Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Cafe Koreano by Bonchon Brings a Bingsu and Coffee Menu Made for Your Vibe
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Korean Flavors Up North: Cafe Koreano by Bonchon Opens its 2nd Branch at SM Fairview
Thursday, February 1, 2024
When Love Blooms Between Two Cultures
MANILA, Philippines (February 2024) - Love transcends borders especially when two share the same passion. The same is true for Japan’s most-loved almond milk brand, Glico’s Almond Koka and award-winning Filipino tree-to-bar chocolate brand Auro Chocolate – who both share the same passion for championing culinary diversity. That’s when love blooms.
This Valentine’s season, the two teamed up to create ORINASU CAFÉ, a special pop-up cafe that marries together Japanese and Filipino cultures through lovingly handcrafted drinks and treats. Located at MITSUKOSHI BGC, ORINASU CAFÉ will add more sweetness to the season from February 1 to February 19, 2024.
Japan’s No. 1 and the Philippines’ Finest
From the makers of the globally loved brand, Pocky, Glico’s Almond Koka is Japan’s best-selling almond milk brand, known for its superior quality taste–all thanks to the company’s relentless pursuit of quality and Japanese technology. Yet another signature work of Glico’s finesse at blending great taste with nutrition, Almond Koka offers a richer and stronger nutty flavor because of the emulsifying method of adding honey and almond oil to ground almond paste.
Collaborating with Japan’s Almond Koka is the Philippines’ premier chocolate brand, Auro Chocolate. The chocolate company carved its path to the global chocolate scene by earning prestigious awards at esteemed international chocolate competitions. For this new concept, Auro Chocolate prides itself in working with MITSUKOSHI FRESH in selecting only the finest Japanese ingredients – such as Matcha, Hojicha and Miso – to be used in crafting the menu. And in line with Auro’s meticulous, innovative, and time-tested know-how, this collaboration with Almond Koka brings out the best in Filipino & Japanese epicurean cultures.
ORINASU CAFÉ
Japanese for 'weave’, ORINASU is exactly what the pop-up cafe symbolizes: the weaving of two cultures through the harmonious fusion of Almond Koka’s and Auro’s product versatility–as seen with the cafe’s limited-edition line of “Choc Au Lait” vegan-friendly drinks and snacks.
Gracing the menu is the fascinating drink that is the Miso Salted Caramel! This luscious vegan-friendly white chocolate drink combined with Maruhide’s top-quality Miso, Auro’s Salted Caramel and Almond Koka - our take on Salted Caramel with a Japanese Twist. Served with a generous heap of White Chocolate shavings.
Hojicha is just pure bliss in a cup. Enjoy the comforting flavors of Auro’s creamy white chocolate, infused with Ikeda Senchado’s top-quality Hojicha, complemented by the richness of Almond Koka.
If you haven’t found “the one” yet, maybe the next drink could be your perfect matcha. ORINASU’s vegan-friendly white chocolate matcha hits the spot with its perfect balance of sweet and earthy. The Ikeda Senchado matcha creation provides that familiar grassy notes, blended with a sweet, velvety finish from Almond Koka.
If you’re looking for something bold, then you’ll surely love the luscious Dark Choc. This drink is incredibly rich yet smooth because of the combined decadence of Auro Dark Chocolate and Almond Koka.
Completing the menu is the Dark Chocolate Stuffed with Strawberries French Toast. Each bite is a delightful burst of Auro dark chocolate filling, tarty strawberry jam with the goodness of Almond Koka. Every treat from ORINASU CAFÉ is brought to you by Almond Koka and Auro Chocolate. For more information, FOLLOW @glico_ph and @aurochocolate on INSTAGRAM.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Singapore’s Common Man Coffee Roasters Set to Debut in the Philippines at Ayala Triangle
MANILA, Philippines. – Filipino diners and coffee enthusiasts will soon enjoy the delicious offerings of one of Singapore’s most beloved cafés, Common Man Coffee Roasters, after the Jollibee Group signed a contract with Ayala Malls for the brand’s first location in the Philippines. The store will open this year at the heart of Makati's central business district - The Restaurants at The Ayala Triangle Gardens.
The Common Man Coffee Roasters operates all-day dining restaurants in Singapore and Malaysia, with an aim to be a Champion for Specialty Coffee and Best All-Day Brunch concept in Asia. Common Man Coffee Roasters also does coffee roasting, sale of coffee products, and operates Coffee Barista Academy.
The Jollibee Group announced in August its joint venture with Food Collective, Pte. Ltd. (FCPL) to own and operate Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines. The Jollibee Group owns 60% of the business.
Prime location for first store
“Location is key in establishing Common Man’s foothold in the country,” said William Tan Untiong, Jollibee Group Chief Real Estate and Design Officer. “The Ayala Triangle Gardens is at the heart of Makati’s Central Business District and a hub for many great concepts in the city. For this reason, it is only fitting that we set up shop in this prime location that will enable us to fully bring the signature Common Man Coffee Roasters concept to life.”
Michael Bovell, General Manager of Spa Esprit Food Group, which operates Common Man Coffee Roasters in Singapore, shared: “We are excited to launch Common Man Coffee Roasters in Manila at this very special location in Ayala Triangle. As with all our cafes, the café design is very creative and not the run of the mill. We are also excited to have a roastery on site so we can showcase the roasting process to our customers, offering a dining and sensory experience.”
"We are so thrilled to welcome Common Man Coffee Roasters in one of the most unique retail spaces in the country – a place where lasting memories are made, friendships flourish, and the spirit of community thrives," said Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land Senior Vice President.
“On a personal note, Common Man holds a special place in my heart, as it was my favorite cafe when I lived in Singapore a few years ago," she added.
Celebrating partnerships
Joining Tan Untiong and Bovell during the contract signing were Jollibee Group’s Joseph Tanbuntiong, Chief Business Officer; and JJ Alano, Group Head for Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Burger King, Panda Express, Yoshinoya, Common Man Coffee Roasters, and Tiong Bahru Bakery. Representing the Ayala Malls were Chris Maglanoc, President; AC Legarda, VP for Operations; and Iza Arcilla, Ayala Triangle Gardens and Greenbelt General Manager for The Shops and Restaurants.
The momentous occasion concluded with an unveiling of the first look of The Common Man Coffee Roasters at Ayala Triangle. Very soon, Filipinos can find a new hotspot to work or hang out with family or friends while enjoying a great selection of coffee and pastries right at the heart of Makati.
To know more about Common Man Coffee Roasters, visit https://commonmancoffeeroasters.com/
Saturday, September 14, 2019
1st PH National Barista Assembly Up this September
Monday, May 6, 2019
PH Barista Champion Builds a Coffee School for the Filipinos
Michael Harris Lim, the 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion and the first Filipino to make it to the semi-finals of the World Barista Championship in Boston, USA, opens the Institute for Coffee Excellence, an educational institution committed to developing a variety of educational initiatives that focuses on instilling positive values that will help grow and excel as coffee professionals.
After successfully sharing his advocacies in the international stage, Harris continues to carry out his life’s work of creating a fully-sustainable coffee economy and takes another step towards realizing this vision—by officially opening the Institute for Coffee Excellence.
Since he first ventured in the coffee business in 2001, he has been committed in providing solutions to elevate the quality of local crops and equip the Filipino farmers with tools and knowledge to help them keep up with the evolving industry. But through the competitions, Harris was able to see the industry in the perspective of a barista which made him realize that they also needed training in delivering the best coffee experience. As he stated, “This journey has inspired me to create a space to nurture the baristas and our Filipino coffee farmers.” Thus, he built the Institute for Coffee Excellence to have its thrust work at both ends of the spectrum: for farmers and baristas.
Harris envisions the institute as an instrument in fostering a community that works together for total sustainability to achieve the ultimate goal of having an increasingly steady food and coffee security for the Philippines and for the future generations to come. “The transformation of a community begins with education. In the case of our coffee community, I believe we would have to start by empowering our farmers and baristas with the knowledge, values and passion to work towards a beautiful coffee future,” he shares.
Prior to his participation in the national and world competitions, Harris makes vigorous effort in extending a helping hand to the thriving coffee industry as a social entrepreneur. While he actively supports coffee-producing communities in Benguet through the platforms he built such as the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE) and The Giving Café, his eagerness to create greater initiatives that will benefit the local industry never ceased.
Driving his inspiration from the members of the coffee community, he's also aiming to make the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence as the country’s National Body licensed by World Coffee Events to hold the next competitions in 2020.
To know more about the Institute for Coffee Excellence, visit, coffeeexcellence.org.
Friday, March 29, 2019
ALL FIRED UP WITH HAP AND SPLITFIRE AT HARD ROCK CAFE KUALA LUMPUR
HAP, a five-piece band consisting of Yazer (vocal), Hillary Ang (lead guitar), Fauzi (bass), Kudin (keyboard) and Ian (drum), is a local band founded in July 2018 by Hillary Ang, formerly the lead guitarist for Malaysia’s biggest rock band, Search.
On the other hand, Splitfire, which comprises of seven members – Handy Prakosa and Susana Ariyanto (male vocals), Sofie Wolandari or Wulan (female vocal), Husen Hambali (lead guitar), Surya Akmal Saputra (keyboard), Achmad Lutfi Maulana (bass) and Bonar Scorwa (drums), has performed all over Indonesia including Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta and Hard Rock Hotel Bali. Female vocalist, Wulan, was a top 10 contestant in 2008 season of Indonesian Idol.
Splitfire plays top of the pops, rock, R&B, party alternative and soul, with a little bit of funk thrown in to spice up the mix. These vast genres paired with a high energy group will definitely entertain the crowd creating a dynamic atmosphere for partying.
Splitfire performs Mondays to Thursdays from 10:00 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 p.m. onwards; while HAP performs every Sunday from 10.00pm till late.
Details:
Venue: Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur, Ground Floor, Wisma Concorde, No. 2, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +603 2715 5555
Website: https://www.hardrock.com/
Performance Date: 25 March – 30 April 2019
Advance Booking: No
Restaurant Hours: Mondays to Sundays, 11:30 a.m. till late (last order at 10:30 p.m.)
About Hard Rock International
With venues in 75 countries, including 185 cafes, 27 hotels and 12 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's most valuable collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise available in Rock Shops and online at https://shop.hardrock.com. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands including Hard Rock Live performance venues. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, FL., both owned and operated by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Atlantic City, Bali, Cancun, Daytona Beach, Desaru Coast, Ibiza, Orlando, Shenzhen and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street in the United Kingdom, Djerba, Tunisia, Gran Canaria, Spain, and Chandigarh, India. New Hard Rock Hotel, Casino or Hotel & Casino projects include Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, London, Los Cabos, Madrid, Maldives, New York City, Ottawa, Sacramento, Dalian and Haikou in China. In 2018, Hard Rock International was recognized as a Forbes Magazine Top Employer for Women and Land Operator of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards. For more information on Hard Rock International visit www.hardrock.com








