AS PART of the coffee belt, that small portion between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, the Philippines is one of the very few countries who can grow all four varieties of coffee beans: liberica, excelsia, robusta and the premium Arabica.
This surprising fact is celebrated by the country’s number one homegrown coffee shop in the Philippines, Bo’s Coffee, as it celebrates its 20th year in the business with a homegrown festival called Coffeechella in Cebu City, where the advocacy to put the spotlight on Philippine coffee started for them 20 years ago.
Coffeechella is an embodiment of what the Bo’s Coffee brand has been working hard for in the last two decades. In this event, they honor Philippine brilliance in all forms with a series of activities and a mix of Filipino partner enterprises.
Here are five things you can expect from the event:
1. Free-flowing Philippine coffee
Ninety-percent of the coffee beans from Bo’s Coffee comes from the Philippines. Each cup of coffee goes back to a Filipino farmer from origins like Sagada, Benguet, Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon, Mt. Matutum in South Cotabato and Mt. Apo in Davao. At Coffeechella, get ready to taste free-flowing and proudly-homegrown brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso drinks, and froccinos. Coffee overload, indeed.
2. 25 Filipino creative and social enterprises
The merchandise area in all its stores is a platform for startup businesses and social enterprises. Twenty-five percent of these Filipino enterprise partners from categories like fashion, travel, lifestyle and food and beverage are exhibiting products at the event including innovative social enterprises such as Bayani Brew, ANTHILL Fabric Gallery, Theo &Philo, Tsaa Laya, Habi, and Loudbasstard. Each enterprise supports a partner community of mothers, weavers, or artisans. Shop for a cause at Coffeechella.
3. An art exhibit, live mural painting and coffee painting sessions
The creative industry is fueled by coffee. Partnering with creative organization, Create Cebu, expect a slew of homegrown artistry as artists feature their artworks with the theme “Grounds,” referring to rootedness and pride of place. Live mural painting from graffiti street artists, Ubec Crew, will also be done at the grounds. And if you’re interested to know how coffee can be used as a sustainable pigment, drop by for a coffee painting lesson with the Cebu Artist Incorporated and Cebu coffee painting artist, Bbisai Ya.
4. Coffee appreciation and latte art sessions
Did you know that coffee has over 1,600 flavor compounds? It can be sweet, fruity, nutty, winey, herbal and spicy all at the same time. Join coffee quality expert, Ralph Tan, and Bo’s Coffee’s Barista Love partners as they educate about the intricacies of coffee appreciation.
5. A collaborative coffee exhibit
The Philippines, at one point in the 1900s, became the world’s number one producer of coffee. Learn other factoids about this magic bean–its history and innovations–with a collaborative exhibit in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Bo’s Coffeechella will be held on July 16 at Garden Bloc, IT Park, Cebu City. Find out more at their Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/boscoffe
