Cordillera Blend on International Coffee Day

It's International Coffee Day so I shared this photo I took from The Grounds of Alexandria in my FB and instagram.

It's such a cute coffee quote, no? I love quotes of coffee. A coffee blog I follow once shared a couple of coffee quotes...check "10 Coffee Quotes To Help You Through Monday" if you have time. From now on, I think I will take photographs of coffee quotes I see and make it part of my several photograph collections.

We often have Nespresso coffee at home because it's just easier to prepare. So the coffee beans/grounds I buy or ones gifted to me, I bring them to work and that's where I enjoy them. My current brew at work is one brought by my Mom from the Philippines.

Kape Maria's Cordillera Blend has a sweet and light taste. It's made from Arabica Beans from the Cordillera region of the Philippines. You can get this coffee at Human Nature shops and thru their website.

Kapihan: A Celebration of Good Coffee in the Philippines

This is my first coffee table book about coffee. It's more special because my parents found this and gave it to me as a gift. 

Kapihan (A Celebration of Coffee is the Philippines) is produced by Nestle Philippines Inc. in 2007. It holds more than 150 pages of stories and attractive photographs of coffee. Nestle Philippines dedicated the book to all those who contributed to the success of Nescafe, from the hardworking Filipino farmer, the appreciative consumer and to the committed team of Nescafe professionals.

The first part of the book contains stories on:
- the discovery of coffee 
- how coffee reached the shores of Philippines
- when Brazilian Coffee Institute asked Nestle to develop a product that could make commercial use of   coffee

The second part of the book shares awareness on how coffee is created--from growing coffee trees, the science behind coffee farming to the system of selling coffee to traders. It also gives a peak at how coffee is processed in order to become coffee powder.

The third part is an ode to why Filipinos love coffee and it is supported by the health benefits we get from drinking coffee.

The next section of the book, "Coffee Recollections", is a travelogue of sorts wherein people's coffee experiences took me to Binondo, Bukidnon, Sagada and Cordillera. I learned how rich the Philippines is when it comes to places and skilled people that produce great coffee. 

The last two parts of book contains recipes and other uses of coffees.  Some recipes include Coffee Adobo, Coffee Sansrival, Coffee Pannacota and Coffee Truffle.

Kapihan is a gallery, album, storybook, cookbook, travelogue and repository trivia. It's a great book for Filipinos and coffee enthusiasts as it heightens one's awareness on coffee and makes drinking coffee more enjoyable.

The book Kapihan is available at Fully Booked (Philippines), priced at P1,125.00.

Nespresso Vanilio, Caramelito & Ciocattino - Now Unlimited

Three new Nespresso Grand Crus from the Limited Edition series are now unlimited. 

Every year, Nespresso comes out with limited edition Grand Crus which they offer for a few weeks. This time, Nespresso decided to make three limited edition grand crus as part of their regular offerings. They now total 19 Grand Crus.

The used the Livanto Grand Cru as their coffee and added three different flavours: Vanilla, Caramel and Dark Chocolate.

Vanilio. A balanced harmony between the rich and the velvety aromas of vanilla and the mellow flavour of the Livanto. A blend distinguished by its full flavour, infinitely smooth and silky on the palate.

Caramelito. The sweet flavour of caramel softens the roasted notes of the Livanto. This delicate gourmet marriage evokes the creaminess of soft toffee.

Ciocattino. Dark and bitter chocolate notes meet the caramelised notes of the Livanto. A rich combination reminscent of a square of dark chocolate.

All these three flavour taste really good. The Husband and I have been enjoying them for the past few weeks. My favourite flavour from all three is the Vanilio because of its sweetness and smoothness. Amazingly, I also love the Ciocattino even if I don't link dark chocolate as its bitterness makes the flavour of coffee richer. As for the Caramelito, I thought it would be very sweet but it wasn't, it was just right.

These three new Grand Crus have been available for quite sometime now so in case you haven't tried it yet, check them out at your nearest Nespresso boutique or order online. 

The Benefits of Drinking Coffee (Infographic)

Sharing some cuteness on this Friday morning. 

Here's an infographic on the benefits of drinking coffee created by Carla Maglione.

Sagada Coffee From Bo's

This was the only bag of coffee we brought home from Manila. 

Since we've had a Nespresso machine, we limit buying coffee beans to just one bag at a time. Since we don't drink coffee everyday, the supply of coffee at home had to be managed well so they don't go stale. 

On my last day in Manila, I stopped by Bo's Coffee to have a quick "me" time and bought a bag of Sagada Coffee to take home with us. I vacuum-packed the bag and only let it breathe two weeks ago. The aroma of coffee beans were heavenly the moment I opened it.

The good thing about coffee beans is that I get to share it too. I shared half of it to my friend so she can have a taste of Sagada Coffee. She gets to have the bag while I store the coffee beans in a glass container. The coffee-themed sticky note went perfectly well to what's inside the container.

Something about Sagada:

Sagada is a place in the northern part of Philippines located in the centre of Cordillera region. It is a popular destination for travelers who are either thrill seekers or nature lovers because of it's maejestic mountains and natural attractions. 

Sagada Coffee is part of Bo's Coffee's Philippine Origins line which celebrates Philippines' culture and great coffee. Drinking Sagada Coffee is a way to getting to know the place thru its flavour profile.

Sagada Coffee has a balance of sweet and nutty flavour with hints of chocolate and tobacco. I personally describe this coffee as "gentlemanly sweet", a perfect drink on a lazy afternoon of leisure. 

Related Post:
Mornings with Bo's Coffee

Nespresso Limited Edition 2013: Trieste and Napoli

While we were away on vacation, Nespresso came out with their Limited Edition 2013 Grand Crus. It was fortunate that I was still able to get a box of each flavour (they came out with two) on the last week that it was available in Sydney. 

This year's Limited Edition Grand Crus were inspired by Italy's coffee culture with focus on its two coffee-centric cities, Trieste and Napoli. Having a cup of these limited editions is like being transported to the streets of Italy.

In general, I enjoy Italian coffee because of its strength, that's why I'm glad that Nespresso came out with Italian-inspired grand crus.

Trieste. Has an intensity level of 9. A blend of Arabica beans from South America and East Africa. It's rich aroma comprises of a fragrant chocolate and hazelnut notes. Has a silky body and refreshingly fruity touch.

Napoli. Strong and intense flavours from a blend of Arabica from South America, Africa and Asia and Robusta that gives a hint of smoky notes. It has a woody aroma and nuances of dry black tea leaf. This is slightly bitter as the beans were roasted longer. 

Between the two, I enjoyed Napoli better than Trieste due to its strong flavour. It may have tasted a bit more bitter than Trieste but I didn't mind it. I only have a few Napoli Grand Crus so I'm savouring it best as I can. 

Nespresso Variations Goes For the Nutty Notes This Year

One of the reasons why I hesitated on buying a Nespresso machine before was because I thought that having one will limit me to enjoying just a number of flavours. I was wrong. Nespresso creates  a Limited Edition Grand Cru which appears twice a year, one in Spring and another in Autumn. When we bought a Nespresso U machine, we were able to catch their previous limited edition, the Crealto. 

Another thing I learned was that Nespresso also comes out with a Grand Cru known as Variations which is available towards Christmas. Last week Nespresso released their nutty notes: Coconut, Hazelnut and Macadamia Nut Variations so we visited the Nespresso Boutique in Sydney to try it out.

The Husband and I tasted the Hazelnut and Macadamia Nut and they were both delicious blends. We especially liked the Hazelnut Variations instantly as it was sweet, smooth and well-balanced. It was like eating a praline. The Macadamia Nut Variations has a subtle nut flavour and reveals a bit of citrus notes which makes it a refreshing drink.

We bought a box of each Variations (10 coffee pods per box at AUD$8.40)  and had the Coconut Variations at home. 

The Coconut Variations was a lovely blend. If you have noticed from past foodie entries, I have a thing for coconut and I'm glad that Nespresso did their Coconut Variations pretty well. The minute I placed its pod inside the machine, the sweet aroma of Coconut filled the room. 

I love the Coconut Variations as it was like I'm enjoying fresh coconut from the shell. It's very reminiscent of my other home, the Philippines. It's perfectly intense and rich. 

Each of the Variations are 100% of natural origin and contain only roast and ground coffees mixed with natural flavourings that free from food allergens. All the Variations Grand Cru are blended with the smoothness of Grand Cru Livanto and has an intensity level of 6 (on a scale of 1-10). They are only available for at least 8 weeks (or until supply lasts) so visit your nearest Nespresso Boutique or order online. 

Discovered Inspirations: Love and Coffee

Ahhh Monday's here again. Starting off the work week is always a challenge so here's a cup of (virtual) coffee from me to you. Wishing you will "get along with Monday" with a smile. :)

(from a photo shared in FB)

Musings Over A Cup of Toffee Nut Latte

It's very seldom that I go to Starbucks now. If you follow this blog, you'd know that I've been frequenting other cafes when I go out. But when I had my "Me" time yesterday, I decided to reunite with my favourite seasonal beverage "Toffee Nut Latte". Drinking this helps me feel the Christmas spirit and somehow brings me to happy memories from my other home, Manila.

The Starbucks I used to frequent had a new set of staff. I was kind of sad and missed my old barista but the new one was good as well. He made my Toffee Nut Latte perfectly sweet (no need to add sugar). 

A few musings while I was enjoying my cuppa:
Starbucks coffee is really expensive. My tall latte with whipped cream cost me about $5.30. Most cafes here charge less and taste better. I find more value buying their coffee beans and making coffee the way I like it.

Husband and I unconsciously choose to have coffee at home since we've had the Nespresso. And because of that we are saving money. How? We save on petrol, we save on time going out, we save on money because we are not tempted to buy things we don't need when we're out and most of all, the Nespresso coffee pods are cheap (a coffee pod costs between 68cents-70cents) and yet we get great quality coffee.

Drinking coffee in the Philippines is expensive. Yes while having coffee, I thought of how expensive it is to maintain a "coffee lifestyle" in the Phils. Wala lang, naisip ko lang. Let's not do the converting of dollars to peso because that's not the point. I just have this comparison. The money you pay to buy a tall latte in the Philippines is equivalent to a few  train rides in the MRT; while in Australia, a tall latte is equivalent to one train ride. Also, we can find a good cup of coffee in Australia from AUD$2.70 to $3.50. The Phils has cheaper alternatives but in general it still seems expensive to me. While drinking coffee (in cafes) in Australia is likened to a basic commodity, drinking coffee (in cafes) in the Phils seems like a luxury. 

So there, just a few idle thoughts of mine yesterday. Have a lovely day today!

Mornings with Bo's Coffee

Nothing beats starting my weekend mornings with great tasting coffee. Once or twice a week, I let myself indulge with a cup of coffee. I wake up early and spend my first hour grinding coffee beans (if I'm not having Nespresso, that is.), french pressing coffee granules and savouring a hot cup of strong, black coffee.

Thanks to my dear friend Majo, who recently sent me my favourite coffee from the Philippines, the Barista Blend of Bo's Coffee. I've missed this old friend of mine and I'm glad that thru my friend's thoughtfulness (she also got me a Bo's Coffee mug!), I'm able to have a feel of my other home by just sipping this rich blend.

"I met Bo" during the time I've worked in Cebu. Bo's Coffee was a humble cafe in Ayala Centre Cebu. When the Husband and I were still dating, one of our favourite cafes then was Bo's Coffee in Robinson's Galleria. Numerous lunch/dinner dates end at Bo's Coffee for dessert or nightcap.

When I visited Manila last year,I was glad to know that Bo's Coffee has more branches in Metro Manila. It meant more chance to have "coffee klatches with Bo".

When we were in Manila and there's a nearby Bo's Coffee, we'd make time for a cuppa so I can have my fill  of Bo's Coffee, and yes, sneak in for a few of their desserts too.

Coffee Date with Meds

So how was your weekend? I hope you were able to do some things you loved, spend time with family or friends and still had time to rest and relax.

My weekend was a mixture of spending time with friends, sending care boxes to our families in the Philippines and hanging out at home with the Husband. It was one of those busy weekends but thankfully we found time to relax as the weekend came to a halt. 

I started my weekend on Thursday afternoon. I met up with Meds for coffee at a Starbucks near her place. Meds and I met via a common friend and we also found out that her cousin Rachel was an ex-workmate of my Husband when he worked in Dubai. Thru shared interests and coffee dates once once in a while, Meds and I have became closer thru time and I'm very grateful for her gift of friendship and positivity. 

It was fortunate that for the first few hours, Starbucks was quiet when we were there. We were able to enjoy our coffee while we chat non-stop about anything and everything we can think of.  

Funny that we wanted to try the Salted Caramel Frappuccino but wasn't available when we were there. So I opted to try a Caramel Macchiato Frappuccino. It was my first time to try it and I was happy to know that it tasted good. I enjoyed it with a slice of New York Cheesecake which I haven't eaten for long while.

Starbucks
Pad Site 1, Westfield Mt Druitt
Carlisle Avenue, Mt Druitt NSW
Phone: (02) 9625 9800

Cafe 86 (Cabramatta, NSW)

Our visit to Cabramatta always starts at Cafe 86 to have our fill of coffee. Cafe 86, used to be owned by parents of Luke Nguyen, is well-known for their Vietnamese Coffee. We usually get here at around 10ish in the morning and there would always be a few tables occupied by people chilling and chatting with friends while having a glass of coffee or fruit juice.

The ambiance is reminiscent of simple cafes in Asia. There's nothing very fancy with the interiors of this cafe but it is homey and relaxing. I always feel like the world stops while we enjoy our drinks whenever we are here and the vibe to stay is always alluring.

The Husband always orders the Hot Cup of Vietnamese Coffee so I get to have a taste of both everytime we're here.  It's strong and very creamy.

Their Iced Vietnamese Coffee is considered the best that's why people come here just to have a drink of this rich, sweet and smooth beverage. There's nothing quite like it. It's very strong compared to other coffees but it's bitterness and is greatly balanced with the sweetness of condensed milk.

Drinking Vietnamese coffee becomes a more beautiful experience when chased up with a glass of Jasmine Tea which is served free of charge. During cold season, they serve it hot while in warmer days, they serve it with ice.

The service staff of Cafe 86 are accommodating although they may have a bit of difficulty understanding what you want, just be sure to point at the menu board or point at someone else' drink (works all the time!). If you think your Vietnamese Coffee's too strong for you liking, just let them know and they are kind enough to adjust the bitterness/sweetness for you.

Other than coffee and tea, they also serve fresh fruit juices.

Cafe 86

4/29 John Street, Cabramatta 2166

Phone: (02) 9723 2696

Related Posts:

The Husband's Birthday Weekend
Cabramatta Part 2

Gastro-travel: Cabramatta, Sydney Metro's Vietnamtown

Nespresso: Loving the Machine, Loving the Coffee :)

The long wait is over. We finally found the right Nespresso machine for us.

The Husband learned about the wonders of Nespresso when he worked in Dubai. That was in 2007. When he arrived here in Sydney, one of his gifts to me were two sets Nespresso cups, spoons and a sugar holder. He told me that one day, we will have our own machine.

It was a mixture of prolonging my love affair with a French press and finding the right machine for us. 

Everytime we're at a department store, we always find ourselves passing by the coffee machines, thinking and dreaming of having one. Every visit, we'd have a favourite but we were never certain which one to bring home. 

One major reason why I've been hesitant to buy a Nespresso machine is because I love that I have different coffee brands at home. I've always loved making coffee manually, via a grinder and French press and with these two around, I can freely buy coffee beans anytime I want. I thought that having a Nespresso machine will curtail that. So everytime the Husband told me, "Come on, let's buy this machine." I would always say, "Not now, later." 

In August, we learned that Nespresso came out with a new machine. It was called Nespresso U. We liked its simple yet sophisticated design. It was love at first sight, I guess, because I kept thinking of it for days and imagining how it would look in our kitchen.

We read and asked the staff at Nespresso Boutique about the machine and here are some of its features:

• pre-programmed cup sizes. The three buttons on top of the machine refers to three cup sizes: Ristretto (25ml), Espresso (40ml), and Lungo (110ml).
• soft touch interface
• automatic piercing and brewing
• automatic capsule injection
• modularity – adjustable water tank according to space availablility
• magnetic dip tray
• automatic power off mode
• no drip technology (stopping drips and automatically ejecting each capsule in the used capsule container)  which makes it one of the cleanest machines in the market.

On our last visit at Nespresso Boutique, the staff informed us that they were having a promo for some of their machines in store, that if we buy a machine we'd get a AUD$50 cashback. The promo was until September 9. So I had to think about it fast. Four days before the promo ended, we bought our first Nespress machine, U.

Nespresso U is reasonably priced at AUD$299.00 and it comes with an Aericcino 3 Frother and 16 coffee capsules. Because of the AUD$50 cashback promo, it means the total cost of the machine and frother for us would only be AUD$249.00. Great timing and value!

Nespresso Capsules. Better known as the Grand Crus, it comes in 16 different coffees. That means sixteen flavours, aromas and different levels of intensity. The intensity is defined by a coffee's degree of roasting, its body and its bitterness; it does not refer to the amount of caffeine found in the coffee.

Best to note that their decaf capsules are decaffeinated using the Swiss Water method to remove all the caffeine naturally and leaving a smooth full tasting long coffee. So their decaffeinated capsules are perfectly safe and healthy.

Nespresso currently sells a Limited Edition capsule, the Crealto. It's strong and rich but smooth. You can buy a pack of 30 capsules for only AUD$25.++. We were told that it will only be available for a few more weeks so if you haven't tried it, get it soon.

Current favourite Grand Crus. Of all the Grand Crus I've tried, I enjoy Crealto, Arpeggio, Dulsao de Brasil and Decaffeinato Lungo the most. It seems that my taste palette leans on the high intensity coffees. 

Blessing from blogging. The money I used to buy this machine came from what I earned from blogging. At least everytime I see our Nespresso machine, I can always say "This one came from my blogging efforts." I'm so grateful that I'm able to buy something useful from my writing endeavours. Like I always mention, never in my wildest dreams did I see myself being active in the blogosphere. God knows how long I've hesitated and resisted to be active in this digital world but believe it or not, it is only recently that I've fully embraced it. So far, the universe has been very kind to me. And I'm very grateful to everyone who reads and supports my blog (Thank you, dear readers and advertisers!). 

The perks of being a Nespresso Club Member. Every member gets to have a card or key once a machine is purchased. Members get discounts in some Nespresso accessories or capsules. Given a minimum order of 200 capsules, they will deliver to you for free.  They also offer machine assistance service and if your machine needs repair, they can loan you with a machine (depending on availability). My favourite benefit is dropping by the Nespresso Boutique and going to the Piano Tasting Bar where you can have a cup of coffee to taste. 

They can recycle used capsules! Just go to Nespresso ecolaboration website and know more of this project.

We are very happy with our Nespresso U. It's so easy to use and the Nespresso Grand Crus tastes so good. We are enjoying every cup that this machine is making. If you're thinking of buying one, it's a good investment for the home especially if you love having great coffee all the time.