Single Origin - Salcedo — Restaurant in Makati

In terms of service, the front of house people - especially those who work nights - are the best. The supervisor and the servers are very competent, professional, respectful, friendly, and accommodating. They are especially good to regulars, which I’d like to think I have been for about two years. They take the brunt of the complaints when certain items are not available -I hear those complaints because I go there often- which am sure is not the fault of people who are not in charge of the store’s supply chain.

As a semi- regular- I’ve been a customer for the past two years, give or take, part of the store’s charm is the service provided by the people who are there currently. I spend hours there.

I spend a lot of my downtime there, hang out with friends, and hold client meetings there simply because I like that I receive great service from the people who I have come to know as efficient, professional, capable, and accommodating- especially those who serve around dinner time. I’d like to think my fellow regulars would echo my sentiments. It brings me great comfort to know that the people who work at the establishment I frequent are familiar with my preferences and know what I plan to order almost before I even decide I want what I want.

It would do the Salcedo branch a disservice to relocate/reassign the people who are already stationed there. They are part of the appeal of hanging out there. They know what the regulars’ preferences are -speaking from experience- and always make it a point to accommodate special needs of customers.

I know that one customer’s sentiments might not matter, but I am hoping that in this instance, my opinion might be given...

As soon as I stepped in, I was warmly greeted by a friendly and attentive waiter who handed me the menu right away. The ambiance was inviting—calm and comfortable with relaxing music that sets the perfect tone for working or unwinding without distractions.

When I called the waiter over to place my order, they responded promptly and efficiently. I asked for a latte and a butter croissant, but since they didn’t have a butter croissant on hand, the staff thoughtfully offered to serve butter with the regular croissant instead. This extra effort was appreciated. They also offered ice water, which was promptly brought out before anything else.

The latte arrived with a perfectly warm temperature and an adorable latte art design that I almost hesitated to drink because it was just so cute. But, of course, I had to try it—and it didn’t disappoint. The coffee was impressively strong, even more so than Ethiopian beans I’ve tried. It had a bold and robust flavor with a caramel-like sweetness, a full, creamy body, and just the right amount of bitterness. There were no tangy notes, which I appreciated.

The service stood out as exceptional. The staff’s attention to detail, responsiveness, and efficiency made the experience even better. It’s incredible to see how much this place has improved over the years—not just in its service but also in its architecture and minimalist aesthetic. I’m thrilled with the changes and hope they continue to maintain this...

Super amazing coffee. The delicious 20-ounce mini-pots of coffee that you can get are about the same price as a latte at other places. And a great food menu. It’s got to be in the top five of all cafés in Manila. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

Just a few minor complaints: 1) Went there on one day and they were not operating regularly because of a special event. No place should ever disrupt normal operations with special events. Either have enough staff, space, and supply to cover a special event while maintaining normal operations, or don’t have special events at all. But that has only happened to us once. So it does not detract at all from my five-star+ review.

2. No wifi.

3. They don’t open the upper level unless the lower level fills up.

Those are minor complaints, though. Don’t miss this...