Finding the best local coffee shops nearby is usually tricky. Of course, in your home area, you’ve probably already searched and bookmarked “coffee shop near me” and have your favorite local coffee shop.
But, if you’re traveling or just get a craving while driving along an area, finding the right coffee shop can be quite difficult.
Or, maybe you’re new in the city and trying to decide which local coffee shop will be your regular place to get your cup of joe.
In this guide, we share some tips to help you find the best local coffee shops regardless of where you may be! If you’re an aspiring coffee shop owner, we also share some tips and tricks to help you get started.
How to Find the Best Coffee Shop Near Me?
Finding the best coffee shops near you. Some can’t start their morning without it, while others just enjoy the social aspect of going to a coffee shop.
But beyond coffee, many cafes and coffee shops offer teas, other specialty drinks, and even good food.
With so many choices for where to get coffee, the important question becomes: How to find the best coffee shop near me?
Answering this question is especially important if you don’t want to go to far to get your cup of coffee.
From lattes and cold brews to pastries fresh out of the oven, the Philippines raises the bar for coffee shops.
In fact, some even have larger breakfast and lunch menus, packed with options like eggs, waffles, burgers, and more.
From quiet spots great for getting work done to coffee houses with live music, you can easily find good coffee shops using Google Maps!
For instance, if you live around Metro Manila, you can use the map below to find a coffee shop closest to you.
For a quick guide, some of the top coffee shops in the Philippines include Starbucks, Bo’s Coffee, The Coffee Bean, and Tea Leaf, UCC Coffee, St. Marc Café, and The Coffee Project, Manila’s Best Coffee, among others. Keep reading below to learn more about the top coffee shops in the Philippines!
Coffee Shop Background
What is a coffee shop all about? Why do they call it a coffee shop? So, what exactly is a coffee shop? As its name implies, it’s a kind of shop that primarily sells coffee.
However, some coffee shops also offer tea, other specialty drinks, cakes, and sometimes sandwiches and light meals.
What is the correct coffee shop or cafe? The terms ‘coffee shop’ and ‘café’ are often used interchangeably, but if one had to distinguish between the two, a cafe is likely to serve food, while a coffee shop may specialize in (and exclusively serve) coffee, espresso, and tea drinks.
Why are coffee shops popular in the Philippines? Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the Philippines and, as in the rest of the world, it continues to gain in popularity.
The most typical reason why coffee is popular and loved by many Filipinos and remains their go-to drink is that it helps them fuel their day and boost their energy.
While many people brew their own cup of joe at home, some prefer going to coffee shops, which makes them so popular.
Tips to Find the Best Coffee Shops
With so many coffee shops in the Philippines – from big-name shops to little corner coffee shops – how do you choose the best one that’ll serve you delicious coffee? Here are some tips to keep in mind!
- Do your research. First things first: do your research. If you prefer coffee shops close to your location, you can start by searching for “coffee shop near me” – this gives you a solid list of coffee shops within your area.
- Ask for recommendations. There’s always someone who knows about the hippest place in town and the trendiest coffee shops to go to. Don’t be afraid to ask for a coffee shop recommendation from someone whose tastes you can trust. It’ll be helpful if you can provide them with more information about your coffee preferences so that they can recommend a coffee shop that’s more to your liking.
- Read reviews. The internet is a great place to browse for information. The first thing that you can do is go online and search for “the best coffee shop near me”. There is also a wide array of websites that you can browse to find out about the coffee shop itself. Many sites such as Zomato or TripAdvisor provide excellent information regarding coffee shops and also provide you with reviews from real customers.
What are the Top Coffee Shops in the Philippines?
There are hundreds (if not thousands!) of coffee shops in the Philippines, but among those, probably the three most popular are Starbucks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Bo’s Coffee.
- Starbucks. Starbucks opened its first store in Makati City, Philippines through a licensing agreement with Rustan Coffee Corporation in December 1997. Today, there are more than 290 stores throughout the Philippines, and Starbuck’s growth has played a key role in building a strong local coffee culture in the country.
Starbucks offers espresso beverages, brewed coffee, hot chocolate beverages, and tea lattes. Their menu comprises an array of breakfast meals, baked goods, salads, desserts, sandwiches, cakes, and pastries.
However, Starbucks is most famous for its trademarked Frappuccino blended beverages. Check out their full menu.
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s history began in 1963, founded by Herb Hyman, who was once dubbed “the grandfather of specialty coffee in the US.” Its first store opened in Southern California. In 2003, CBTL opened its first store in the Philippines in Greenbelt 3. Today, the well-loved coffee shop has over 100 branches in the country and is present in over 30 countries all over the world.
The house specialty at Coffee Bean is their Original Ice Blended Coffee drinks, touted as the world’s first cold blended coffee drink which uses smooth processed ice.
Today, they use the same technique in their tea and fruit smoothies. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf carries espresso, coffee, latte, non-coffee drinks, and coffee-free products.
They also offer breakfast meals, sandwiches, pasta, salads, and pastries to go with their drinks. Check out their full menu.
- Bo’s Coffee. Bo’s Coffee is a Filipino coffee and coffeehouse chain founded by Steve Benitez in 1996 in Cebu City, Philippines. The company operates a total of 91 outlets throughout the Philippines, with about 30 of them located in Metro Cebu, where it is based. Bo’s aims to shine the spotlight on Philippine coffee shops with Coffee Origins blends named after the places they source their coffee from Sagada, Benguet, Mt. Kitanglad, Mt. Apo, and Mt. Matutum.
This coffee shop serves espresso, Americano, cappuccino, mocha, latte, iced blended coffee, and non-coffee blended beverages. These can be served poured over or brewed through a French press. Check out their full menu.
Popular Coffee Shops in Different Areas
Are you traveling and looking for the best coffee shops in a certain area? Or, maybe you suddenly craved some coffee goodness while driving.
Or, maybe you’re new in the city and trying to decide which local coffee shop will be your regular place to get your cup of joe.
No matter the reason, we list down some of the most popular coffee shops in different areas!
- Best Coffee Shop in Tagaytay
- Bag of Beans Tagaytay. Bag of Beans Tagaytay is one restaurant that needs no introduction. It has long cemented itself as one of the city’s must-visit restaurants and is well-loved by both locals and tourists alike. If you’re traveling down south for that quintessential Tagaytay ambiance or weekend experience, Bag of Beans is definitely a must-visit.
- Ruined Project? Ruined Project? is a fairly new establishment located at the heart of Tagaytay and it’s definitely an insta-worthy place! Plus, with coffee by the Coffee Project, you’re guaranteed to sip on delicious blends from their bulletproof coffee to the popular coffee-based frappes!
- Starbucks Tagaytay Downhill. This Starbucks branch has been a popular stop for locals and tourists since it opened due to the fantastic view of Taal Volcano it offers. Outfitted with tall windows, you can easily enjoy the view of the iconic volcano and its surrounding lake from inside the Starbucks Tagaytay Downhill coffee shop while sipping on your favorite drink.
- Best Coffee Shop in Antipolo
- Kaulayaw Coffee. Kaulayaw Coffee provides diners with gorgeous views of the surrounding lush greens and the Metro Manila skyline. This coffee shop supports local farmers and their products, offering Philippine coffee that is ethically sourced from Benguet and Sagada, as well as their special Kaulayaw Blend. These blends can be ordered in iced, brewed, or drip form. You can also buy bags of these blends so you can brew their coffee at home. Apart from coffee, they also serve snacks, sandwiches, pasta, and rice dishes, as well as kombucha and local craft beer.
- Café Lupe. Café Lupe is one of the most well-known overlooking coffee shops in Antipolo and has been providing its diners with a scenic view of the Metro Manila cityscape since 2009. Here you can enjoy Mexican food, including burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, and tacos, as well as Filipino cuisine favorites like bulalo and crispy pata. You can wash it all down with fresh juices, cocktails, or a cup of hot or iced coffee.
- Café Agusta. This Antipolo coffee shop with a view has a Mediterranean atmosphere that provides visitors from the city with a refreshing escape. The alfresco dining area at Café Agusta has an overlooking view of the Metro Manila cityscape and the surrounding areas, but it’s best to dine here in the late afternoon or at night as it can be hot during the day. They have a lot of options when it comes to coffee, including the usual espresso, macchiato, Americano, and cappuccino, some of which you can enjoy iced. You may also order dishes like nachos, pasta, and salads.
- Best Coffee Shop in BGC
- Angkan Coffee. Brought to us by the same person who helped bring %Arabic to the metro, Angkan Coffee is a proudly Filipino coffee shop that offers up well-loved as well as unique drinks such as Orange Juice Espresso. They’ve recently opened their new branch at W City Center (and even Podium Mall) for those who want a quick morning or afternoon pick-me-up.
- Single Origin. Single Origin is a favorite hangout spot in BGC where coffee and alcohol lovers can find common ground. Single Origin features a hefty breakfast & lunch menu, a dinner menu, and a beverage list that includes specialty coffee and alcohol-based drinks.
- Caravan Black. Caravan Black serves your usual coffee blends and some unique signature cups like the Miami Vice (coffee + soda water) and the Local Motion (honey + milk + coffee jelly). The sleek FB80 La Marzocco coffee machine is truly a standout, even for non-coffee enthusiasts.
- Best Coffee Shop in Baguio
- The Coffee Library. The Coffee Library features a wide array of different coffee blends ranging from Italian, Filipino, to Vietnamese. It’s situated a bit further away from the usual tourist haunts, so you can expect that most of its patrons are locals. Another perk is that everything on the menu is affordable, as it’s a usual hangout spot for university students. Their must-try includes the caphe sua chua (coffee with yoghurt), ca phe sua (coffee with condensed milk), and Kapangan coffee (traditional Benguet brew).
- Rewind Cafe. With its stone and brick walls, wooden furnishings, and high ceilings, it’s how you’d imagine an ideal mountain home looks like. There’s even a wall featuring curated photos of old Baguio — dating all the way back to the 1940s. As for their coffee concoctions, the soya coffee blends are great if you’re looking for something new. Take your pick among the regular, raspberry, hazelnut, and salted caramel flavors. With the soy components, it’s somewhat healthier than your usual coffee drink.
- Hot Cat Specialty Coffee. Hot Cat Specialty Coffee serves specialty coffee with expertise and precision. Their baristas are always ready to converse with customers about their coffee-making process, from grind sizes and bean sources to espresso flavors and preparation methods. Aside from having an impeccable range of beans, the cafe also has quite a scenic atmosphere.
- Best Coffee Shop in Quezon City
- Stockwell Café + Lounge. Stockwell Café is one of the best cafes in Quezon city that serve various types of coffee with different brewing procedures and creative coffee art. The relaxed and peaceful ambiance of the place along with great food and helpful staff is what makes the place worth a visit.
- Books and Borders Café. Books and Borders Café is not only the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a cup of coffee, but it is also a dream coffee shop for book lovers. This coffee shop has a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books that you can read for free while taking a sip of coffee or having a taste of their comfort food and best-seller meals, such as the Quatro Cheese Pasta.
- Firefly Coffee. Firefly Coffee is a third-wave coffee shop that serves handmade coffee, espresso, and milkshakes in a minimalist place inspired by Japanese designs. Their best-seller is the Cookie Butter Affogato a coffee-based dessert that perfectly blends cookie butter ice cream and espresso.
Want to Build Your Own Coffee Shop Business? Tips and Tricks
So, you’ve decided to dive in and open your very own coffee shop business. Opening a successful coffee shop can be a rewarding experience – but the journey there won’t always be easy.
If you’re looking for some tips and strategies for opening your own coffee shop, this guide is for you!
What kind of business is a coffee shop? Coffee shops are part of the specialty eatery industry, which also includes outlets specializing in products such as donuts, bagels, frozen yogurt, and ice cream.
Tips and tricks to building your own coffee shop business. Aside from a love of coffee, you’ll want to get a few things in order to get your shop up and running. Here are some tips and tricks for opening your own coffee shop:
- Research the coffee business. Opening a coffee shop takes a big investment in both time and money. It’s important that you spend time now understanding what it takes to run a successful coffee shop. This means reaching out to coffee business owners and learning from their experiences.
You should also visit visiting lots of coffee shops to get an insight into what you want your business to be like.
Consider what you will take from other businesses and what will make you different. Moreover, learn about your customer base.
Who will they be? What are their needs? What time of the day will be the busiest? Knowing your customers well will assist with planning, creating a menu, price points — everything really!
- Define your vision and ideal coffee shop. Write down what you want to achieve with your coffee shop and what kind of atmosphere you want to create. Start collecting menus, photos, and design ideas to provide inspiration for how your coffee shop will look, what kind of food you’ll serve, and how you’ll make your customers feel when they walk in the door.
Clearly defining your vision will help you be consistent when it comes to choosing a name, deciding on the decor, planning the food, choosing the coffee, picking the cups, and defining the way you’ll interact with customers.
Looking for some coffee shop ideas & coffee shop design ideas? Whether you’re looking for coffee shop background ideas or coffee shop floor plans, we highly recommend searching online, particularly on Pinterest!
You can also do your own research online, or visit coffee shops in your area for some inspiration.
- Create a detailed business plan. It’s tempting to skip the business plan – but you shouldn’t skip this at all. A business plan will guide you through each stage of developing and managing your coffee shop and will serve as a road map for how to structure, run, and grow your new business.
- Choose a location. Location is everything. Before you decide on a final location, spend some time in the areas you’re considering. Pay close attention to how many people are moving about on foot, and how much parking is available. Is there enough foot traffic around to sustain your coffee shop? Is the location visible enough? What does the location mean in terms of demographics? Are you near lots of other cafés or in your own little alleyway?
Remember you’re going to be spending a lot of time here, so you want to make sure you really understand what makes the locals tick.
It’s also important that you understand the details of the retail lease, the terms of this document will affect the profitability and the resale value of your business down the track.
It’s wise to talk to a lawyer who specializes in retail leases before you sign anything.
- Find the best suppliers. Finding a good, reliable supplier is an important factor in any business’s success. Depending on the type of coffee shop you’re opening, the major suppliers are usually coffee, milk, bread, and groceries. You’ll also need cups (paper and porcelain), coffee stirrers, teapots, syrups, napkins… the list goes on.
Start by making a list of all the supplies that you need and be as detailed. The list may seem overwhelming, but getting down to the nitty gritty (from pastries to napkin holders) will ensure you’re prepared for anything.
From there, you can start researching suppliers until you find ones you love and who fit with your business philosophy.
- Source commercial equipment. When it comes to sourcing equipment, you have a few options. You can: 1) buy equipment outright using your own finance (or cash) or 2) lease ease equipment through a provider. You’ll also need to invest in a commercial blender, dishwasher, refrigerator, cash register… and so on. Again, make a list and be as detailed as you can. You may not need all these items right away, so prioritize what you really need at the start.
- Create a menu to complement your coffee shop. Your menu should express your vision and the theme of your coffee shop. Everything needs to be considered, from food options, to design, color and fonts, to engaging descriptions, images, and pricing. Think about a signature dish and how that might shape the style of your menu. Your menu also needs to be profitable. Calculate the ingredient costs and margin of each item.
- Hire the right people. You need help making drinks, manning the register, and waiting on customers, but don’t hire too many people too fast. Also, you don’t necessarily need to hire experienced staff; instead, try to look for people who have good personalities. After all, skills can be learned… attitude, not so much. Yes, you will need some experience, particularly in the early stages. However, developing a great team culture only happens but hiring the right people, so make sure you put the work in to find people who are the best fit for your business.
- Market your coffee shop. The months, weeks, and even days leading up to the opening of your coffee shop are a chance to start building your network. Social media is your friend, so use it to build up your reputation. But, it doesn’t stop at social media platforms.
Don’t forget to establish your Google Maps listing so that you show up in local search, and consider claiming your page on other review sites like TripAdvisor so that you can respond quickly to feedback.
Be sure to make online promotions personal, interactive and engaging. Use images and videos to encourage shares and engagement.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re just looking for the answer to the best “coffee shop near me” question, looking for coffee shops to visit in other areas, or if you’re an aspiring coffee shop owner, we hope this guide helped you!
