By Geefe Alba, Contributor
THE shared community experience and growing charm of local coffee shops continue to pour into Centrio of Ayala Malls, which is eyeing more homegrown cafés to open next year.
“Within the year, we’ve welcomed three local coffee brands — Bowerbird Coffee, Chloe’s Bakery & Café, and The Messy Kitchen — all of which began as small, homegrown ventures before expanding into the mall,” an organizer of Centrio’s Brew Festival said in an email.
The organizer added: “We’ve also welcomed strong homegrown cafés such as Southeast Café and Apostrophe Café, both proudly located within the mall. Together, these brands reflect the vibrant and growing coffee culture in the city and our commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs.”
Centrio officials said they remain optimistic that more local coffee shops will open within the mall’s commercial area but declined to provide further details.
The mall recently concluded its 10-day Brew Festival, held in celebration of Coffee Month.
“Holding the Brew Festival in October allows us to align with this national celebration and highlight the growing appreciation for local coffee and its community,” the organizer said. “It also coincides with two significant dates for coffee lovers — National Coffee Day on Sept. 29 and International Coffee Day on Oct. 1 — making it the perfect time to celebrate coffee culture.”
The festival featured latté art competitions, manual brewing demonstrations, and how-to tutorials led by several local coffee shops and baristas.
Centrio said the event also aimed to strengthen its ties with the local coffee community and help small businesses reach a wider market.
“The Brew Festival is meant to create moments of connection, whether among coffee enthusiasts, families or visitors. With all the booths and activities, people came not just to shop but to experience the lively, community feel of the event,” the organizer said.
The city’s coffee community continues to expand, driven by young customers with a sweet tooth who prefer their coffee cold.
Gepher Mike Fernandez, 19, said he has enjoyed coffee since he was 15.
“My favorite is the iced caramel macchiato,” he said. “I like it because it’s sweet.”
Fernandez said he prefers coffee shops with a cozy ambiance and small folding camping-style chairs, where he can relax and share laughs with friends.
Local coffee roasters say challenges remain, particularly the lack of local supply and limited transparency in bean sourcing.
Coffee farms in Bukidnon and Claveria mainly produce Arabica, Excelsa and Robusta beans.
International coffee chains are also competing for a share of the growing market.
Dunkin’ Donuts is set to open its largest coffee shop here within two weeks. The store, located in the uptown area, will feature a 24-hour drive-thru service.
