Research shows that the Philippines is the second largest coffee consumer in Asia, next only to Japan. A whopping 80 percent of Filipinos drink an average of two and a half cups per day, the February 2024 report on INQUIRER.net further pointed out.
The coffee market in the country is also promising. According to the Business Manual, about 93 percent of Filipino households buy some coffee each week. Moreover, Statista revealed that the Philippine market for coffee is projected to expand by 4.17 percent, resulting in a market volume of $3.14 billion in 2029!
It’s not a small figure. Taytay, Rizal resident Rochelle Marcoleta Santos is a self-confessed coffee lover. She shared how coffee becomes her go-to beverage when she needs to be awake and the energy while working on her business ventures.
So, it came to her, “Why don’t I start my own coffee shop?” Her love and passion for great coffee became her inspiration to launch La Brewha Cafe, one of the newest coffee shops in the Rizal metro, now successful as it is offering your cravings you won’t find elsewhere. Let’s hear her story.
La Brewha Cafe: The Coffee Of Your Choice
Situated at the “art capital of the Philippines,” Angono in Rizal, La Brewha Cafe is starting to be the new beloved coffee shop of this urban municipality’s people, or those who are looking for great-tasting coffee served with delicious meals, or simply want to hang out with friends, catch up with relatives in conversations, or study. It’s also swiftly becoming a place that Manila residents are willing to visit – maybe on their way to Tagaytay?
Illuminating Her Dream
La Brewha Cafe is like a swimsuit that jumps out of a woman’s skin tone. It’s a cozy place along M. L. Quezon Avenue that will remind you of the 10000 Roses Cafe & More in Cebu as it illuminates at night like neon signs in Seoul. From the outside, it’s like a tiny box with lots of surprises inside. Says on its interior walls, “Let coffee connect us.”
“This is my dream,” Santos, the owner of the coffee shop told MetroLinks. “It’s one of my dream businesses. Because I consider myself a coffee addict, I saw how I can have my own coffee shop.”
A Reflection Of Her Personality
Established only this year, La Brewha Cafe is a project of her and her high school friends, or her “amigas,” she continued. In fact, the original name of her coffee shop would have been “Amigas Cafe.”
So why did she decide to name it “La Brewha Cafe” instead? Read on for the fun part. “Brewha” appears to be a wordplay for “bruha,” a Filipino word that means witches in the Philippines. That’s scary, but Santos clarifies on this.
“The name of my coffee shop reflects my personality,” she said.
“Bruha” does not necessarily mean “a witch” in usual Pinoy conversations. It can also be used playfully or endearingly. For example, if a friend does something a bit mischievous but in a funny, charming way, you might say, “Bruha ka talaga!” to mean “You’re such a tease!” or “You naughty one!” Here, it’s said affectionately, implying the friend’s behavior was cheeky or fun, not mean-spirited.
In this way, “bruha” can convey lighthearted teasing among friends, showing a sense of closeness and camaraderie.
“I want people to remember me when they hear about ‘La Brewha Cafe,’” she said.
Santos is lined with worldwide businesses that have names inspired by their owners’ personalities or their business’ brands, such as fashion and home brand ETRO, a wordplay for “Earth” to showcase the brand’s products’ earthy tones, and Hey Girls, a social enterprise brand focused on feminine hygiene, like saying, “Hey girls!”
Coffee Lover
As business experts will say, if you want to start your own successful business, it better be something you are passionate about, and that’s exactly what Santos did.
Apparently, Santos is a business-minded person as she also owns a clothing store, Liana’s Clothing & Luxury Collections. In her overtime sessions working on this business – which came before La Brewha Cafe – coffee has become her retreat.
“Before, I only ordered three-in-one coffee, until I was able to buy coffee from other coffee shops. In those moments when I needed to stay awake, coffee became my foundation,” Santos said.
She also considers herself a content creator who shares her cooking food on social media.
What’s In Store For You At La Brewha Cafe
La Brewha Cafe can be your place of retreat if you suddenly feel Starbucks isn’t serving you well. Its interiors are very friendly. They will kinda remind you of how Serenitea, a famous milk tea shop in the Philippines, looks like. When Starbucks chooses to offer a dim environment, La Brewha Cafe has ample lighting with its state-of-the-art lamps that won’t make your conversations dull. It’s also very comfortable with traditional tables, bar tables, and couches.
Coffee, Frappe, And More
Santos’ coffee shop is Starbucks, Tealive, and your favorite restaurants rolled into one. Aside from the usual hot coffee cups, they have frappes in various tasty flavors, such as Matcha, Strawberry, Mocha, and Chocolate Chips. Also on the menu are lemonades and kid-friendly beverages in flavors like Oreo and Kit Kat.
Cakes, Pastas, Waffles, And So Much More
What better way to enjoy your coffee than with a slice of cake? Two of their newest offerings now are the Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake and Cinnamon Cheesecake. The Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake is cheesecake crafted with irresistible Lotus biscoff, a Belgian cookie brand well-loved in America and worldwide.
In Starbucks, you only get to taste cakes and breads. If they have pastas on their menu, they’re mostly frozen then heated. Not at La Brewha Cafe. Fill your stomachs with pasta choices served fresh and hot on plates, such as Gambasetti, Chicken Alfredo, Carbonara Linguini, and Seafood Marinara.
For those with bigger appetites, indulge in their rice meals, such as Baby Back Ribs, Beef Salpicao, and Fish Fillet with Lemon Butter. Croissants are also available.
Get Ready To Indulge
La Brewha Cafe is on its way to make waves and trend in the metro! However, the owner said running this business is not without challenges. Santos said that those who are looking to start a business like this should be prepared to invest more than what they imagine. Also, they should be knowledgeable of marketing and promotions, among other things.
So, what are you waiting for? Find your way to this cozy coffee shop in Angono, Rizal, and let your buds taste something unique. Be sure to connect with them on social media to see their newest offers and fun marketing stunts. They are at M. L. Quezon Avenue, Barangay San Isidro, Angono, Rizal. Follow La Brewha Cafe on Instagram @labrewhacafe. Let’s cheers to great coffee!