A cup of specially-brewed coffee is already a great experience. But partnering it with a breathtaking view brings it to another level. That's what Kape Sina Una coffee shop, a roadside café in Rizal, is all about as it takes the coffee experience to higher grounds, literally.
Starting with just an MPV truck and a few tables and chairs, coffee lovers McNeil Manauis and Mark Jayvee Macul opened an al fresco café along the road of Marilaque at Sitio Calumpang, San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal and started brewing locally produced coffee products.
"It was the pandemic itself that pushed Kape Sina Una to be established," Mark tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. " When the quarantine protocols had loosened, the concept of 'probinsiya feels' and 'coffee with a view' materialized."
Setting up a café along the road comes with a set of joys and challenges. "With the outdoor coffee shop set up along the road, of course, it was very dangerous from moving vehicles. We had to find a spot where we can set up a temporary outdoor shop that can't hinder the flow of traffic, but, of course, with a view of nature and city lights at night," Mark says. "Luckily, the spot we found was an unfinished road widening project of the government. We had to talk with the local leaders for the no-objection letters, permits, and so on."
Ultimately, the goal of Kape Sina Una is to bring local coffee to Filipinos on the road as it puts a spotlight of coffee beans sourced from all over the country. Starting at P39 for a cup, the café serves six varieties of coffee grounds for now which are House Blend Arabica, Kalinga Brew, Kapeng Barako Baguio, Kapeng Barako Batangas, Hazelnut (the best-seller), and Vanilla-flavored brews. It also offers non-caffeinated products like our Tsoko Lokal which was made from local cocoa powder.
"As a common purpose of coffee drinkers, we sip coffee to relax, to escape from stress, to start a new day, and to stand strong to face the challenges of life," says Mark. "Bringing the coffee shop and brewing near an overlooking view ease the days of challenges of life."
Today, Kape Sina Una has branches in 10 locations inside and outside Manila. Apart from their store in Antipolo, coffee lovers can have their caffeine fix from its stores in San Mateo - Timberland (open during weekends), Tagaytay - Twin Lakes (open every Friday-Sunday), Marikina - Riverpark (open from Tuesday-Sunday), Pangasinan - Rufina Square (open daily), Camarines Norte - Daet (open daily), Bulacan - SJDM (open from Tuesday to Sunday), Pampanga - Ecopark (open during weekends), Teresa - Zigzag (open from Thursday to Sunday), Bulacan - DRT (open from Tuesday to Sunday). Four more stores are about to open this first quarter of 2021.
Images from @kapesinauna