Going back to our roots: How Candid Coffee is reimagining Philippine specialty coffee
MANILA, Philippines — After nearly a decade of building a loyal following, Candid Coffee is returning to where its story began.
The homegrown specialty coffee brand recently opened its 11th branch at SM North EDSA, unveiling a concept that looks beyond aesthetics and new menu items. More than another café, the space reflects a renewed commitment to Philippine coffee and the farmers helping redefine its future.
For Candid, the new branch marks a full-circle moment.
Recent visits to coffee farms in Mt. Apo and Bukidnon reminded the team how far the local coffee industry has come. Years ago, serving locally sourced beans consistently was more aspiration than reality. While the vision was always there, finding Philippine coffees that consistently met the brand's quality standards proved difficult.
Today, that landscape has changed.
As Candid celebrates its ninth year, it has embraced the theme Going Back to Our Roots—a reflection of both its beginnings and its belief in the growing potential of Philippine specialty coffee.
That philosophy is woven into every corner of the new branch. Exposed brick, wood, and cement pay tribute to traditional Philippine architecture, while clean stainless steel elements represent progress and the industry's evolving future. Even the intentionally broken brick details symbolize letting go of the old to make room for something better.
"It's a reflection of where we are today," the team shares. "We're honoring where we came from while looking ahead to what Philippine coffee can become."
The same thinking extends to the menu.
The branch introduces three signature beverages inspired by the bright, tropical side of coffee's natural flavor spectrum: the Pineapple Dole Whip, Banana Gin Fizz, and Mango Milkwash.
Many coffee drinkers are surprised to learn that specialty coffee naturally carries notes of fruits such as pineapple, banana and mango. Rather than masking those flavors, Candid chose to celebrate them.
The collection draws inspiration from beyond the coffee world. The Pineapple Dole Whip borrows the bright tropical character of a piña colada, the Banana Gin Fizz reimagines the refreshing structure of a classic gin fizz, while the Mango Milkwash incorporates the cocktail technique of milk washing to create a cleaner, more refined expression of mango and coffee.
Together, the drinks transform familiar Filipino flavors into something both nostalgic and unexpected.
The color yellow became the unifying theme—a nod to the tropical fruits found throughout the menu, the Philippine sun, and the warmth of the country's landscape.
Perhaps the biggest statement, however, comes from Candid's newest house blend.
Introducing a new house blend after nine years wasn't a decision the company took lightly. Starburst represents a deliberate departure from the chocolatey, caramel-forward profiles many customers associate with coffee.
Inspired by coffees discovered during visits to Mt. Apo and Bukidnon, Starburst highlights naturally vibrant, fruit-forward flavors that reveal a different side of Philippine coffee.
Its name reflects the experience Candid hopes every customer has: that surprising first sip when they realize coffee can taste completely different from what they expected.
For the brand, the blend is about more than flavor. It's a way of showcasing the remarkable work being done by local farmers and demonstrating how expressive Philippine coffee has become.
That commitment also reflects Candid's long-term vision.
Working with local coffee presents challenges. Consistency, accessibility, and pricing often make imported specialty coffee the easier choice for many cafés. Yet Candid believes the conversation should be bigger than convenience.
The question the team continues to ask is simple: Can Philippine specialty coffee become viable on a much larger scale?
As more producers continue improving quality and consistency, the brand believes locally grown coffee can become a meaningful part of everyday café offerings rather than an occasional feature.
Greater demand, they believe, creates greater opportunity. More cafés serving exceptional Philippine coffee encourages farmers to continue investing in quality, strengthening the entire ecosystem in the process.
After opening 11 branches, Candid has also learned that there is no single definition of great coffee.
"Filipino coffee drinkers are incredibly diverse," the team says. "Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, our goal has always been to make specialty coffee more approachable."
That means removing the intimidation often associated with specialty coffee while maintaining uncompromising standards for quality.
As the brand continues to expand, its focus remains unchanged: exploring what modern Philippine specialty coffee can become and helping more people discover its potential.
For Candid, the journey extends beyond its own cafés.
It's about contributing to a larger movement—one where Philippine coffee earns the recognition it deserves, both at home and on the global stage.
Editor’s Note: This press release is sponsored by Candid Coffee. It is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.
