Tag: coffee shop

Coffee Shop Saturday: Gift Avenue Cafe

I think I found a really nice coffee shop to hang out.

I’m browsing through my IG, when I saw a post about this new coffee shop in Gateway Mall in Cubao called Gift Avenue Cafe. Since I frequent Cubao and that mall due to my long commute, and because I was a little pissed off about something,  I decided to check it out today.

What brought my attention to this coffee shop is their nicely designed lattes, and that there are other knick-knacks (jewelries, stationeries, planners, art sets, etc) that you can buy from them, aside from coffee and snacks.

However, being familiar with the mall, I’m not sure where exactly in the ground floor they are located. Good thing I asked the guard where they are, I got to figure out their location (They are right next to BDO).

It’s a small cafe, quite homey in my own opinion. It’s not as crowded as the well-known coffee shops in the area, so there are a lot of available seats. I chose to sit at the table right next to their gift shelves.

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There’s also a lounge area with a nicely painted and hand drawn wall. I wanted to sit at that side, but there are some people in that area, and my social anxiety kicked in again. The lighting is very nice, and I like the design of their ceiling lamps.

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I ordered the Hazelnut Latte and Classic Sansrival. I like how nutty the sansrival is, but I had a little problem scooping the bottom part of it. The sweetness is just right.

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The latte is also just right. It was not too sweet and not too bitter. It suits my tastebud.

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I actually liked how the latte complimented the sansrival. I think I found a really good food combination with these two.

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Although I had a short stay here, I enjoyed the atmosphere, as well as the food. I think this will be my new favorite hangout.

 

 

Coffee Shop Saturday: Kopi Roti

Back when I was working in Makati, when I needed an iced coffee fix and I don’t have money to buy Starbucks coffee, my go to place is Kopi Roti. It’s just a stone’s throw away from my office – all I have to do is just cross the street.

What I liked about Kopi Roti is that their drinks are very affordable. It has that kick that could make me awake throughout the day. Their food is affordable as well, that’s why most of the time, I prefer to buy here than the other expensive  coffee shops.

Sadly, when I moved to another company, I was not able to got to buy nor taste their coffees again. Having an acid reflux made it difficult for me as well. Although there are a few branches of Kopi Roti near my previous place, I wasn’t able to visit it because I don’t always have the time.

I realized that their Tomas Morato shop is near the building where I pay my house amortization is. And so, I decided to pay it a visit and get a taste of my favorites.

I  ordered their Set B1 Meal, which is coffee and kaya toast. I changed the coffee to Iced Choco, since I need to sleep when I get home. Aside from that, I also ordered their french toast, with a side of kaya jam and butter. I wanted to order kaya puff, but unfortunately, it was not available during that time.

The taste is the same as I remembered it. The french toast is soft and fluffy. I love the kaya jam so  much. It has the right amount of sweetness. It does pair well with their french toast. I remember asking the staff a few years back  if they sell the kaya jam, but unfortunately, they don’t. In case they do, I’d probably be buying a jar of it.

The kaya toast, on the other hand is on the borderline of soft and crispy. The combination of the toasted bread, butter and kaya jam is superb. Although some of the slices has more butter than kaya jam, nevertheless, I enjoyed the toast.

The iced choco capped  off my meal. It just has the right taste  of chocolate, and it’s a good way to cool off.

Overall, I enjoyed my meal here. I feel so nostalgic as I tasted the food, as it took me back to my 20s, when I was starting in the IT industry after a career shift. Kopi Roti gives you a good taste of Singaporean coffee, and some of  its food without having to break a bank.

Coffee Shop Saturday: Coffee & Pastry Shop By Chef G

I’m trying this new thing, wherein every Saturday, I would go to a different coffee shop (that’s not Starbucks, CBTL, or other well-known coffee shops), and try on their menu.

For my first stop, I’m not going far from my place. I went to this small coffee shop just outside our subdivision called Coffee & Pastry Shop by Chef G.

The moment I came in, the first thing I noticed is this nice, elaborate crystal chandelier.

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Looks really fancy, right? It made the small coffee shop a little more homey. Their wall accent is also nice. I like the black and white stripes on the wall.

I ordered Strawbery Mocha Frappe and two slices of their Hawaiian Pizza.

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Their Strawberry Mocha Frappe tastes like a blend of choco, coffee and strawberry. Imagine Nestle’s Berry Mocha, but much better. You could taste the strawberry, as it almost overpower the coffee. It’s a little too sweet, maybe because of the whip cream and syrup on top of it, but somewhat tolerable.

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The Hawaiian Pizza has a generous topping. It has a thick crust, but amazingly, it’s crispy. It may be inexpensive, but it tastes like the other branded pizzas.

The price is just right, that students can afford their coffee. So if you don’t have much budget, and wants some nice, fancy coffee, this is the place to go to.