Singapore cafe eyes more drinks inspired by Filipino treats, flavors

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MANILA, Philippines — Singaporean coffee brand and roastery Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) is keeping the door open for more Filipino-inspired beverages as it slowly establishes itself in the Philippine market.

The roastery launched in the country back in early 2024 by opening a branch in Makati's Ayala Triangle Gardens, just over a decade after its own establishment in Singapore. The brand increased its Philippine presence with a second branch in Bonifacio Global City.

Last year, the brand introduced two new lattes called, Taho and Turon, as part of its "Araw-Araw Specials" to celebrate Philippine Independence Day — both were so popular that they became permanent menu items.

As their names suggest, the lattes are inspired and incorporate ingredients that make Taho, a soy-based drink made of silken tofu, sweet brown sugar and chewy tapioca pearls, and Turon, Filipino dessert made with deep-fried banana wrapped in lumpia wrapper and drizzled with caramel sauce. 

Now CMCR is launching limited-edition two more beverages with a Filipino twist: the sweet Samalamig Latte with gulaman and the Batirol Espresso, named after the whisk used to make tablea.

CMCR Philippines' marketing head Karole Santos told Philstar.com that all four drinks were part of the brand's localization efforts to "bring a little Filipino flavor" given its primary influence from outside markets.

This includes the Araw Araw Signature Coffee Blend with its berry and nutty notes to go with other staple blends like 22 Martin and Lucky Cousin.

Related: Makati, Baguio, Pasay post high coffee demand among urban PH cities — search data

"We wanted to push the envelope a little bit further in terms of, 'What is that flavor that would remind us of traditions that is uniquely Filipino?'" Santos continued. "Araw Araw combines [these] flavors most known to us. We thought of this as our first salvo."

The brand aims to reach to the Filipino market by speaking the same language as the Filipino community, being a newcomer to the local coffee community.

The Samalamig and Batirol drinks are only temporary menu items unlike the Taho and Turon lattes because CMCR does not know yet if it will be popular with Filipinos.

"If we see an opportunity wherein this is well-loved and people will keep looking for it, then there is that intention to also keep it permanent, if the opportunity presents itself," said Santos, adding that all limited-time-only drinks stick around for three months before being phased out or made permanent.

Philstar.com additionally asked if, regardless of whether the Samalamig and Batirol beverages are successful, the roastery would continue looking into more flavors and Santos answered in the affirmative.

"I think it's a trend that we feel across this whole coffee space, meaning whatever new concoction there is, people tend to gravitate towards that," she continued. "Nowadays the more visual or experiential it is the better, therefore it's a trend that we're not backing down from, it's a trend that we want to be a center of."

Following up on that, Santos added that for new drinks CMCR sees visuals taking more precedence, although the Batirol — where customers pour their own espresso — was an example of the roastery attempting something experiential.

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