Coffee Lovers, Bacha Coffee Makes Its Philippine Debut With Two Stores in Manila

(SPOT.ph) We all have our preferred brewing methods, and even recipes, when we make our coffee in the comfort of our home—sometimes we reach for a 3-in-1 sachet for its convenience, espresso machines when we want something more concentrated, perhaps for a latte, and then there's the trusty pour-over for when we want to feel a little fancy. Of course, there’s also drip coffee, the less labor-intensive way to get your filter coffee fix without the whole production (albeit, the benefit that it's meditative and calming).

Bacha Coffee is known for its traditional Moroccan brewing method that pours hot water from its gold gooseneck coffee pots into a filter with ground coffee beans. The luxury coffee brand opened its first kiosk at Greenbelt earlier this year, and now, its first standalone store—complete with a coffee bar for dine-in customers—is now open at SM Mall of Asia.

You might have spotted Bacha Coffee on your recent trips to Singapore, Hong Kong, or Malaysia, thanks to its unmistakable orange-and-gold packaging. So when you walk into its sprawling new space at SM Mall of Asia, there's a familiar "Oh, look, it's Bacha!" moment. The interiors make quite an impression, too, with warm lighting, glossy finishes, and ornate gold accents that give the store its signature opulent look.

Lining the walls are displays of coffee tins, representing just a fraction of the more than 200 Arabica coffees in Bacha Coffee’s library. The selection spans four categories: Single Origin, Fine Blended, Fine Flavoured, and Naturally CO₂ Decaffeinated. You can enjoy your pick at the coffee bar or take home whole beans or freshly ground coffee, with different grind options available depending on your preferred brewing method.

If you're dining in, settle in at the coffee bar where you can enjoy the full experience. Freshly brewed coffee is poured from a gooseneck kettle, with each kettle serving three cups. You can then customize your cup with a spoonful of whipped cream for a little extra texture and a teaspoon of sugar for sweetness.

If you haven't quite figured out your coffee preferences yet, the sheer number of options can be a little overwhelming. Thankfully, the store's coffee experts can help narrow down the selection based on your preferred flavors and aromas. If you'd rather figure it out yourself (which is fun for most coffee enthusiasts), you can also sniff your way through the selection using the open coffee bags on display, getting a sense of each blend's aroma before committing.

Of course, coffee calls for something to nibble on, and there's a selection of pastries on display to go with your brew. One worth looking out for is the Philippine-exclusive Soy-Marinated Chicken & Potato Croissant, a flaky, buttery pastry stuffed with an adobo-like filling. It's a distinctly local spin on the French classic—and a reminder that there;s room to be creative ins such a traditional space.

This might be a little funny, especially for those already drinking coffee, but make sure to save room for one more caffeine fix. The orange-tinted jar of Tiramisu (P500) is definitely a must, especially if you like coffee, desserts that are "hindi masyadong matamis," or both. This has Arabica-soaked biscuits, coffee jelly cubes, and creamy mascarpone, all finished with a dusting of cocoa powder.

If you don't frequent SM Mall of Asia, you can also get your Bacha Coffee fix at Greenbelt. What started as a pop-up has since graduated into a standalone store, offering the same coffee selection and shopping experience as its MOA counterpart—but in a less crowded space.

Bacha Coffee's SM Mall of Asia branch is on the Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Greenbelt branch is on the Ground Floor, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City. It’s open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information, check out Bacha Coffee's Facebook page.