for coffee and comfort in Quezon City called The Cabean Cafe should be right up your alley.

Coffee and Comfort

Named after a play on the word “cabin” – a type of lodging constructed from logs that provide a restful abode for settlers in the American wilderness – this Quezon City coffee destination brings forth a feeling of calmness and serenity amidst the wild and chaotic goings-on in the metro.

Thanks to its minimalist design given warmth by wooden furnishings, books and knick-knacks and other homey accents, along with free WiFi and power outlets to keep your devices connected and charged up, The Cabean Cafe is the perfect venue for some alone time – whether for studying or resting – or for intimate gatherings with friends or family, all while enjoying your favorite brew.

And if you want to peek out into the wider world outside its walls, you can always choose a spot in The Cabean Cafe’s al fresco veranda.

Handcrafted Brews

Despite its relaxing ambiance, The Cabean Cafe certainly takes its brews seriously. Its fresh and high-quality Arabica coffee beans are purely local, ethically sourced from farmers in Sagada. These are then carefully selected and expertly roasted to bring that fullness of flavor that coffee lovers look for.

Taking its theme of sustainability to heart, the cafe employs environment-friendly packaging from biodegradable dining ware down to sugarcane straws.

So go ahead and take your pick among The Cabean Cafe’s handcrafted beverage creations for something to perk you up for the day or to soothe and relax you after your work is done.

Tasty and healthy bites

Should your appetite kick in while you’re holing up here, there’s no need to worry: The Cabean Cafe serves up yummy meals and snacks, along with delectable desserts, to give you fuel you up or give you that much-needed energy boost.

So if you’re looking for a place to enjoy some peace and quiet along with a good ole’ cuppa and some bites, be sure to check out The Cabean Cafe!

PS: Want to perk up your events? If you’re planning a workplace meeting or a casual get-together, why not bring Coffee Everywhere? The Cabean Cafe’s Mobile Coffee Cart can serve up heartwarming brews starting at Php7,700 (for 50 cups and 3 hours of service.

PPS: If you’ve taken your love for coffee to the next level and have become an aspiring barista, you can brush up on your coffee knowledge at The Cabean Cafe’s Barista Workshops held every Friday and Saturday. Learn the art of making premium brews from the masters and you just might get started on your own coffee business for just Php5,000 (or take advantage of the promo price of Php3,500 when you scan the QR code below).

The Cabean Cafe is located at 131 D. Tuazon Street, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 3pm to 11pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 70066598 or email thecabeancafe@gmail.com.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting event held at The Cabean Cafe. Food and beverage items were served in exchange for honest feedback.

Backyard roasts and great brews at Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee Express

Who would have thought that pit roasts and coffee would go so well together? Well, if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Mandaluyong’s Maysilo Circle, you can find out for yourself!

In this busy meeting point in the city’s center, the first Metro Manila branch of a popular Cavite eatery is now serving up its signature dishes and drinks to cater to the metro’s foodies.

This exciting combination of grill and coffee shop was brought to Manila by entrepreneur Matt Matel who partnered with the owners of the original Cavite outlet. Together with his passionate crew of pit-masters and servers, he is serving up savory roasts with a delicious twist featuring distinctly Pinoy ingredients (some of the produce are also grown through hydroponics) as well as premium coffee blends, all available for dine-in or delivery.

From the fire pit

If you’re craving for meats that are tender and flavorful, Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee has perfected its roasting methods: from infusing them with flavors through imaginatively concocted marinades, slow-braising them to produce meat that falls off the bone, to serving them with sauces and sides to add new dimensions of flavor.

A sampling of its best-selling dishes include:

Whole Rack Barako Ribs (Php1,050/platter). A slab of pork back ribs, roasted to tender perfections and slathered with the restaurant’s own barako marinade. It is served on a bed of Java rice and is accompanied by your choice of sides. This dish serves 4-6 persons.

Barako Ribs with Java Rice and Slaw (Php340/single serving). A single serving of ribs, rice and tangy coleslaw that’s more than filling for one person. (Note: Half-serving shown here).

Whole Honey Chicken BBQ (Php550). A perfect blend of barbecue sweetness and smokey-savory flavors, also served on a bed of Java rice and served with your choice of sides. This dishes serves 4-6 persons.

Honey BBQ Chicken with Java Rice and Slaw (Php260/single serving). Want your barbecued chicken as a solo meal? Check this out! (Note: Half-serving shown here).

Oziris Chicken Wings (Php215/platter). A delightful combo of patis (fish sauce) and honey makes this twist on the fried chicken a delectable appetizer or an entree in itself.

Mango Atchara. Our favorite pickled side dish that goes so well with grilled food gets an upgrade with the addition of slivers of sweet mango.

Cold brews just for you

Who says coffee can’t calm you down?

With these chill and tasty brews, with beans especially grown and roasted in South Cotabato, you can definitely get in the mood to relax and chill a bit.

Well, the good news is that we denizens of the metro don’t have to travel all the way to Cavite for a taste of Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee’s celebrated offerings. We can simply drop by its Maysilo branch to dine-in or get our food to go, our course our orders for delivery via FoodPanda.

Don’t miss its Grand Opening promo, available on December 15, 2022: Buy one single order of Barako Ribs and get a single order of Oziris Chicken for free. Offer is valid for first 50 customers only!

Fire Pit x Calm Down Coffee Express is located at 93 Maysilo Circle, Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong City. For reservations or orders, call +63 919 5167672.

For news about its promos and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

Fresh juices at Pure Nectar, Katipunan

Feel like making a healthy change?

At Pure Nectar, the offshoot of popular mall juice stand Fruit Magic, you can get yourself fresh juices made through contemporary cold-pressed juicing. This method makes use of hydraulic presses to extract juice from fruits and vegetables.

Most of its branches are located in mall foodcourts but the branch in Loyola Heights may be considered free-standing, being easily accessible from the street. Aside from Pure Nectar’s drinks, this store also offers healthy meals such as rice bowls and tacos.

After having lunch with my fellow bloggers at 47East’s Discovery Cafe, I dropped by this Pure Nectar branch a few meters away to take advantage of a Booky Buy One Get One deal which gave me two bottles of Pure Nectar’s Cold Brew Cashew Latte for only Php120.

These drinks are made with cold brew coffee and cashew nut milk and light sweetening syrup. Since the coffee is cold-brewed, it has lower acidity than regular coffee, perfect for those suffering from acid reflux. This energizing drink is also a good antioxidant. The taste and mouthfeel of the cashew nut milk are new, and quite welcome, experiences for me.

As luck would have it, the store has in-store promos which also provides Buy One Get One deals on other drink variants. I got two bottles of Buko Pandan for only Php60.

Made from coconut milk, pandan extract and light sweetening syrup, this drink is good for those fighting bad cholesterol.

Being only lightly sweetened, it took me some time to acclimate my sweetness-conditioned palate to both drinks. For those who are already into juice cleanses, these drinks would probably be quite sweet already.

Since the juices contain no additives or preservatives, these were sensitive to heat and sunlight. As soon as I got home, I immediately placed them in the refrigerator. They only keep for up to three days in the fridge but, as my son developed a liking for the Buko Pandan juice, they were soon consumed.

If you’re exploring ways to eat healthy and get more nutrients into your system, do check out Pure Nectar’s juices. Juice cleanse sets for as low as Php1,240 are also available. More details on these are available at Pure Nectar’s website.

This Pure Nectar branch is located at Ground Floor, MQI Building, Rosa Alvero Street corner Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 8am to 9pm, and Sundays from 9am to 8pm.

Other branches (some shared with Fruit Magic) are located at:

Foodcourt, SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
SM Supermarket, SM Megamall Building B, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Food Forum, Shangri-la Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, V-Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan
Second Floor, Forum Robinsons Mall, Pioneer Street, Buayang Bato, Mandaluyong City
Food on Four, SM Aura Premier, C5 Road corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Food District Signatures on Fifth, One Bonifacio High Street, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Food Choices, Market! Market!, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Ground Floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig
Food Choices, Third Floor, Glorietta 4, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Robinsons Supermarket, One Capitol Hills Drive, Old Balara, Quezon City
Shopwise Commonwealth, Commonwealth Avenue, Holy Spirit, Quezon City
Second Floor, Landmark Trinoma Complex, EDSA, Quezon City

Food Choices, Landmark Trinoma Complex, EDSA, Quezon City

Level 4, Terminal 3, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City
Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, MOA Complex, Pasay City
Food Court, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa