Recently,
Cebu has gained popularity when it comes to local coffee shops. A handful of
those have expanded while some have maintained their reputation. However, they serve
drinks with common names such as café mocha and java chip, but each coffee shop
blends these drinks uniquely.
Ditch
the frappe from popular coffee chains for now and explore a new blend of coffee
at these shops.
Dolce Café
Dolce
café is a popular rendezvous for the young and young-at-heart. They have
several best sellers to offer that will make customers spend several visits
here. For hot blends, these are brewed coffee and caramel macchiato. For cold drinks, baristas recommend mint
mocha and bubbly blueberry. However,
they prefer bubbly blueberry, which is a
fusion of coffee and blueberry syrup. The mixture is excellent. The sweetness
of blueberry complements the coffee very well. There is no subtle contrast between
the bitter and the sweet so this drink does not leave you with a headache. The
price for a cup of bubbly blueberry is PhP130. Though it makes you want for
more, the drink is worth a try. The ambience is also great. Dolce is situated in
a remote location so it has a very relaxing atmosphere. Their seats and coffee
tables are white which makes the café very neat and clean. Even their
countertops are white, which creates a good impression on their utmost
cleanliness and care.
Dolce Café’s Counter
The
café sits on a hillside and the location gives patrons a delightful view of the
city. If you visit at night, you will see the gleaming view of Cebu City. If
you want a little bit of peace, visiting Dolce in the afternoon is a good time.
Additionally, their baristas are very pleasant, friendly and accommodating.
They make cheerful recommendations and heartily offer options. Parking space is
limited so it is best to spend lunch or dinner here or nearby Lahug.
View of the city from Dolce Café
Dolce
Café is located along Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Lahug, adjacent to Autowelt
BMW. They are open from 7:00 AM until midnight every day.
Tablea Chocolate Café
Tablea’s Café Mocha
Tablea is a locally ground chocolate drop and is popularly used as a
beverage. Before, locals pair a cup of tablea
drink with puto og mangga (sweet
sticky rice and mango, usually for breakfast. But as time flew by, tablea drinks are no longer an early
morning quencher but an all-day beverage.
Tablea Chocolate Café is famous for mixing chocolate and
coffee beverages. Their best-selling coffee is Café mocha and it is a
combination of mocha and tablea. It
is the only coffee drink in their menu that is mixed with the local chocolate.
It gives an almost neutral taste but the drink is smooth and the aroma of tablea dominates the mix. The mix does
not leave chocolate residue which makes café mocha a good choice for customers.
At PhP115 per mug, the price is reasonable. Café mocha is best served hot but
they have a cold blended variant at PhP 130.
Tablea Chocolate Café has several locations. They have kiosks at the 2nd
floor of the Northwing in SM City Cebu and at the 2nd floor of the
Active Zone in Ayala Center Cebu. They also have a café at the ground floor of
JY Square Mall in Lahug. Their locations are somewhat crowded but they provide
ample seats. Their baristas are efficient and attentive. Ask what your
preference is and they will offer you a drink that suits your taste. The
operating hours of the cafe are from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
The Civet Coffee
The civet cat logo
This
shop obtains coffee from civet droppings, thus the name the Civet Coffee. They
serve specialty coffee called drip coffee.
It has five variants: barako, Kenya AA, Yirgacheffe, Honduras, wild blending and,
the most popular, 30% of civet dropping.
Each drip coffee variant, except 30% of civet
dropping, costs PhP120 for the hot blend and PhP130 for the cold blend. 30% of civet dropping is only served hot at PhP590. The Civet Coffee
also serves coffee with 50% and 100% of civet dropping and requires an advance
order before coming to the shop. Furthermore, Civet Coffee’s best seller drink
is Dutch Americano. Dutch Americano is a brewed coffee that is slightly creamy
with the right sweetness. It is a great drink for those who prefer less strength
in their coffee and is best paired with choco truffle cake. Each regular-sized
cup of Dutch Americano is PhP120 and large size cup is PhP130.
Interior of The Civet Cat Café
The
Civet Coffee is a perfect place for those who seek affordability. The ambience is
good and they have a spacious area. Their baristas are also knowledgeable and
efficient.
The
Civet Coffee is located at M.L. Quezon National Highway, Maribago, Lapu-Lapu
City; Mactan Newtown, Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City; and at the ground floor of
Skyrise 4, Cebu IT Park, Cebu City. Finding a parking space in IT Par is quite
a challenge so it is best to visit the café after peak hours.
Coffee Prince
Façade of Coffee Prince
The
café has a very catchy name since it seemingly draws its inspiration from a
popular Korean comedy-drama show, which has the same title. It has been
operating for years and what keeps Coffee Prince alive is its strategic
location. Coffee Prince is located near banks, offices and establishments,
including the Cebu Provincial Capitol and the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital
(CDUH). It is also highly noted for its bright interiors and comfortable spaces.
Elevated platforms and colorful pillows replace the table-and-chair setup while
paintings on the wall and fixtures are favorite selfie spots for patrons.
Overall, Coffee Prince is neat and clean.
Coffee Prince’s interior
The
best-selling drink at Coffee Princes is the java chip while their popular
espresso-based drink is caramel macchiato. Their prices are affordable, ranging
from PhP75 to PhP200, and their baristas are polite. Parking is located at the
back of the café and the spaces are shared with other offices. The best time to
visit the café is after office hours so you can appreciate the interior and
lighting. Coffee Prince opens from 7:00am to 2:00am on Monday until Friday and from 7:00am – 3:00 am on
Saturday and Sunday. It is located at #0246 Osmeña Boulevard, Capitol Site (across
Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital), Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
Hausbrandt
Hausbrandt Café Americano
Hausbrandt
is just a few months old but it has recently attracted coffee fans. They serve interesting
mixes of coffee and chocolate such as mocachino and Cremoso Chokola, and their coffee and chocolate mixes are shipped
directly from Italy. Their best seller is café Americano, which they serve on a
mug. At PhP120, the price is very reasonable. which makes the price very
reasonable (at P120). Their food presentation is simple but the taste is
premium. They serve desserts like cakes, cookies, muffins and specialty gelato
and these are delicious. The ambience is also excellent. The café has bright
lighting, neat interiors and they play soothing jazz music. This combination
creates a relaxing atmosphere, making Hausbrandt is a favorite spot for
studying and brainstorming. Their baristas are very friendly and attentive and
they provide customers excellent service and relevant information about their
products.
Hausbrandt’s interior
Hausbrandt
is located on the 2nd floor of Capitol Square, N. Escario Street,
Capitol Site, Cebu City. Parking is spacious but may be limited during peak
hours since the café is located in a commercial complex. The best time to enjoy
coffee at Hausbrandt is after peak hours when traffic is flowing. Hausbrandt
opens from 8:00 AM to midnight every day.
