By Coffee is one of the most popular beverages globally, sought for its aroma and caffeine content. In the Philippines, coffee is already a staple breakfast drink for many and already diversified into different varieties across regions.
In celebration of the drink’s significance in Filipinos’ everyday lives, coffee aficionados gathered at Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City for the three-day Manila Coffee Festival 2023 last March 17 to 19, 2023. More than 100 exhibitors from all over the country shared their experiences, ideas, and products to hail what was dubbed nature’s best stimulant.
Being a festival of coffee, one of the highlights of the three-day event is, of course, free coffee. Visitors were treated with free and unlimited locally-sourced coffee in the event’s Single Origin Bar. Those who would like to take their coffee-drinking experience to a higher level were also treated by the exhibitors with a variety of coffee combinations, such as alcohol, chocolate, and even fruits.
Different coffee-based products were also introduced, such as coffee ice cream and milkshake from Destileria Limtuaco & Co., coffee beans with fruity flavors from Mindanao’s Coffee Hour, and Kopicones, chocolate-covered coffee beans, from Another Coffee. Aside from coffee-based products, there were also highlights on related items, such as leather products from the integrated coffee and livestock farms in Luzon and the use of sustainable coffee boxes and cups.
Several exhibitors also shared the joy of coffee making by letting the visitors experience brewing their own coffee and making latte art for free with the help of their baristas. The festival also hosted Kape Talks, which featured several coffee farmers and experts who talked about coffee farming, brewing, and other timely topics about coffee.
More than being a drink, the three-day festival also highlighted coffee’s role in propagating local arts and culture. Several artists also exhibited their coffee-based paintings, featuring local scenes crafted in monochromatic colors.
The three-day Manila Coffee Festival 2023 is a testament to how coffee has inspired the lives of many Filipinos and highlighted the significant contribution of coffee farmers to the country’s development and culture.
