Harlan + Holden Coffee
G/F One Bonifacio High Street Mall, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Monday to Friday) and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Saturday to Sunday and holidays)
(SPOT.ph) Do you ever feel like a coffee shop can sense when you’re in a hurry? It’s during those times you end up waiting behind someone who’s taking forever to choose their preferred drink, or queueing for a cup of coffee takes longer than the time it takes to make it. If you're among the Metro's caffeine fiends who always find themselves in a rush, Harlan + Holden Coffee might just be the answer to your coffee-craving woes.
For one, you order your coffee in advance through their app. Available on iOS and Play Store, it’s pretty much a virtual coffee shop. You can either get the app on your phone and input your credit card details there, or use their self-checkout tablets where you can tap your debit or credit card when it’s time to pay. Even if you’re five minutes away from the location, you can place your order in advance and just present your confirmation number at the counter.
Though their space at Bonifacio Global City is actually just a pick-up point for their online coffee store, it still features the minimalist elegance Harlan + Holden has become known for, with glass walls, gray beams, and a silver sign that says “because coffee”—which is often mistaken for the café’s name. (It’s not; it’s just their tagline.) The brand’s signature fig leaf is prominently displayed outside, and inside, a real-life plant encased in glass adds a touch of organic warmth to the space.
For now, all the brews are at a promotional price of just P100. It's a good time to sample their robust house blend: a mix of Brazilian and Ethiopian beans, which they roast on-site. You’ll taste the freshness of the coffee from the first sip.
Whether you order the long black or flat white, you can see the barista make it on the Modbar, an espresso machine that looks like a bar with the bulk of the equipment hidden from plain sight—all you can see are the tap systems (kind of like beer-on-tap in bars) on the counter. It’s the first in the Philippines, and it perfectly complements the brand’s upscale feel.
The menu offers a simple selection of brews and snacks—no plated meals here! If you like your coffee on the milky side, go for the Cream Latte—for your base, you can choose from their house blend, single-origin beans from Ethiopia, or decaffeinated. You have all these options with the other coffee drinks as well. You can also opt for almond milk instead of the regular cow’s milk.
The Brown Sugar Latte has a complex, deep sweetness that comes from molasses. You can have it served cold with ice if it's a particularly hot day.
Tea lovers should go for the Matcha Green Tea, which will remind you of your most recent trip to Japan. The earthy flavor can be overpowering, but you can sweeten your drink with brown-sugar cubes and brown syrup available at the pick-up counter.
Pair these brews with any of the snacks on display, like the Chocolate Chip Walnut (P100) that’s fast becoming a favorite. It’s hard not to fall in love with this crumbly cookie that’s as big as the palm of your hand. It’s warmed when served, which is a good thing because the chocolate melts a little, turning the cookie into a gooey treat. Don’t be surprised if you end up finishing the whole thing.
The Brownie (P100), on the other hand, is fudgy all the way. It’s not the cake-y type that feels light—this one is the real thing. It’s so rich and decadent that you’d want to keep it all to yourself.
More of a savory snack person? There’s the Beef Stew Hand Pie (P100), which flaunts puff pastry filled with ground beef and a sweet tomato sauce with a hint of spice. A good alternative for vegetarians would be the Kale + Mushroom Hand Pie (P100), which comes in the same buttery pastry—even meat lovers would probably love this. They’ll soon add more variety to their treats, so occasionally check their app for updates.
Whether Harlan + Holden Coffee revolutionizes the way we have our coffee remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—you'll never be late because of your coffee again.
Photos by Ian Santos
