It’s more than just a cafe.

By Snezhana Deomania • JULY 11, 2022

The loud hustle and bustle of the city lights and the blaring horns makes it seem impossible to find a safe haven, but luckily I have found mine. The newly-opened Caffe Pocofino paves its way to the cafe industry with a new take on how coffee shops are normally designed. As a huge goer of coffee shops and a caffeine fanatic, (P.S. 50% of the annual coffee intake of Filipinos are probably by me. I have at least 2-3 cups of coffee a day. Unhealthy, but it’s hella good!) I’ve already outgrown the minimalist cafes that all look the same in my eyes. Caffe Pocofino gives out a different identity with its mid-century modern Italy vibes inspired by the Prada Museum. How can the color orange be so refreshing and calming? They really have a way of surprising us!

I got the chance to speak with co-owner, Tuesday Anglionto, about how Caffe Pocofino came to life. Tuesday’s coffee venture started when she stayed in Milan, Italy to take her masters. Her personal experience of Italian coffee sparked her idea to incorporate the touch of Italy to their family business. The endeavor of the family business was originally to be the distributor of the Danesi Caffe Italian Coffee Beans, the hundred year old premium coffee roaster that originates in Rome. The spike of pandemic became her driving force to focus on the coffee industry. It started as a home-to-home delivery and then coffee carts and an online store to the now, concept store known as the Caffe Pocofino. “Instead of focusing on retail and trading, we explored food and beverage because we realized what was difficult because trying to convince people to buy premium coffee was difficult given that they could not taste it. People won’t come to us, we have to come to them.” Tuesday said.

It’s more than just a cafe. Besides being a calming place to pick up a cup of coffee to enjoy, Caffe Pocofino is also an event space, workspace, retail store, and a spot to cap off your night with wines and cocktails all-in-one. Tuesday said that “It’s not our behavior to drink coffee very late. At around 5pm, we don’t drink coffee because I can’t sleep. So we can’t just be coffee so what other experience can we provide for our audience? There’s this thing in Italy called Aperitivo and we want to bring this concept to Manila.”

The simple joys of life come from coffee cups, a slice of cheese bread , and a wine glass that guarantees to make your day 10x better than it already is. My personal favorite coffee from Pocofino? The Iced Pocofino Latte. It is the perfect balance between dark roast and milky flavor. On my first sip, I already knew it would be an instant favorite! I had a gut feeling that I’ll come back for more.

And so, I did! I came back. I needed a good way to end my stressful week of overdue papers and long work hours. My going there wasn’t to get a cup of coffee but it was an #IDeserveThis moment. I needed a pick-me-up and what can’t a glass of wine solve? The Domaine Peiriere Grenache Rose was my choice of wine during my visit. My slow transitioning to the #TitaFeelz isn’t designed for hard drinks anymore; reason why perfectly portioned wines and a slice of Panini Formaggio was the smart move.

It still astonishes me that a certain spot can convince you that you deserve a pause. A cup of coffee or a glass of wine perhaps? The place reminds me to celebrate small wins – getting over a busy week, finishing long work days, or even as little as finishing a book.

That, my friends, is the story of how I found a gem. I don’t want to gatekeep, so I’m letting you in on my little secret spot. I’ll see you there next time!