Top 5 Coffee Shops in Metro Manila (2024 Edition)
Coffee is the new milk tea, and we partly have the pandemic to blame for that. The dalgona coffee craze seemed to have awakened the coffee aficionado in many of us, myself included. Prior to the pandemic, I wasn’t a coffee enthusiast at all. In fact, I didn’t even enjoy its taste. But once I started experimenting with making coffee at home during pandemic, my appreciation for it grew, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Post-pandemic, coffee has become a sensation. Coffee shops have popped up all over, offering a wide array of options. With so many choices, the question arises: “Which ones are the good ones?”. Hence, in this blog post, I’ll share my personal top 5 favorites, but for simplicity we’ll limit the list to cafes in Metro Manila.
As a disclaimer, this ranking is based purely on my personal experience and opinion. I understand that everyone has different preferences when it comes to coffee, so feel free to share your thoughts as well. My primary criteria for determining my Top 5 is the coffee itself, which accounts for about 80% of my decision. The remaining 20% is based on the overall experience, including the aesthetics.
1. Yardstick
The first cup of coffee that I remember enjoying for the first time was Yardstick, and surprisingly this cafe remains as my OG favorite. Admittedly, I almost forgot about Yardstick over the past few years. Initially, I was going to place it third on this list, but a recent visit rekindled my love for their coffee, reaffirming its top spot.
Drama aside, Yardstick stands out because they have mastered the art of coffee making. The beans they use are perfection, and they craft each drink with precision and consistency. Whenever I drink their coffee, it’s always as great as I remembered. Personal top picks: Mocha and Sea Salt Latte
2. Cooper’s Coffee Haus from Hai Chix
For a while, Cooper’s Coffee Haus held the top spot because it offered something truly unique. The “Brown Butter Latte” might not sound extraordinary, but the execution is near perfect. The buttery essence blends smoothly with just the right amount of sweetness from the brown sugar. Personal top picks: Brown Butter Latte, Dirty Matcha, and White Chocolate Mocha
3. Harlan and Holden’s Because Coffee
Prior to my discovery of Cooper’s and reunion with Yardstick, Because Coffee was my previous top 1. This is because they have unique flavors that wittily goes with interesting names such as “Thirsty Squirrel”. Unfortunately, they renamed all of their drinks beginning 2024, but anyway, the greatness of the coffee remains.
Because Coffee also has a great coffee base, and the espresso shot they use in every drink is suave with the right kick of flavors. This is further accentuated and/or modified by mixes infused depending on your order.
Another reason why I like this coffee shop is because of the innovation in the ordering processing. You’ll start off selecting your order from an iPad, payment is also seamless. You just have to tap your card or scan the QR. Then, all you need to do is to wait for them to call out your order number. While it’s generally self-service, there will be someone to assist you just in case you need help. Personal top picks: Peanut Butter Latte (previously called Thirsty Squirrel), Sea Salt Latte, and Butterscotch Latte
4. Exchange Alley Coffee House (EACH)
EACH quickly became a top contender when I tried their cappuccino the first time, and it was in fact the best cappuccino I had in my life. I loved how rightly bittersweet the cocoa was, and how it just blended fantastically well with their freshly made espresso shots. The reason why this eventually dropped to 4th is because they may have problems with consistency. When I went back for subsequent visits, that magical taste did not replicate well. Thankfully, it somehow reappeared back during my latest visit. This is why I still give EACH a spot in this list. Personal top pick: Cappuccino
5. Candid
Candid is relatively new to the market, but I see a lot of potential in it. I got to try it coincidentally when I went to Makati, and it captivated me in a heart beat. I love the aesthetic, and how the experience transmutes from visual to physical and eventually down to taste. They also make their espresso shots from freshly ground beans, which gives a jolting flavor to their coffee drinks. I have yet to validate whether Candid is consistently good, but for now, it’s part of my top 5 favorites. Personal top picks: Flat White, and Salted Caramel
Care to share your own top 5? Which coffee shops on this list do you disagree with? Which ones will you be including instead? Let us know by commenting below. Thanks!
