Café Latté

The chic yet cozy ambiance, and the Australian-inspired touches… The tasty pasta and waffles (which they call “jaffles”)… The friendly and capable service… The heavenly coffee! All that, and a bit more, in one delightfully inspired package called Jose Rafael Fine Coffee.

The first time — and up to the 4th time so far — that I had their Long Black (₱65 for the single), I was tremendously impressed by the way they brew their coffee. “Long Black” is what Australians call what we commonly know as the Americano blend. Their espresso base is very aromatic, full-bodied, and leaves a chocolatey but clean after-taste, hence the perfection in their various café offerings. I’ve had their latté as well, and it was quite an enjoyable drink!

It is obvious that the proprietors and staff of Jose Rafael take great care in roasting their beans and in brewing their coffee blends, and knowing this adds to the whole experience. Now I have one more in my list of favorite coffee shops in Davao City, and it could very well be #1.

The décor and the furniture, as well as the tableware, are very pleasing at Jose Rafael. The only problem is, the place is rather small, with a comfortable seating capacity of only 20 or so. It’s a plus, though, that they have an al fresco lanai with snug couches, perfect for a group of four or five friends. I also love the big glass windows with wooden frames, which give the place a warm attractiveness.

Looking at the menu, you’ll see the modern Australian influence I’ve mentioned — this is presumably because the owners, who’re Filipino, are living in the land Down Under. They have Sydney-Style Eggs on Toast (₱50 for the 1-egg order; ₱90 for two), which is perfect for breakfast or for an afternoon snack. The scrambled eggs are prepared with cream and herbs, and you absolutely have to try it because this dish goes very well with Long Black coffee.

So far, I’ve been able to try their pasta dishes, which were both lovely: the Creamy Fettuccine with Salad (₱120) and the Puttanesca with Salad (₱120). But there was a nostalgic surprise for me when I found out that they also serve one of my all-time favorite Filipino snacks, lug-lug. They call it Oz Palabok (₱45, petite; ₱100, meal). The staff said that it’s the owner’s favorite, so that even if it’s not really an Australian dish, they decided to include it in their menu. And I’m glad they did! The flavor is reminiscent of good growing-up memories.

Jose Rafael Fine Coffee

Jose Rafael Fine Coffee is open everyday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM. They’re in Lanang, right outside the entrance to Insular Village Phase 1, sandwiched between the Monterey Meat Shop and ChinaBank. Tel. 305-5698.

It’s rather removed from where I usually find myself around town, and very far from where I live, but I’m sure going to make it one of my regular haunts from now on. Of course, they have free wifi.

Finally, one more café in Davao that offers truly fine coffee!

Not that I’m a certified coffee connoisseur, but I think I do know what good coffee is.

My favorites, so far, are Kangaroo Coffee Company’s Americano and Espresso con Panna. In my estimation, it is this coffee shop that seems to have invested the most time and effort into perfecting their brews. And their customer service. And their scrumptious food (which could, however, use larger portions). My only real complaint now is that they’re closed Sundays.

In the past weeks, my friends and I have been doing the rounds of Davao’s newest coffee shops: Coffee for Peace in Matina, La Core in Victoria Plaza, Brewedkaster, Lorie’s, Chicco di Caffè, the new branch of Tata Benito’s on Legaspi Street. Still, none of them surpasses (or even approaches) the quality of Kangaroo’s coffee.

Chicco di Caffè does serve a mean Espresso con Panna, though. They boast of having a US-trained barista… although, there was something wrong with the Caffè Americano that I ordered the first two times I was there. But, they’re still very new (as of this writing), so I’ll give them a few more weeks and then I’ll give them another go. They’re in this new building on the corner of Roxas Avenue and Padre Faura St., near the Ateneo de Davao college campus.

Coffee for Peace. Now that’s an idea, don’t you think? The owners donate a portion of their income to the farmers of Mindanao, as well as to other beneficiaries all over the country. This NGO also conducts training programs for skills enhancement among the less privileged. So when you have a cup of joe at Coffee for Peace, you are in fact helping out. I just wish they’d make the experience as gratifying taste-wise as it is soul-wise.

The other new coffee shops? Let’s just say I wouldn’t bring my coffee-loving friends there. Then again, I believe in second chances…

It’s going to be quite a spell before we see the likes of CBTL in Davao. In the meantime, coffee lovers will have to settle for the slim pickings hereabouts. Aside from Kangaroo, there’s also Bo’s Coffee Club, the one in SM City. Basti’s Brew too (but they do have a slight problem with consistency…) — but the service is top-notch and their place is always good for people-watching. Also, Fagioli Coffee Club and Caffè Firenzo offer some good alternatives. For a different experience, Kopi Roti is a good bet.

Where do you go for your caffeine fix in Davao?

Cappuccino

If you’re looking for a classy but cozy café in Davao City (or in Tagum, for that matter), Caffè Firenzo just might be the place for you. There are presently two in the city: their first coffee shop is in Lanang, and the newer one is in downtown Davao.

Caffè Firenzo’s brews are alright — their Americano is better than most others’ in town, although it’s a tad pricier for Davao standards. I like the way they prepare my favorite brew, because I can always detect that subtle chocolatey after-taste.

Speaking of price, I find it rather odd that they would price the Caffè Americano higher than their Espresso Con Panna (which, anyway, didn’t taste all that great the one time I had it).

Hungarian Sandwich

The panini at Firenzo are quite satisfying. My favorite is their Hungarian sausage sandwich, which always gives me that hit-the-spot feeling whenever I have it. And at ₱120, it’s practically a steal!

One sandwich that I was craving for, however, didn’t make the grade for me. Their corned beef sandwich (₱60), while it did taste good enough, had too little meat — I wouldn’t mind if they made it a little more expensive as long as they put more meat in the sandwich. The bread that they use, though, is high quality.

Andrew @ Caffè Firenzo

If Basti’s Brew is my “office”, Caffè Firenzo is Andrew’s. And I think he’s got a better deal because they don’t charge for Wifi nor for power. Also, both shops have ample space for lounging around, as well as for conducting an intimate business meeting.

Service. Hmmm… I just wish they’d invest just a little bit more in their customer service training. Their staff need to smile a little bit more, I think.

Caffè Firenzo
• G/F Damosa Business Center, Mamay Road, Lanang
• Quirino Ave. (beside Honeybear Chicken House and across the street from the Bangko Sentral)