The coffee kick

CEBU, Philippines – The Philippines being an increasingly young society, the taste for coffee in the country is getting stronger. The youth sector - particularly the young professionals - can hardly do without a coffee mug at hand. Especially with the current hype on coffee's antioxidant content, many people are regularly grabbing a cupful.

Coffee is quite a versatile drink; it pairs well with donut and sandwich, may be mixed with milk or brandy, and can also stand on its own. It is taken both at home and at work for the quick kick it gives. Health experts, though, insist that coffee is not advisable for children.

The country used to be the world's fourth largest producer of coffee in the 1800s. From 1886 to 1888, it was even the world's sole supplier of coffee.

Today, the Philippines is a net importer of coffee. Filipinos consume over 60,000 metric tons of coffee a year but produce only produce 30,000 tons. The government is addressing the problem of production by encouraging the planting of more land with coffee. The effort is also supported by several non-government organizations. If current plans carry well, Filipinos would have enough supply of coffee for generations to come.

Coffee is a product that has an increasing demand year after year. This is proof that a coffee business has a big chance of survival and success in the country - and many young entrepreneurs are taking advantage. Foreign fresh-coffee brands that were first to test the local market now have to keep their heads up in the local competition.

All told, coffee in the Philippines today is both a hot drink and hot business.

(Reference: An Introduction to Coffee By Pacita Juan and Ma. Regina Francisco)