Nica Cosio

Aug 19, 2022 Coffee Philippines

Through Habit Cafe

It was a pleasant surprise to come across this new family-run café along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City. Sandwiched between steelwork and construction supply stores, its location is but one of several things that make @throughabitcafe an unusual but very welcome discovery.

For one, they are a plant-based coffee bar inside a vegan-friendly eco-store, making them a one-stop shop for vegan supplies, essential goods and select local products. Their shelves are decked with various items that promote waste-free, sustainable living.

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Oct 28, 2020 Hongkong

Cocktails on Tap

Wyndham Street is one of the spots to go to for a night out in Central Hong Kong. It is lined with bars and restaurants perfect for those seeking some late night respite and refreshment. Among these night spots is a Taiwanese cocktail-on-tap bar concept called Draftland. They may be offering an unconventional way of enjoying mixed drinks but they are just as patronized, if not more so, as all the other regular bars in that part of Hong Kong. Customers spill out of the space, to the sidewalk, with drinks in their hands.

Evening shot of Draftland's plain exterior. Several patrons can be seen both inside and outside the bar. No prominent placard or neon sign can be seen, except for an innocuous glass panel bearing their name, hanging on the right wall.

However, in contrast to the other bars in the area, Draftland has a very plain exterior which will seem boring to most, if not for the droves of people who go there. People walking by stretch their necks out with the “what’s going on here?” look on their faces.

The entire front is wide open so people can easily walk in and out. There is no big placard up front or a brightly lit neon sign. Instead, there is a small glass panel on the right side of the facade which says “Cocktails on tap, Draftland” in gold letters, which anybody could easily miss. When you step inside the dimly lit room, you’ll notice that the cement-washed walls are very bare and so your attention will immediately go to the bar in the center where it’s brightly lit and where all the action happens.

They make it plain and clear that the highlight of the place is their army of cocktail taps lined up on the bar, loaded with delicious concoctions. Like moth to a flame, that’s where everyone gravitates. And as it shows, that’s all they need to catch attention. When you come to Draftland, you’re there for the drinks.

A picture of Draftland's simple glass panel sign. The words, "Cocktails on tap, Draftland" is written in gold letters. The glass panel is installed in a gold frame, and is hanging on stone wall, illuminated by an overhead light.

Follow @draftlandhk on Instagram.

Oct 12, 2020 Philippines

Poison Coffee & Doughnuts

Everybody already knows that coffee and donuts generally go well together. It’s a classic snack that is easily enjoyed by all. If it works, why change it, right? But the guys at Poison had something else in mind for this popular pairing. With a little more imagination, better ingredients and improved skill in preparation, they elevated the whole experience.

Posion offers a variety of donut flavors you could not possibly have heard of before, such as Garam Masala, Champorado and Hazelnut Blue Cheese. These highly-nunaced flavors make it more exciting to explore different coffees too, as specific tasting notes can come out more profoundly and better enjoyed.

On our last visit we had a latte and an espresso shot together with a couple of donuts — a Salted Dark Chocolate and a Boston Cream, which seem to be the most “common” items on the menu. The milky sweetness of the latte complimented the saltiness and boldness of the chocolate in the Salted Dark Chocolate donut. The Bostom Creme which was rich and heavy — something you can already expect from the sight of it — was quite perfect paired with the strong and straightforward espresso. The coupling of these complex flavors rounded out pleasantly in the palate.

Though Posion’s donuts are generally luscious and can very much be enjoyed on their own, having them with specialty coffee simply allows for a more multi-layered snacking experience. Feel free to ask their baristas for recommended pairings or to suggest what goes best with the donut of your choice. They will be more than happy to help you. And then, get ready to be surprised!

Oct 02, 2020 Malaysia

Ampersand Specialty Coffee & Co-workplace

Wooden blocks spell out the cafe name at the counter. Barista is smiling. Specialty Coffee Cafe interior design of Ampersand in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Kota Kinabalu’s Ampersand Specialty Coffee & Co-workplace is able to strike a good balance between edgy industrial and cozy in their modern cafe set up. The cement-washed walls, exposed beams, mismatched but carefully picked furniture and raw wooden elements combined with a good amount of live potted plants, vibrant pops of color and the inviting smell of coffee, altogether, create a cool and relaxed atmosphere. It’s like visiting your hip and stylish friend’s apartment.

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May 15, 2020 Vietnam

Bosgaurus Coffee: A House, A Lab, A School, A Cafe?

Vietnam’s Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters is located in what is probably best described as a “fancy” part of Ho Chi Mihn, right by the Saigon River. Upon arriving, you are greeted by a big white American-style house with huge windows and lush greenery all around it. If it were not for the metallic silver signage in front, we would not have thought it was a cafe at all. But upon stepping in, the mood drastically changes and we find ourselves in a spacious and sparse lab set up. It’s so clean it almost has a clinical atmosphere to it. Then you realize that it really is an actual laboratory of sorts as you notice all machinery and equipment strategically set up in different parts of the room.

Bosgarous Coffee Roasters’ home is where they do, not only the roasting, but also the study of coffee, the training of baristas, and the general development of the coffee business in their city. They regulary hold workshops and, occassionaly, coffee competitions within the rooms of this establishment. On regular days, quite similar to that summer afternoon when we visited, they are a simple, serene and accommodating cafe, serving some of the best Vietnamese coffees alongside fine offerings from all over the globe. Their berry waffles are quite good too!

If you’re staying or travelling in central Ho Chi Minh City, Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters is a good 15 minute car ride away. It may sound like a long way off since everything in District 1 is walkable within a couple of minutes, but trust us, the trip is all worth it.

May 12, 2020 Hongkong

NOC Causeway Bay

Many cafes take pride in sourcing the world’s best coffees and boast of their excellent roasting processes, but to the regular customer, these things may actually not matter quite as much as the cafe would wish. A cool logo may not even be of importance either. Consistency and dependability, however, can be the very qualities that make them want to keep coming back. NOC Coffee Co is one cafe chain that works hard to be that dependable cafe for everyone. And somehow, they manage to check all the previously mentioned boxes too.

If there was one word to describe them, it would be consistent. You can count on them to give you the same pleasant coffee experience in any of their shops. They currently have six branches in Hong Kong and the last one we visited is in Lee Garden Three, Causeway Bay. It has the same immaculately white interiors and minimalist design aesthetic as in their other stores and a friendly team of baristas looking very smart in their also immaculately clean uniforms. This is one of their smaller stores so it is designed mainly for take out but there are stools and benches providing enough space for customers to enjoy a cup of coffee with a quick bite. Along with the seamless service and exceptional ambiance, you can also expect the coffee to be good and satisfying ‑‑ a complete package every time.

May 11, 2020 Singapore

Five Oars Coffee Roasters Whole Bean Packaging

Simple and refreshing. This is how we would describe Five Oars Coffee Roasters’ brand identity which is reflected excellently in their packaging design. To start off, their logo has zero frills and is completely typographical. It appears on every whole bean bag with the name of the blend predominantly in the center. Their espresso bags, though, look a little more special. They show rough pencil-like sketches representing the specific story and flavor of it’s contents. Their Siren’s Allure espresso blend, for example, which is a combination of Brazilian and Ethiopian beans has an illustration of a winged mermaid sitting beside a harp on what appears to be a cup of coffee. The idea behind this is that just as one would be drawn to the beautiful singing voice of a siren, so will the bright and fruity aroma of this coffee draw you in. They even provide a little guide on the shelf to show you the tasting notes and the story behind each blend.

The general artistic direction of Five Oars may be pretty straightforward but it is worth mentioning that they stamp all these elements — the logo, the illustration and the label— by hand on every bag. If you look closely at the bags displayed on the shelves, only then will you notice that they are ever so slightly not 100% uniform, which, we think, adds soul and character to the packaging. That’s extra effort and attention to detail put in by the team at Five Oars that customers will often easily miss, but is, in fact, a very refreshing design aspect that makes it quite special.

Feb 12, 2020 Manila Philippines

Flower Ranch

Destruction and romance, rough and soft, industrial and organic — these contrasting elements make Flower Ranch Cafe a uniquely beautiful space. Chipped cement walls, brick, repurposed wood and metal sitting against delicate blooms and soft pastel colors seem like they shouldn’t go well together but here you see that they do.

Flower Ranch is first and foremost a flower shop and has been around for quite some time now. They recently rebranded and redesigned the shop, adding a coffee bar to the mix. Customers who come to have floral arrangements done can now enjoy a cup of coffee while waiting. But anyone can also just come for the coffee and enjoy the charming space. Sounds like a perfect Valentine coffee run, don’t you think?
Though Flower Ranch does not have enough space to accommodate couples going on a date this Valentines Day, they will be busy selling beautiful blooms and coffee for take out.

Jan 21, 2020 Hongkong

Hazel & Hershey: a family run roastery and coffee lab

Among the busiest and trendiest spots in Central Hong Kong is Peel street. All the food lovers and bar hoppers gravitate towards this area because of the restaurants and bars that have popped up over the last half decade. Cafes have taken over too, of course. One of the stronger coffee brands to have rooted themselves along Peel Street is Hazel & Hershey, a family run roastery and coffee lab, fully dedicated to serving high quality coffee.

Upon entering their store, we were immediately drawn to their retail section where they have a plethora of coffee gadgets and equipment for sale. Any coffee geek would enjoy perusing their shelves too because they have great prices! But after ordering coffee, we also noticed how creatively they’ve designed and utilized their space, making it ideal for meeting with people, study as well as chilling out.

In case you aren’t familiar with Peel Street, it is a small and very steep street. The hike up can be quite grueling if you’re not used to it, so having Hazel and Hershey somewhere midpoint is quite the perfect rest stop. They’ve even set up outdoor seating and ledges with cushions so you can take it easy and catch your breath while enjoying a cup of coffee. It can be quite pleasant, too, during the chilly months in Hong Kong like right about now.

Unlike many coffee shops, Hazel and Hershey’s general look and ambiance is not serious at all. Even their logo has playful elements in it. Their storefront is chocolate brown with giant drips of teal color which is definitely a head turner. If their vibrant facade does not instantly draw you in then the smell of coffee and the idea of a quick break with a good cuppa definitely will.

Follow @hazelnhershey

Jan 07, 2020 Manila Philippines

WCKD Milk Tea

Is it just milk tea? Situated inside S Maison is a new food hall concept put together by Bistro Group’s Chef Josh Boutwood. Dubbed My South Hall, one of the stations that Bistro Group has included in this mix of food stalls is a fresh Thai milk tea concept called WCKD.

What sets it apart from all the other hundred milk tea places that have sprouted around the city, you ask? For starters, they are trying to be different by going for a fresh, non-traditional approach on their branding. They also have a streamlined, 20-item menu which consists of the classic milk tea drink, plus some more adventurous flavors like their cheese cream and coffee jelly options. Another notably admirable feature of WCKD is how they are making more eco-conscious efforts in their business by using biodegradable, plant-based boba straws. They are definitely one of few, if not the only one, who are doing this. These straws are actually made of sugar cane fibres which are not flimsy at all and do not leave any taste in your mouth whatsoever as one would expect.

And how about the milk tea itself? We can say that it is highly satisfactory and everything one would expect in a good cup of milk tea. Nothing stellar, but milk tea is about comfort anyway. Also, the fact that it is very new, not at all hyped up, and located inside a shopping mall that is never really crowded, you wouldn’t have to worry about lining up too long.