Archduke Coffee — Restaurant in Makati

Our friend introduced this 5month old cafe to us located in Makati. Thankfully, it was easy enough to get to this place and outdoor pay parking is accessible. There are resident felines outside in the garden area but since we went there at night, I didn't notice if there were seats.

Entering the cafe, the place was really cold. The brightness was good for reading if you're looking for a nice cafe to read in. I wouldn't say it was cozy because of the temperature and the color of the lights but it was a good place to set quick meetings or catch ups from it's interiors.

The staff at the counter was very attentive. We asked our table to be cleared and cleaned. We had to request a second time because the table still had crumbs from the previous person who sat there. He gave recommendations which was nice.

The food was okay. Due to the cold temperature of the cafe, it got cold really easily. We ordered: Truffle Pasta, Uni Pasta (which was supposedly their bestseller), and Beef Belly. Order of arrival:

The Truffle Pasta arrived first. It was warm and tasted okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. Overpriced for the taste but the presentation was nice.

I do not recommend eating cold Truffle Pasta so eat it as soon as it arrives.

15mins later, the Beef Belly, Hazelnut Macchiatto, the Guava decaf coffee, and Ube drink (I forgot what it was called since they replaced my order). The Beef Belly was nothing spectacular. I was hoping for that melt in your mouth feeling. No gravy to help with the dry brown rice.

15mins more, we finally got the Uni Pasta. We hope to have the complete order at the same time next time so that we could enjoy the food together. The Uni Pasta according to my friend was okay. He didn't taste the Uni which was a bummer if that was their best selling dish since that was supposed to be the main event of the dish. The Guava coffee was okay.

Overall, for me and my fiancé, I wouldn't go back to this cafe unless it's to meet friends. We wouldn't spend on food but maybe coffee. The Ube drink was like drinking a sad Halo-Halo. Maybe it's because they just opened and they're checking which foods to improve. I don't know. But I do hope they polish the timing on serving the food recalibrate on the cafés...

Cozy, relaxing, spacious, and visually pleasing. Prices are reasonable.

There are plenty of sockets available. It's PWD friendly, as the store is on a level ground. The ambiance is very tranquil and quiet. It's well-lit and airconditioned with soft jazz background music. Service is decent. The staff look neat and polite. Presentation and menu items need some improvements.

I just hope you guys can clean the cups before serving them. Mine had a smudge of coffee when it was served. It's also gonna be better if you use trays to prevent spillage and to also serve the orders properly.

We ordered their vanilla bean latte and Spanish latte, but just as the other reviewer also shared, the espresso base was so watered down. 😔 We couldn't taste the intrinsic flavor profile of the beans. Our coffee had a very light body and a short finish. Both items tasted the same to our palates. Maybe I should've tried their Americano or piccolo? It's just a shame because they have their own roastery. I thought their coffee would taste really good. Pain au chocolat is okay, but it was too dry and too flaky compared with what I've tried before. They have varieties of pastry options though.

We had a good time nonetheless, but I just hope you guys can do better, as I really wish for the Filipino coffee culture would continue to flourish. Will still visit...

I said I’m gonna gatekeep this place so it can keep its chill and quiet vibe but I know this place deserves more hype.

I tried their pumpkin latte and it’s just the right amount of sweetness which I liked. They said they also roast their own beans so this is definitely a plus. I have low expectations when it comes to cafe food but their food quality did not disappoint. I can’t wait to try some items on their menu soon.

They are fairly new so I know they are still improving some areas of their service. The only downside would be their kitchen only opens at 9am. So if you are looking for a quick bite early in the morning, you might need to wait a bit later. Although there was only two of us that time, it took them at least 20mins to prepare and serve the food. Thankfully, I had the drinks served first so I didn’t mind. I hope they can keep up when the business gets busy.

Overall, this is easily one of my fave cafe spots in Makati. I got their loyalty card too for free which I know I can fill easily...