A warm and welcoming place that’s built upon an immense passion for coffee, conversations, and collaborations
Throughout the pandemic, tons of coffeeshops have been popping up left and right. But amid the hustle and bustle of commercial coffeeshops, there are some that like it slow—thus, the term “slow bar,” with the focus on craft.
Located at the heart of Cubao resides The Brewman. With “Coffee and Community” as its slogan, the second you step into its shop, you can instantly feel and invibe the energy that this place exudes. Whether you’re looking to catch up with friends or just going for an afternoon walk, this is the place to be in.
In a Manila Bulletin Lifestyle exclusive interview with its owner, Jonathan Leung, he fills our cup with answers to our brewing questions.
Providing us a glimpse of his personal journey as a UST medicine graduate who swerved his way into the coffee industry, he shares that, “It was a huge and scary leap. Having spent 10 years in my medical journey and then suddenly diving into the unknown, I had zero background on how, when, what, and where to even start a business. I had zero capital and zero experience in business—basically, I had to start from scratch. They say the first step is always the hard part, so I took it. I got myself in a coffee community, learned the fundamentals on how to manually brew coffee, learn about different varieties of coffee and their origins, connected with different shop owners and roasters, and intentionally have great conversations about anything than just coffee with the people I encounter.”
So how did The Brewman start? When asked this question, Jonathan jokes if he should give the short or the long story. For now, this is the short story. With no idea how to start a business, he began by just delivering bottled cold brew from house to house, which was inspired by the vintage milkman that delivers milk from one block to another. Knowing this, it is no doubt that he adopted the concept, thus inspiring the name of the place.
Building the identity of the coffeeshop, he didn’t want it to be just the typical one where people come in to work or study. The heart of The Brewman will always center on people and their stories—building a community. “I wouldn’t want to focus on just the coffee community, but all different kinds of community. A film photographer could geek out about the intricacies of film to a cyclist and they would just share about their passions and why they love what they do. It’s more about finding a safe space where you could express yourself and communities could thrive,” shares Jonathan, explaining the origins of the slogan “Coffee and Community.”
Since we got the name and slogan figured out already. Let’s dive in on how and what pushed Jonathan to put up a coffee shop.
“I guess I’m one of those people who’ve always dreamt of having a coffeeshop, a cool and hip place to be in. But with the initial vision set in my heart, it became more than just that,” says Jonathan. “I’ll let you in a little secret. The goal isn’t to have a coffeeshop, the vision is undoubtedly bigger than that. From delivering cold brew coffee, to having a coffee bar in a local shop, to having my own coffeeshop, then eventually evolve into something bigger.”
“One doesn’t have to be a so-called ‘expert’ to get into this lifestyle. It’s all a matter of intentions. Coming from a person who has zero knowledge about business and running a coffee shop, I guess the question is, ‘are you willing to go through the process?’” Jonathan adds. “From being a doctor to a barista, it was definitely a humbling experience. I had to wear all of the hats, from restocking supplies, to taking out the trash, to doing the accounting. You don’t really have to be an expert to put up a coffee shop as long as you’re willing to learn and go through the process. The experience has been a roller coaster ride. Whether it was a fun learning experience or the biggest mistake you make, each moment is a golden nugget of knowledge. Don’t beat yourself up about it, but take every experience to be better—even if it means losing a lot of money, just charge it to ‘business school’”
For people who want to go into the coffee culture and find it intimidating, Jonathan shares that there are so many coffee groups that are there to help you start your coffee journey. “That’s the beauty of community, you’ll receive no judgements even if you have no idea which coffee to start with—if you prefer sweet coffee or with extra whipped cream and chocolate syrup. The community is there to teach us about the potential of coffee and its origins.”
As a new customer, I surprisingly didn’t feel like one. Usually, I just sit there, read or work, then mind my own business. I was never a fan of conversing with new people. Although, when I got in a couple of conversations with the staff, regulars, and the owner himself, it was quite refreshing. Don’t get me wrong, if you just want to be alone, they will leave you be. But then, in my honest opinion, you’re missing out on a whole lot.
Experiencing it firsthand, one second you’re just by yourself, a minute after, you’ll find yourself talking to a bunch of different people. I say different because of the community that this coffee shop has: A number of characters from different walks of life. No doubt, you’ll be able to share and listen to interesting stories. Now, I definitely get the vision of Jonathan for The Brewman.
So, why not try out this one? Bring your friends as well. A warm and welcoming place that’s built upon an immense passion for coffee, conversations, and collaborations. Without a doubt, you’ll keep coming back. Yes, because of its coffee but, moreover, for the company.
That’s Jonathan and The Brewman’s story. Care to share yours over a cup?