Great coffee shops need not be expensive nor hard to find. Sometimes, you can find them at the corner of the street without having to say goodbye to your hard-earned money.
ALSO READ: The Battle of the Doppios: Ortigas Edition
It was my friend, Syme, who had discovered the place, and the thought of having coffee in that shop resided at the back of his mind for about six months. Since I wanted to tap into that spontaneous part of me, I told him we could go there together and I could make his wish come true. With the influx of tea shops, it is amazing that one can still find a couple of quaint coffee shops that provide excellent service and beverage.
So, we went to a neighborhood coffee shop, Cydnei’s Cafe—a break from our usual Starbuck’s tete-a-tete.
It is a perfect venue for a photo-op. The white wall adjacent to the counter has been made extraordinary by wooden frames of pictures, coffee tips, and menu. Wooden tables and benches are strategically placed to make the area look more spacious. The bookshelf near the door is eye-catching as well. In the evening, light-bulbs hanging from the ceiling give the cafe a homey feel, easily seen from the outside through the shop’s glass wall.
On the counter, you can find an assortment of curious things: a small dish of coffee beans and two containers of tips with a pop question which, unfortunately, I couldn’t have joined. Syme pointed out I would have made a difficult choice had I joined (Lord of the Rings vs Harry Potter) but that day, it was between iPhone and Android, an easy choice for me.
The menu consists of hot and cold beverages from coffee to milkshakes. All-day breakfast meals and vegetarian options are also available. If you are the kind of customer who prefers to have cake with his coffee, don’t worry because they serve pastries—blueberry cheesecake, mango pies, banoffee—and sandwiches. For the price of Php 450, two people can share a lovely meal with beverages of their choice and an excellent ambiance.
Syme was looking for the perfect milkshake which, unfortunately, they didn’t have that day so he settled for iced tea and T-bone. I ordered Iced Americano and was pleasantly surprised that they included a merengue-tasting whipped cream on top of it. I am pretty sure that those among you who are sweet-toothed will highly enjoy the drink.
Cydnei’s Cafe, albeit smaller and not as renowned as other more expensive coffee shops, is definitely a must-try for those who want to treat themselves to something good, different, and affordable. You can find Cydnei’s Cafe at Bldg. #50 C. Aguinaldo St. corner J.P. Rizal St., Project 4, Brgy. Marilag, Quezon City. They are open from Monday to Saturday, 6am to 11pm and on Sunday, 6:30am to 11:30pm.