<

This Charming Filipino-Themed Cafe Started Out as a Modest Coffee Cart

Many overseas workers had to suddenly come back to the Philippines in recent years because of the pandemic, causing lots of heartbreak and discouragement. But in the midst of these disheartening stories, there are many who pushed through and emerged with inspiring outcomes.

Lourish Bonete shares her personal story as an OFW who had to leave her career in hospitality because of the global health crisis. She spent almost a decade in some of the biggest hotels in Singapore, working as a trained and certified barista. Bonete takes pride in being trained in international coffee-making standards.

rsz 1285357906 10222308461442738 4344048599862866854 n

Photo from Barista Manileรฑa

After being retrenched, she shares that she felt lost and had no idea how to restart her life in the Philippines. Lourish then decided to follow her childhood dream of opening a cafe.

With her savings, Lourish opened up a modest coffee cart in front of her house. With all of her training and background in being a barista, she takes pride in brewing coffee properly.

rsz img 9935

Photo from Barista Manileรฑa

Barista Manileรฑa was well-received by the neighborhood. So, after just a year of operating from a makeshift coffee cart, Barista Manileรฑa became a charming roadside cafe in Manila City.

We love the beautifully designed cafe front! It’s definitely easy to spot this cafe even from far away. With a couple of seats designated right in front of the store window, you can either take your coffee to-go or enjoy your coffee right there.

(RELATED:ย 12 Charming Roadside Cafes to Visit Around Metro Manila)

rsz img 0455

Photo from Barista Manileรฑa

“The hurdle that we faced in establishing our brand was to introduce the proper coffee/espresso taste to Filipinos,” shares Lourish. “Filipinos are so used to sweet 3-in-1 or instant coffee that when they taste real espresso-based coffee, they find it too strong. However, with the growing coffee culture and awareness about properly brewed coffee, slowly, our customers are now more aware of how real coffee should taste like.”

Barista Manileรฑa is proud to serve coffee made with the highest (international) standards. Their brand promise is that they “brew coffee properly.”

rsz img 9419

Photo from Barista Manileรฑa

They also use only local coffee beans to promote and support Filipino coffee farmers.

Barista Manileรฑa’s menu includes hot and cold coffeeย and ready-to-drink bottled coffee drinks.

It’s inspiring to see how a modest coffee cart has turned into a must-visitย coffee spot in Tondo, Manila that’s worth visiting for a taste of world-class and high-quality coffee drinks.

Visit Barista Manileรฑa at 1244 Wagas St. Tondo, Manila City.


Do you have a story for theย WhenInManila.comย Team? Email me atย vivien.wheninmanila@gmail.comย or send us a direct message atย WhenInManila.comย Facebook Page. Join our Viber group to be updated with the latest news!