Over cups of coffee…and tea

Coffee and tea drinking in shops or outdoor/street cafés might have been enthusiastically followed here at first as a trend or a style for wanting to get out of the cramped dining room or for that craving to jump out of lanais away from the conventional tea parties. A fad that's waiting to fade!

But lately it has been observed there must have been a twist in the psyche of today's yuppies as they prefer to hang around coffee shops (that's also haven for tea) and discuss over cups (though this is no Doroy Valencia show) of smokin' brew - decaffeinated or not - on just about anything under and beyond the skies.

"Yeah, magtapok gyud na sila diri. Some of them are working in call centers. Maskin gamay pa among place, but they find it comfy to be chatting on their stuff over gulps of coffee or tea here," says Miss A of Caffé Dolce. "I observe that more and more yuppies prefer to hang around in establishments like this to either wile away time or talk things."

Caffé Dolce had a soft opening last December 10, 2006 but picked up perks during the Sinulog festivity on January 21 when customers found their way to the shop at Arlington Pond corner Osmeña Boulevard across MacDonald's and right at the same block with Jollibee. "Daghan kaayong tawo. Some were sitting on the paved stairs outside of the establishment sipping from their mugs. The others were very patient as they waited for their turn in a long queue of customers," Miss A recalls.

"It's amazing response kay nobody really seems to care how much smear campaign was done to coffee. Despite being referred to as makanerbiyos, the culture is definitely in beat and embraced," she said.

"In fact, you can never imagine how many cups Caffé Dolce prepares in a day. Basta caffeine overload gyud, but I think this culture has been more of a help to these yuppies rather than detrimental. There's this avenue to de-stress, I would say. Or coffeeshops wouldn't have mushroomed this side of the world?," she stressed.

Capital put up for Caffé Dolce could have led to the rising of an Internet café or a pizza parlor on said location. But all hopes and plans were foiled in a bidding, so that Miss A decided to put up a coffee shop. "I decided to drown in coffee," the chinky-eyed shop owner/manager laughed out loud.

"And I am happy that at the bend of the road, I am being led this way because I am able to provide something of a comfy zone for people to convene. With their loved ones, with family, with their circle of friends. Also with a stranger for an eyeball of sorts, or for a meeting with representatives of some companies. Bisan unsa ang motive, we connect them. And somehow provided a venue for them to bond," she said. "Over cups of coffee and of course tea too," she quipped.

Miss A allowed us to sample products - and services delivered by three of her hospitable crew - Kenneth Villarin of Ginatilan, Jalyn Talara of Carcar, and Cherrylyn Valle of barangay Apas. The said "anti-oxidant treat" began with a cup of cappuccino to down my fave oatmeal cookies. Second round came in the form of flavored latté - peppermint for a choice - to wash out the raisin caramel tart.

What's attracting students are the low rates for espresso, cakes and pastries as compared to other coffee shops. "Bagsak presyo gyud because they are not here to pay for the ambiance. They are here for important discussions or simply to relax," Miss A's voice chimed from the rear of the cup, as I watched her over the brim with my final glug of the brewed house coffee

For regular hot beverages such as the espresso to the white chocolate mocha, prices vary from as low as P30 to as high as P70 for tall containers. Caffé frapps are also available - caramel, choco candy, mocha, peppermint, strawberry and cookies and cream. As well as smoothies in mixed berries and peach, pear and apricot. Non-caffeinated beverages are up for kids to go with their strawberry cake or choco cherry cake or caramel raisin. And who would ever have the heart to skip the shakes? Caffé Dolce offers literally chilly ticklers to the palate - strawberry blast, mango scream, cookies and cream burst, chocolate lovers and white choco blast.

Visit pinaymangatkatay.multiply.com