A cafe from Singapore has entered Manila's growing coffee scene, promising to offer not just expertly crafted brews but also elevated brunch selections.
After 10 years of operations, Common Man Coffee Roasters formally launched its first Philippine branch at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati this January. Singapore's Spa Esprit Group partnered with the homegrown Jollibee Group to bring the brand to the country.
"It's our third country now, so there's Singapore, Malaysia, and now the Philippines," said Michael Bovell, Spa Esprit Groups's general manager for food division, who flew to Manila for the Common Man launch event.
"[We fell in love] the moment that we laid eyes on this space," he added. "It's such a beautiful green space here."
The interiors of Common Man's Manila branch take a cue from Ayala Triangle Gardens' lush greenery and public art pieces as it encourages patrons to slow down over a cup of artisanal coffee and indulgent brunch dishes. Through their cafe, Bovell hopes to show that "great coffee should not be privilege but instead be available for all to enjoy."
"We take pride in crafting a diverse selection of specialty blends and a rotation of single origin beans," he said. "We employ various espresso and pour-over methods to craft the distinct profiles from each bean and ensure a truly exceptional coffee experience."
Visitors of the Manila branch can expect at least two specialty blends and four single origin beans prepared with different brewing methods. During the launch, we tried the Wiang Pa Pao from Thailand, which has notes of chocolate, caramelized sugar, and nutmeg; and Ethiopia's Jabanto with red grape, guava, and blueberry notes.
According to Bovell, they forge direct partnerships with coffee farmers not only to get the best quality beans, but also to cultivate a responsible supply chain. "We want to ensure fair competition for these hardworking farmers," he said.
Those who prefer sweet, milky beverages can try the Nitro Honey Oat Latte, or order the familiar Cappuccino or Mocha. Each is prepared by baristas trained in Common Man's coffee academy in Singapore, using beans freshly roasted on site.
These can be paired with all-day brunch items such as the Common Man Full Breakfast, which is pretty much a big, comforting plate of deliciousness. It has two free-range eggs prepared according to your preference, bacon, pork sausage, tomato, hash brown, portobello mushrooms, chorizo beans, sourdough, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Another bestseller here is Not Your Common Pancakes, or wheat pancakes with caramelized bananas, walnut crumble, salted caramel sauce, and berry coulis. The cafe also has a selection of sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and desserts.
"We tweaked the menu to cater to Filipinos and Caucasians in the Philippines," said Agnes McDonald, Jollibee Group's group assistant vice president and head of technical services research and development. She also proudly shared that they only use premium ingredients such as milk and produce in their menu offerings.
Common Man Coffee Roasters is located at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.