As a staple beverage of Filipinos, it has undoubtedly permeated our lives. We are a nation of coffee drinkers but depending on one’s experiences, coffee takes on a different meaning and purpose to each person. 
To some, it is their adrenaline pump to kickstart the day; To others, a livelihood. There are also some people who may have a more meditative experience with their coffees.
Eager to know the role of coffee in people’s lives, we took the time to look at coffee through the lens of three women, who not only drink it as a habit, but also takes pleasure in making one.
For the women who brew, they found their encounter with coffee to be a more profound experience, akin to a journey of discovering one’s passion or purpose.
Jacqui—who is a barista and runs a specialty coffee shop—experienced her coffee “awakening” in one of the coffeeshops she“Like falling to a rabbit hole,” Tanya would describe it. Tanya is a 28-year-old lawyer who started brewing her own coffee to save money when she was still in law school. It was during the pandemic while reviewing for the bar that she found herself delving deeper, learning about brewing techniques and coffee traceability. In the most unlikely place, she found herself in a tribe of coffee enthusiasts.
"I made coffee friends online and they would send me coffee beans to try. That’s when I fell deeper in love with coffee because I started appreciating the beauty of pour over.. It is where I got to appreciate the unadulterated taste of the bean,” Tanya writes.
Perhaps this is the secret why the coffee community is thriving- it is such an inclusive group where people are willing to share their knowledge, compare notes, and educate those who wanted to learn more.
Take Asiel- she knew the basics of making coffee while working abroad as a mixologist and barista. But what fascinated her are latte artists who make good latte art; a skill she would like herself to develop.
For these women, coffee is more than just a drink that helps people get on with their day. When asked about how coffee changed their lives, we found a
common thread in their answers— coffee taught them to be calm, to be more mindful of their surroundings, and to appreciate the beauty of the moment.
Who knew that making coffee could unlock the secrets to living a full life?
Asiel puts nicely, “Coffee is a culture, an economy, an art, science, and passion.”
Aside from the personal lessons, their coffee journey allowed them to meet and build connection with people who had the same level of interest and enthusiasm over coffee. It also cultivated a deep sense of respect to the people involved in producing coffee in every step of the supply chain.
“I feel like it is important for people to make the effort to learn about the people behind the coffee industry and how much hard work and creativity they put in to provide us with the delicious beverage that we all love and enjoy,” Tanya remarks.
Wrapping it up, we asked Jacqui what she wants people to know about coffee. She keeps it sassy and simple, “My personal advice is to enjoy coffee the way you like it.”
We could not agree more. After all, everyone has their own coffee stories to tell.