Table of contents
Philippines
$ 0.19 - $3.60 per ounce
| Varieties | Arabica, Liberica (Barako), Robusta, Excelsa |
| How to Serve | Usually served as black coffee or cold brew |
| Flavor | Deep, rich, and full-bodied flavor with less acidity |
| Recommended Machine | Cold Brew, Pourover, Stovetop |
| Good As | Lungo, Americano, Cappuccino |
| Price Range | $0.19 – $3.60 per ounce |
| Caffeine Level | 0.4% on average |
The Philippines is one of the very few countries in the world that produce all four different types of coffee Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa, and Liberica. Although fielding a vast range of coffee beans, Arabica was the first coffee to ever set foot in the Philippines.
The history of coffee cultivation goes way back here, to the 17th century actually. The first-ever coffee was brought to the island of Java in 1690 and has been cultivated there ever since. Due to such a rich history of cultivation, many scholars believe that American and British missionaries first started to like coffee on Java and took some Sumatran coffee beans back home. Thus, why the word Java is now synonymous with coffee these days.
The coffee industry in the Philippines thrived under Spanish rule up until 1889. This year, a massive bug infestation devastated much of the crop and forced the majority of farmers to plant sugarcane instead of coffee. However, during the 1950s, Robusta and other coffee varieties started showing up on Java, which was much more resistant to the unstable climate and thrived.
In this Philippines coffee review we will further talk about coffee production in this country and which regions are best for it, top products available on Amazon, and methods of preparation popular both locally as well as abroad.
Nearly 85 percent of the coffee cultivated in the Philippines is Robusta, a low-quality variety that is used to make instant coffee. It mainly grows in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Bataan, Bohol and Cebu, as well as Compostela Valley and Palawan.
Known for its archipelago and tropical climate, the Philippines has climatic and soil qualities that are excellent for all four types of plants. Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are the three primary islands where coffee trees grow. Generally speaking, the harvest time lasts from October through March, however, there are certain exceptions.
Below, let’s talk about some of the best-known regions individually and why they’re considered THE coffee destinations of the Philippines.
Benguet coffee, commonly known as Benguet Arabica, is a single-origin coffee variety that has been cultivated in the Philippines’ Cordillera mountains since the 19th century. It is a member of the Coffea arabica Typica species. It is one of the primary crops of growers in the province of Benguet, which has an environment that is ideal for Arabica growth.
Regional governments have been striving to reintroduce coffee production for both domestic and global markets in recent times. Since 2010, manufacturing has continuously grown. In 2016, the Cordillera Department of Trade and Industry opened the region’s first shared service center and lab for growing and cupping arabica at Benguet State University. Benguet is widely recognized as the Philippines’ leading producer of high-quality arabica coffee, and it is extremely popular.
As previously stated, Filipino coffee is highly popular, even outside of the country. But how popular? Which brands are the best? Are there any additives? These questions still plague many buyers, and we’re here to answer them. Below you will find a list of top products that we’ve discovered and rated.
We pay attention to the following:
For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.
Below you can fin our personal overviews of the top Filipino coffee brands we found on Amazon. Here you will see the price, taste, and social impact profiles of all the products we’ve chosen.
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Price: $$13.95 (subject to change) |
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Size: 8 ounces |
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Type: Liberica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Len’s Coffee |
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Beans: Whole |
If you have never had Liberica coffee, you are losing out. The beans are bigger than usual, and the flavor is out of this world!. This is my preferred coffee for special occasions, and the best way to enjoy it is whole bean fresh ground with a light to medium roast.
I decided to go for Len’s Coffee as a small switch from my more common Arabica brews. I definitely knew I didn’t want to drink Robusta blends or anything of the sort, so Liberica was a perfect choice.
Len’s Coffee is also a reputable brand for the South-East Asian product catalog, so it made perfect sense to get this coffee. Highly recommended!
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Price: $$20.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 8 ounces |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Project Beans |
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Beans: Ground |
Project beans made a task for themselves to create coffee that would be the go-to for those who don’t like a bitter brew. And I have to hand it to them, they managed to do exactly what they said they would.
I could barely feel I was drinking coffee with this product, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The smooth velvety texture was to die for, but I didn’t really get enough sweet natural flavor, to be honest.
It’s really good coffee if you don’t like that bitter taste of a dark roast, but not good in terms of the undertones you may be expecting.
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Price: $$28.95 (subject to change) |
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Size: 8 ounces |
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Type: Barako |
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Roast: Medium-Dark |
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Producer: Benguet Gold Coffee |
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Beans: Whole |
Benguet Gold Premium Coffee originates from a region where evening cloud cover and rain offer the optimum climate for high-quality coffee beans. Delight your sense of taste with a cup of this popular coffee from Benguet province.
This is whole coffee beans, and medium-dark roast, composed entirely of Liberica beans. Perfect for sipping at any time of the day or night. Even though the price might not be very affordable for everybody, the one who wants to enjoy the high quality of genuine Filipino brew coffee, this is probably one of the best options that are available online on Amazon.
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Price: $$19.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 3 ounces |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Project Beans |
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Beans: Ground |
This Project Beans product is for coffee lovers of all types: it has Barako, Arabica, Robusta as well as Harmony and Rhythm Blends for everyone!
Besides, it offers the flexibility to take anywhere, as it’s Individually packed. It’s a pretty smart design as well. The beans are placed in tea bags, meaning all you need is a cup full of warm water and some patience.
On top of everything else, Project Beans is committed to providing freshly roasted coffee to its consumers. Producing and procuring from their own farms as well as through trustworthy dealers that distribute locally produced coffee is part of their mission to assist local farmers.
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Price: $$39.70 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 ounces |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: The Red Soil |
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Beans: Whole |
In order to provide superior coffee goods and services, The Red Land Coffee gladly partners with clean eco-friendly farmers even if their product is a bit more expensive. Coffee beans are procured from various farmers and cooperatives in the Cordillera area and even further south.
According to The Red Soil, if they want to ensure the sustainability of their local coffee industry, they need to enhance the quality of the local coffee. Farmers, roasters, café proprietors, and even baristas in the local community are the first people they engage with to develop a plan of action.
Only the best and natural ingredients, no chemicals or pesticides are used to cultivate the coffee trees. On high-drying beds, growers collect just the ripe coffee cherries. This guarantees that the beans are mature and free of arsenic. This is one of the best Filipino coffee brands both in terms of their background as well as the quality of the products they offer. A cup may be enjoyed as a morning pick-me-up, the mid-morning dose of caffeine, or even as a meal’s finale.
