Americano at Chez Karine

It's probably been there for some months now, but I only had the pleasure of enjoying a cup of their wonderful coffee recently. A few steps away from sweet tooth-fave Cupcakes by Sonja, it was a delightful surprise that stirred my coffee desire, if I may call it that.

I came from a heavy lunch with the hubby, and even with just under 2 hours to spare (which I decided on spending in FullyBooked and/or Muji in the next mall complex), I needed a cup of coffee to break me out of lunch heaven. Their very charming, simple (meaning not rustic/shabby-chic cliche cafe) but inviting store facade called out to me, and I couldn't resist a few minutes (or more) inside the promise of a cool, airy, bright place to have my afternoon's dose. So in I went.

The seating area outside? That's the majority of it.
Inside, one would have to battle with a huge group to get any one of the 6 bar stools by the "bar". 

Upon entering, I got a whiff of javaroma, then the temptation from a whole glass display case of pastries to the right, but what got me and what could probably get you, should you be wary from hours of shopping or drowsy from a long, heavy meal - is a huge board with their Coffee list. A welcome sight.

Priced just right, I think.

Running through the list, I chose an Americano, which I loved. Coming from an espresso machine, it was hot enough, had enough froth, and after a sip, didn't disappoint. I believe that once a coffee place's basic coffee is good, there will always be another time to have a dressed-up one. So the rest of the coffees on their list, plus some pastries, of course, if I deserve it, will have its time. Can't wait :)

Post-sip verdict: Very Good Coffee!
Gotta try the Royal Puddings or Panna Cottas next visit.  Soon.

A dose of coffeenspiration, please!

It's been some time since my last post, but definitely not very long since my last coffee. I've been uninspired for some reason or another. For my other blog, it's simply because I've been very busy and lost my discipline to put in a paragraph or two every so often. For this coffee blog, upon reflection, I have several excuses:

1. I've had mostly starbucks coffee. Nothing new, so I felt, what's there to share?
2. I've lost the motivation to share.
3. I felt a bit of a complex as a coffee lover. Who am I to say I love coffee when I was reduced to gulping down several cups of 3-in-1 instant coffees at home? How can I say I love coffee when I have the one and only drip coffeemaker left for my grains? How can I explore the wonders of coffee at home when I choose to buy a pair of shoes over a new coffeemaker?
4. It got easier to share via twitter, FB, pinterest, etc.

*crickets*

Ok, that should explain my absence from javajiving.

From this point on, 3-in-1 or brewed, homemade espresso or coffee-out, I will share in any way I can, and I will begin with pics I've saved in my computer folders (in no particular order) over the past several months of my bloglessness.

Swensen's, a fave sundae, fried chicken, & steak go-to in Singaporeis now in Eastwood City Mall. They serve good coffee:)  

Happy to be java jiving again :)

Americano at Cafe del Sol, Boracay

After that amazing omelet and great coffee find at Real Coffee, we had just a few hours left before flying out of Boracay, our white sunny, white sand, clear sea haven for the last 3 days. I thought I was done with coffee, but after all the shopping and sunbathing there was just this one more stop I wanted to make. Cafe del Sol. We'd passed that conveniently-located cafe so many times, whiffing the inviting aroma along the way, it would be a shame to not even have a taste of their coffee.

Although all the pastries looked so delectable, I could still feel my breakfast, so I opted to pass. What could they have that I couldn't get in Manila, anyway?

So coffee it was going to be, and coffee it was... I ordered an Americano, thinking I could sit outside and bask in the sunshine one last time, but all the tables were filled, so I plopped down the comfy two-seater couch at this one and only table inside the place to take a breather before heading back to the resort for a quick nap before packing up.

I ordered an Americano to-go, just in case we didn't find a seat.

My coffee, creamed-up.

While not the best I've tasted while on this particular vacation, their coffee had the right strength, flavor, and temp. I liked it enough to linger and enjoy, Ok, those are three sharp moves this place has made, and it's no wonder they're a hit in station 2.  Too bad I was leaving soon after.  I love Boracay, and I'm glad Cafe del Sol does, too *wink*

Real Coffee at Real Coffee & Tea Cafe, Station 2, Boracay

During my recent 3-day vacation on Boracay island, I had the opportunity to get my fix in several places, even in Starbucks! But I thought, why go all the way to another island -the world-renowned white sand beach- just to have the same things you enjoy everyday where you live? Where's the beauty of traveling in that?

So,ok, I had my standard grande soy mocha, but just that one time.

Apart from that one fix, I tried to get coffee only in places that are unique to the island. A friend who has been a frequent visitor for years, and knowing my love for the beverage, suggested a visit to Real Coffee. I totally missed checking out the place during my trips (for work) last year, so I swore I won't go back home this time without having tried their brew and breakfast.

My husband I decided to have brunch there on our last day. We were told it was on Station 2 (the more commercial and populated area), but very close to Station 1 (where the beach is not as crowded, and places more posh). We almost missed it, because several establishments have mushroomed and crowded the area, so it was a real mish-mash. Thank God we saw that relatively teeny-tiny sign, because we were already famished by then.

Go into a narrow alley where...

a larger sign tells you you've arrived.

It's a hut dominated by a bar/work station, made cozy with books,
photos, mismatched dishes, and artsy lamps.

Put up by a mother-and-daughter (Ms. Leigh and Nadine) team from San Francisco, this cafe has a cult following of Boracay residents and regulars. It's been around since 1996 (as the sign says),when the beach front was less cluttered and commercial. I think what really adds to its appeal is the mix of bamboo and rattan seats, barstools, wooden tables, and counters, make the cafe more ideally beach-front than most establishments' metro-looking appointments. Icing on the cake would be the pictures of past and fave customers displayed on an area above the kitchen prep/bar showing just what a "pioneer" this place is, Boracay-wise.

After a quick browse of their menu, I decided to order Real Coffee, a concoction of brewed Baraco and Arabica with a shot of Espresso, the latter, brought in from wherever the owners traveled to last, according to the staff. It was different, full-bodied with a kick, but very good. Good enough to jumpstart my day and a perfect match to my breakfast omelet of tomato, onions, and cheese, buttered toast (they bake the bread themselves), and mango jam. The omelet was heavenly - the eggs perfectly browned outside, but creamy, cheesy and moist inside, and the veggies cooked just right.

The place is known for their Calamansi (Philippine lemon) Muffins, which I had ordered for delivery to my resort-hotel during one visit last year. Since I didn't find it quite what people raved about, I opted not to have it this time. It didn't matter, because I finally tasted their coffee and discovered their omelet. Those were enough reasons to make a promise to myself:  another visit to enjoy the same breakfast, though at a more leisurely pace, and perhaps take a book to read while enjoying another cup of coffee, another time soon.

Espresso at Lemon Cafe, Station 2, Boracay

It rained on our second evening in Boracay. Fortunately, we were done with our early evening dinner of tapas and wine at Dos Mestizos, and were going around just getting a vibe of the cultural mix and commercialization of what is today's Boracay beach front, hunting for some items to take home to the fam, when it poured. Even more fortunately, it was just a 15-minute interruption of the idyllic evening stroll.

To stay under a roof, we decided to stop for a coffee, choosing the closest uniquely Boracay coffee place we could find, and that was at Lemon Cafe at D'Mall on Station 2 (the most commercial clustering in the most populated among the island's stations).

The place carries Danesi coffee, and I chose the first item on their bev list... the espresso. It was very strong, of course, but very welcome during that short damp period.

Although the pastries looked inviting, we opted not to try out any, since we wanted to relish the sensations from our tapas experience earlier that evening.  There was quite a melee when the rain began, with people running for cover, parties breaking up, and groups suddenly texting each other for every member's whereabouts. It wasn't a very pretty sight, so I took another shot of the place early next morning.

Nice and bright. Next time, on a better day, with people in better moods, I will have another coffee in Lemon Cafe.

Brewed Coffee w/ Breakfast at Palay, Asya Premier Suites, Boracay

Finally, a vacation without the kids for the hubby and myself; the first since our honeymoon! We didn't want to waste any time so we caught the earliest flight out and was in the beach resort Asya Premier Suites before 9am. We were still in time for their buffet breakfast at their Palay restaurant. Asya has very good coffee, designed and delivered fresh periodically by Boyd Coffee Philippines, so that was first on my list.

My first vacay coffee w/ buffet spread choices of frittata, toasted cheese bread, and fruit

...then a refill with my main breakfast, Eggs Benedict.

and yet another one at the beach front, while waiting to be checked into our casita. Coffee, my vacation read, the sun, the sand....

For our second day, we knew we just had to have breakfast at the same place.

The view from our casita. Palay is somewhere past the pool area (Adlaw  lounge/bar and the beach)

 Coffee #1 bright and early. This time, I was having an American Breakfast after my buffet treat.

our view from Palay

Coffee #2 and #3

By then, after updating our kids online, we were ready for our second day of enjoy the white sand and clear waters, and exploring the shores and restaurants of Boracay.

Early Morning Americano at Esspressamente Illy, NAIA Domestic Airport Lounge

We were at the relatively new NAIA Domestic Airport, having already checked in at a little past 5am, with about a couple of hours' wait till our flight out to Boracay for our little holiday at the beach. Probably still in that illy mode (or was it mere coincidence?), I chose to have my early morning brew at esspressamente illy among all the other cafes and restaurants (chai cofi, Mrs. Fields', Cinnabon, etc.) lined up at the departure lounge.

I had a muffin to go with my Americano, and wifi to help while the time away. It was an exciting trip, the first without the kids for the hubby and myself since our honeymoon, so it was important that nothing spoiled the trip, especially this early.  

We had fun waiting, even if the comfy chairs and tables had some crumbs and water rings from the guests waiting before us. Maybe it was the reason we were there, maybe it was the company I was with, or it could have been the rare early morning cup, but it was good coffee; they did not disappoint; esspressamente illy just won some more stars from me.