Singing is very much part of the Filipino culture, just look at the number of singing-related and variety shows on TV plus the similarly related dining establishments. In the same way, the habit of having coffee and traveling is very much going into the mainstream Philippine society in the past two decades with the number of coffee shops and low-fare airline tickets.

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I woke up this morning feeling great! Perhaps because it’s the start of the new month of September; or maybe because it’s the start of the ‘BER‘ months. In Philippine culture, this is a special milestone as well as it signifies the start of the longest Christmas season in the world.

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Figaro Coffee has differentiated itself from the usual coffee shop in the Philippines by offering full meals and a wide array of pasta choices among other options on their menu.

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Drinking coffee in the morning just got better. How about drinking Great Taste White coffee and winning as much as 3 million pesos? 🙂

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This Valentine’s, don’t be afraid to express your love to a special someone. Be it your girlfriend/boyfriend, your bestie, or your mom. But if you’re not ready yet, or is not in that stage of the relationship, why not get some clue by bringing him or her to the nearest 7-Eleven store and treat them for a cup of good ‘ol coffee.

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Kopiko L.A. Coffee Nutrition Facts

I have a new discovery on instant coffee.

I’m a moderate coffee drinker who usually just have it for the morning breakfast at home and occasionally in the afternoon at coffee shops like Starbucks and Figaro while blogging.

It’s my wife who’s more into coffee. She can have as much as 4 cups in a day on average. However, since she developed a medical case of hyperacidity, she had to consciously moderate her coffee intake to about half from her usual capacity.

The Kopiko L.A. Coffee Discovery

Kopiko LA Instant Coffee

So we are glad to know about the new Kopiko L.A. Coffee, short for low acid coffee mix, with a special low acid formula using selected grade one coffee beans and utilizing a controlled roasting process. I guess it’s somehow like the special process used by Mr. Bean Philippines in making their soya uric-acid-free.

The label says that this gastric-friendly instant coffee is ideal for people with medical conditions related to the digestive system, sensitive stomachs, and high-stress jobs.

My wife and I have been drinking it daily during breakfasts for almost a week now and we liked it as the coffee taste does not linger on the sides of the mouth even after drinking it. So far, it hasn’t triggered her hyper acidity either.  Each sachet of the instant coffee contain non dairy creamer and sugar.

Kopiko Low Acid Coffee

Moreover, we split one sachet into two cups every morning, one for her, one for me. Perhaps if you want a stronger flavor, you can mix one whole sachet in a single cup. SRP is at P6. I’m not sure if it’s available in other packages, but we got the pack with 10 25g sachets. Kopiko L.A. coffee is distributed by TriDharma Marketing Corporation and manufactured by PT Mayora.

Try the Kopiko LA Coffee yourselves and share with us your thoughts in the comments section below. 🙂

We were invited to the launch of Segafredo Zanetti MyEspresso machine on a rainy Friday afternoon. I sensed that I might be going alone since my boyfriend has been sick for two days. With the unpredictable weather outside, I wouldn’t allow him so I decided to go on my own to the Net Plaza at The Fort, armed with an umbrella and cardigan.

Segafredo Zanetti Espresso – Net Plaza, The Fort

Segafredo Zanetti

I’ve been consuming coffee for almost half of my life and to spice up my coffee experience last year, I decided to buy a coffee maker. I wanted to wake up my senses with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. When I learned about espresso machines I dreamt of owning one someday, much more when I tried Segafredo’s espresso and cappuccino.

Every sip of espresso gives a brand new coffee experience. I’ve never really appreciated the true meaning of “perfect cup of coffee” until recently. It became more satisfying and more delicious with the sandwiches and pizzas they served us. Just before I left, I had a smooth, creamy and perfectly made cappuccino. I cannot be too descriptive, all I know is that cappuccino is delicious!

Segafredo Zanetti MyEspresso

Segafredo Zanetti MyEspresso

Segafredo Zanetti

Segafredo Zanetti brought the Italian espresso tradition in the country by introducing two world-renowned espresso masters from Italy and Japan to share their knowledge about authentic Italian Espresso.

Mr. Ilija Naumovski, the Grand Chef Barista & Supervisor of Segafredo Zanetti in Asia together with Mr. Andrea Borghesan, Export Manager of Segafredo Zanetti Coffee Systems Italy demonstrated how to concoct an excellent cup of espresso. Fashion icon and celebrity Ms. Tessa Prieto-Valdez arrived in her red long gown.

Lifestyle Icon Tessa Prieto-Valdez with Segfredo Top Honchos

Segafredo Cafe is located at the ground floor of Net One Plaza

The Company

Segafredo Zanetti is the leading espresso producer in Italy and throughout the whole world, with more than 100,000 clients and millions of espresso drunk each day. The company belongs to Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, a holding which unites 37 companies across the world.The company owns green beans plantations in Brazil and Costa Rica and has 11 roasting plants all over the world.

Ove the years, SZE developed four unique brands, Segafredo Zanetti a brand for wholesale market which incldes hotels, cafes and domestic users. Another is the Zegadredo Zanetti Espresso, a brand exclusive for espresso bars such as this place, the SZE Net Plaza, SZE Podium and SZE Greenhills.

Segafredo Pastries

The third is Segafredo Coffee System, a brand for retail market for home and office coffee machines. Last but not the least is the La San Marco handling large-scale espresso machines. With different offerings for different industries and uses, the Segafredo Complete Coffee Solutionsexcellently cater to specific production needs.

Segafredo Zanetti

Segafredo Zinatti has more than 500 outlets of Segafredo Zanetti Espresso Bar and 150,000 tons of coffee manufactured each year. Segafredo Zanetti continues to innovate the authentic Italian espresso experience with the new MyEspresso machine, we can now enjoy strong, creamy cup available in the comfort of our homes and work place.

* Story and photos by Marjorie Pineda of Living Marjorney

In Manila you may visit Segafredo Zanetti Espresso located at Net Plaza Bldg inThe Fort; The Podium Ortigas and Greenhills, San Juan.

Today is the day – April 24, 2012 – when a gamut of new beverages, food items, and promos start at Starbucks Philippines. Coffee and frappuccino addicts as you are, you ought not be behind the news. Worry not as NomNom Club is here to make sure you are. 🙂

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino

1) Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Coffee Based)

The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino blended beverage is your favorite Starbucks Frappunccino roast coffee with chocolate cookie bits made richer with mocha sauce, and vanilla syrup. And as if that’s not enough, it is topped with chocolate drizzle on cookie crumble blended topping.

If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time Starbucks PH is offering  chocolate whip cream.

It’s like a java chip frap with vanilla syrup. It can remind you of Wendy’s frostee as well. 😛

A yummy treat for the chocolate-loving coffee drinker!

* Tall P165, Grande P175, Venti P175

2) Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Cream Based – Zero Coffee)

The same as number 1 above but is cream-based instead of coffee.

Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino

Something for the chocolate lover who wants a coffee alternative; maybe even for kids too. It’s just like your all-time favorite Magnolia Chocolaitwith cookie bits.

Did you know that you also have the option to ‘blend‘ your cream into the beverage (instead of ‘just on top’)?

* Tall P165, Grande P175, Venti P175

3) Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage

Not really new, it’s more of a focus featured beverage highlighting the However-You-Want-It Frappuccino beverages.

It’s your favorite Strawberries and Cream frappuccino with the option for soy, non-fat milk, or your defualt whole milk.

* Tall P155, Grande P165, Venti P175

4) Sausage Pizza Roll (P95)

Replacing the current sausage roll, this flaky pastry is filled with a smoked frankfurter and cheese pizza sauce. A true comfort food that can easily satisfy that impulsive craving for a quick soft bite.

Don’t forget to have it warmed.

Sausage Pizza Roll

5) Fish and Chips Wrap (P150)

A filling wrap of fish fillet, herbed potato wedges, and dill mustard egg sauce. It’s big and enough to substitute for a full meal. If you’re wondering, the chips is inside. 😛

Fish and Chips Wrap

6) Chicken Grape Almond Salad on Classic Ciabatta Bread (P150)

Available in a Starbucks Philippines stores nationwide, this is a tangy sandwich of chicken, celery, roasted chopped almonds, sliced sundried tomatoes, and interestingly grapes, with lemon-mayo sauce and hints of tarragon and Emmenthal cheese sandwiched by crunchy Ciabatta bread.

My favorite made better with the twist of adding grape slices! It’s the anti-thesis of a boring food, there’s so much in every bite! 🙂

Chicken Grape Almond Salad Sandwich

7) Cookie Crumble Cheesecake with Chips Ahoy (P130)

This is for the cheesecake and Chip Ahoy cookie lovers combined. The baked cheesecake is topped with chunky-chewy Chips Ahoy cookies + chocolate chips with a base / crust made of assorted crushed Chips Ahoy cookies.

However, it’s not type of cheesecake. I’m for the sinfully sweet, smooth, and soft ones.

Cookie Crumble Cheesecake

8) Whoopie Pie (P75)

Whoops, it’s big! And the two bulging eyes seem to beg you not to eat them. 🙂

This redesigned returning favorite from last year is a sandwich of two fudgy dark chocolate cookie cakes filled with white roasted marshmallow cream icing and chocolate chips. At first, it looked like a really sweet treat that’s painful to the tooth but turned out just ok.

Whoopie Pie

Although it’s a bit pricey at P75, the fun factor, specially for the kids and kids-at-heart, makes up for it; somehow. lol

It’s cuteness would also have been multiplied by ten if it was just a quarter of its current size. Who knows, Starbucks Philippines might just come across this blog and have the mini Whoopie Pies next season. 🙂

Cuteness Overflowing: Starbucks Whoopie Pies (Sampler Size)

9) Customizable Starbucks Tumblers: 16 oz. Cold Cup Tumbler (P550)

Twist and turn (step 1). Write (step 2). Erase (step 3). Those are the steps into ‘customizing‘ your ‘customizable‘ (woah!) new Starbucks Tumblers!

After the twist-and-turn, you could remove the outer cup and ‘write‘ your favorite Starbucks beverage label on the surface of inner cup. Common sense also suggests to use a non-permanent white board marker. If you think your favorite Starbucks beverage will not change, like forever, then feel free to use a permanent marker. 🙂

Customizable Starbucks Tumblers (How To)

So lets say that you’re as brilliant as I so you use a non-permanent marker, then you could easily erase it (step 3; pardon the watermark which blocked the ‘erasing’ action) with any tissue paper or cloth.

After which, you simply twist-back the outer cup and viola – give your labelled and customized Starbucks tumbler to your barista!

The Cold Cup tumbler is the one on Step 1 and Step 2A photos.

10) Customizable Starbucks Tumblers: 16 oz. Stainless Steel Tumbler (P1095)

Please see number 9, but you can have hot beverages in these! I want to have this one!

The Stainless steel tumbler is the one on Step 2B and Step 3 photos.

11) Scratch Card Promo (Buy 1 Take 1)

For the first time in Starbucks Philippines history, they’re having a scratch-card based promotion, just like in the lottery. 🙂

From April 24 to April 29 (or until supplies last), buy one Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage and get one scratch card to win an exciting treat that you can use for your next Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage purchase!

Scratch card redemption is until June 11, 2012.

Starbucks Scratch Card

Prizes in the scratch cards can be

• one free add-on
• double free add-ons
• buy-one-free-one beverage!

12) Starbucks Happy Hour / Frappuccino Happy Hour (50% Off)

The Starbucks Happy Hour is back! Your favorite Starbucks However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage will be at half-price EVERY MONDAY from 2PM to 6PM from April 30 to May 28, 2012!

Starbucks Happy Hour

Starbuck's Love Fernandez

The long lines will surely be back, but this time, instead of the previous 2 hrs, you’ve got more time allotment of 4 hrs!

That’s a DOZEN of new things to remember at Starbucks Philippines starting today – April 24, 2012 (except for the Starbucks Happy Hour which starts April 30)! Hmmm…which one to try first? 🙂