Story & photos by Yrda Veanssa Fernandez
FILIPINOS are avid fans of coffee, and a cup of coffee is never not a good idea.
From the very first coffee house in recorded history in Turkey, Istanbul, we are now lucky enough to have different coffee shops in convenient locations. All the famous coffee-shop chains we are familiar with are foreign, but I am proud to say that our homegrown Figaro Coffee Co. has been bringing Filipino coffee to the world since 1993.
It started with a small kiosk at Glorietta, Makati City, but they have now expanded to 85 branches and counting spread across the country and different parts of the world. For their 23rd anniversary this November, Justin Liu, Figaro executive director; and Lorenzo Tandico, Figaro head barista and commissary, have come up with 20 new refreshing set of drinks.
It may sound a huge undertaking for 20 new drinks to launch, but Figaro is going all in with a menu update.
First on the list is its Hot Chocolate, pure chocolate with a kick of a little salt, balanced with milk. Café Mocha is a smooth and sweet-bitter version of hot choco. Flat White is true to its name, as the surface bubble up white, made with Arabica coffee beans, it may be white—a light color—but this is the strongest of the three under this collection. Figaro proudly presents its Get Nutty collection, as it is the first coffee shop to have almonds and macadamia blended in its drinks. For your Californian way of enjoying hot drink, try its Almond Latté. The almond soothes and dominates your taste buds without compromising your coffee experience. If you like it cold, go Australian with its Iced Macadamia Latté. For the cold and lighter version of the Almond Latté, go with its Almond Frappe.
Sweet Caramel Craze, as the name says, is a collection that will make you go crazy for caramel. A perfect blend and delightful caramel experience will be with you as you perk up with its Caramel Macchiato. But if you want it cold, go with its Caramel Frappe. For your sweet-tooth fix, runaway with its White Chocolate Frappe, a very sweet, yet balanced, taste of caramel and white. Delight for more collection showcases up its improved butterscotch drinks. Butterscotch Vanilla Latté is a balanced confection. Butterscotch Vanilla Frappe with Coffee Jelly is the cold version of Butterscotch Latté, made more special with the added coffee jelly. Never go wrong with the White Chocolate Mocha for an equal taste just right to pave your thirst.
The new crowd favorite is green tea. The Matcha Madness collection of Figaro includes Matcha Green Tea Latté, Iced Matcha Green Tea Latté and Matcha Green Tea Frappe. If you like refreshing and noncoffee and tea-based drinks, go with Figaro’s Fruitfully Fantastic Collection. Liu personally shared with me that, of all the new drinks, he loves the Banana Caramel Blast. It is noncaffeine, fruit-based drink that refreshes you with a balanced blend of banana and caramel.
Mixed Berries is a good blend of berries, not too sweet, not too sour, and fills you up just the right way. The strawberry and blueberry flavors stand out on their own apart from the mixed berries. The Wild Berries makes you want to go to Baguio to grab more strawberries. The Forest Blueberries is a not-so-sweet, fruity blend that is sure to have its own fans.
The new 20 drinks was launched in October to the public. Do not hesitate to try them all one by one by visiting any Figaro stores near you. Together, let us all support the home and prominent coffee company brand, the Figaro. Visit them at www.figarocoffee.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/figarocoffeecompany.