Experiencing % Arabica BGC

Overall Experience: 9 out of 10

A story that began in Kyoto, Japan landed in the Philippines in 2018, % Arabica delivers coffee experience with a modern Japanese touch.

High ceiling interior of % Arabica

I usually saw Japanese culture as minimalist yet sophisticated and % Arabica embodies it. Its interior displays calmness and simplicity. Their bare concrete floors white painted walls abandoned ideas of luxury and grandness that made the cafe open and less intimidating. Adding elements of wood through their furniture and wall panels give it further Asian feel, but also an ambiance of being one with nature despite being in the middle of an urban jungle. High ceiling added to the calming atmosphere giving a feeling of openness.

Bare wall, bare floor, simple furniture

Connecting with nature extends further by abandoning lavish furniture and utensils. Forget sofas, enjoy siting in their wooden bench and stools. Forget mugs, plates, and silverware, drink in their biodegradable cups, eat with wooden fork and knife in a paper plate. They truly know how to be environmentally conscious and remain simple up to the dinning experience of their customers.

Kouigh Amann and Spanish Latte

Browse their menu, I choose from their wide variety of their espresso based drinks and browsed food to come with it from their glass shelf. I choose their most unique drink a Spanish Latte (Php 160) which became Php 190 when upgraded to use single origin coffee beans. Luckily they have the pastry that I wish to try for so long - a kouigh amann (Php 140).

Spanish Latte

Their Spanish Latte composed of an espresso shot with sweetened milk. It has a rich milk foam that greets the mouth on the first sip before a bitter yet light body comes in. Sweetness of the sweetened milk controlled the bitterness of the espresso. Moreover, despite the bitterness, a hint of acidity comes in the end. Spanish latte creates a well balance blend that gives an excellent coffee experience.

Kouigh Amann

On the other, I finally tasted a kouigh amann. Possibly due to the heating, the crust was rough and difficult to cut, so much so I decided to take a tissue and eat it by hand. It was sweet, oily (from the butter), and flaky. It had a sweetness that is not overpowering and not heavy. For a first taste of a kouigh amann, it was not bad.

% in the doorway

All in all, the experience in % Arabica was a retreat. Feel relax in the open and green space despite a being in a city and a view of the city outside its huge windows. They take pride in their % sign and make it synonymous with enjoyment of comforting warmth of excellent coffee with simplicity and a place to take a break from heavy responsibilities of life.