Mary Tricia Ann Pelipas
+5
Me and my boyfriend always go here to watch movies because the place is really cozy and the seat mattress really gives you a home-y feeling. The chocolate fudge cake paired with African sunrise tea is a must try :)
This is a good branch of CBTL since its near offices and has a park in front. We usually have a hard time waiting for a good spot inside the cafe but the food and drinks here are good. My favoriye here is the bagel with cream cheese.
CBTL here in Emerald (I still like calling the avenue by its gem name) is a hidden find in the Ortigas Center.
Why I like this branch...
It's facing a nice quaint park. Nice to just look out to some greenery.
It has a second level. Best if you want some privacy.
It's open 'til late. It usually closes by 2am.
I really loved the African Sunrise herbal infusion tea. It has to be steeped for 7 minutes, and has a lovely aroma and excellent taste.
Their Banana Caramel Bread is delicious with the caramel adding the extra sweet kick
❤️ Nice place to hangout early in the morning and late at night. But I don't like that their AC is too cold and their staff aren't too friendly
Good place to stay if you want to avoid the lines at Starbucks. The staff are also friendly and accommodating. The place is just newly renovated (11/27/18) so it feels a bit bare.
I love this little spot in Ortigas especially on weekends like this.
This CBTL branch in Ortigas Park is one of the oldest I've seen, I think it's been almost ten years old but it remains practically the same.
However, it was actually my first time to get in here. I caught their most recent "Find Your Matcha" offering which includes, of course, all-matcha drinks.
Of the "big three" international coffee house chains - Starbucks, Costa Coffee and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf - I had yet to try CBTL's matcha stuff. Starbucks still has the best hot matcha latte, while Costa's is so-so.
So this newest offering from CBTL was a good opportunity for me to see if their matcha stuff would be any good.
I always think that a hot matcha drink is the ultimate benchmark of a matcha's goodness and authenticity. So I went for the hot first, the Matcha Macchiato (Small, ₱155). I wanted only a chocolate chip cookie so I ordered it too (₱75).
Their Matcha Macchiato was all right, but it was not the "deep" kind of matcha that I was expecting. As I was finishing the cup, the coffee flavor came to the fore much more than the matcha.
I loved CBTL's chocolate chip cookie! Although it didn't look like it had lots of chocolate chips, after my first bite of it I could see those chocolate chips oozing out of the cookie itself.
Next time I will try their other matcha stuff like the raspberry flavored matcha drink and matcha affogato.
I just loved the ambiance of this place. This branch has two floors (although the second floor was closed off when I was there), and also offers outdoor seating. Service was quick.
Ambience:
An abundance of dine-in space is available. There are so many seats on both sides of the branch and the branch itself is two floors. High chairs are also near the bar in case you want to wait there or even talk to the baristas. Wi-Fi's available with a decent speed for down and uploads, but it's not exactly that quick. But since it's free, you're basically all set! A slight hassle would be the restroom because it's located outside and you'll always have to get and return the key to the handoff counter.
Beverage:
I accidentally got the African Sunrise Tea instead of the African Sunrise Tea Latte. The flavor was there but the latte's much better because I like my beverage to be creamy. At least it kept me warm beverage the branch was freezing cold downstairs.
Service:
They asked if I wanted something to eat and I received a good, detailed explanation about how Cold Brew is prepared.
As expected of a coffee shop, the service is fast, the staff is friendly, and the food and coffee taste good. The location is just right, it stands in the middle of the busy offices in ortigas. Perfect for lunch or just passing the time. The newly renovated glass design is also very welcoming. A recommended location for anyone looking to relax and enjoy coffee.
Nice place to stay if you want to study, or do some work stuff. They have free WiFi connection for those who have cbtlf card. Their cold brewed coffee are a must try if you want to be awake.
Good cool place to study work or have a peaceful cup of coffee or tea. Well lit interior. The balcony is a good place to stay during the day to avoid the heat of the sun. There are limited plugs available so having an extension chord can be handy. Not bad selection of tea and coffee.
The renovation of this particular CBTL branch really helped brighten up the place, and also give more space to accommodate more people in it. They have also addressed the lack of outlets in the branch, which makes the place a contending option for those who would like to work until past midnight. However, staying at the 2nd floor does not really guarantee clean seats, as this is usually missed out by the staff.
Food and drinks are definitely great, and staff is very approachable and attentive to customers. If you're a regular, they would even remember your usual orders, or even politely suggest other options for you to order.
If you're a frequenter in Ortigas, you'll notice that the look and feel of this CBTL branch has changed after its renovation. The tables outside felt cozier than before. The interiors improved also because it was more spacious and the seats were comfortable. I cannot remember if they had a second floor pre-renovation. If there's was none before, this was really good because there's more space and the first floor will not be as cramped as before.
I ordered my usual lasagna and it was okay. This branch's air conditioning was on high because my lasagna quickly cooled and I can see the sebo (grease?). 😥
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When I first saw CBTL's Cashew Nut Milk, I just had to try it real bad. I'm a lactose intolerant so I have always been on the lookout for these kinds of milk. It tastes like regular milk and I liked how it didn't taste like burnt nuts . It had a thick consistency which was good at first. Given the size, I wasn't able to finish it in one sitting. After resting for almost an hour on my office desk and drank it again, it started to solidify which made it harder to drink and even finish.@
This place is always packed but if you do get a table with friends or colleagues, it's actually a good place to meet.
I love it here because I love their tea drinks and desserts. They used to have Chocolate Toblerone but now they replaced it with their Nono's Chocolate Oblivion. Both are sooo good!
I often order their hot or over ice Moroccan Tea Mint Latte or their Chai Tea Latte.
There are a number of CBTL branches scattered all over Ortigas, but what I love the most about this branch is that it's slightly detached from the crazy congestion of said area. Located at the edge of Ortigas Park, it offers a silent sanctuary to those seeking for a few minutes of alone time amidst a busy corporate environment, ideal for introverts like me 😊
One afternoon, a few days before Christmas, I had an alone-time lunch here. I ordered their Break O' Day, upgraded the free coffee that came with it to a hot latte, and with my book in hand, situated myself on a perfect corner seat at the second floor, by the window.
So on to the food. My brunch was composed of fluffy eggs, a bagel, 2 chicken sausages (which was worth PHP50 more, something I unfortunately wasn't informed of), a tiny portion of salad, and cream cheese and jam for the bagel. I love breakfast food so I enjoyed my meal.
Customer service-wise, their staff was still lively and friendly although the place was relatively packed as compared to usual. My food took quite a while before it was served, but good thing that I wasn't in a hurry. Otherwise, I would have followed up multiple times.
Overall, a great experience from an ambiance, food quality and service standpoint. I will definitely be back!😊
Good place to grab a coffee while working remotely. Wifi speed is below 2 mbps which is very slow for me. Hope they can work this out in a few days.
Good spot in the metro for a nature break. Working in this CBTL café is quite nice- wifi speed is fast, updates their playlist, coffee is decent (blends are too sweet, if you ask me), and the tea selection is just marvelous. If you plan to work from this CBTL, bring an extension cord. You're welcome. :)
Friday feels! Lunch with my dear friend 😊
Few walks from my office, we decided to dine to CBTL in Emerald, Ortigas. This place is newly renovated. Great place for catching up with friends. Place has good ventilation and cozy ambiance. Modern and minimal👌🏼
For lunch we shared :
Sardine & Garlic Linguine Pasta (P245)- This is a favorite of mine. Enjoyed the generous serving and flavorful mixture.
Coffee Bean's Classic Ceasar Salad (P225) - lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cruttons, and hard boiled eggs with ceasar dressing. Good for sharing 😊 you'll never go wrong with this one.
For dessert, we shared a slice of Guiltless Chocolate Cake .. yes! Its guilt free😊 not sweet, its more like a chocolate mousse with chocolate strips on top. Had my Regular Cafe Latte to match with it.
Verdict: The place is not crowded. As I said, nice place to catch up & chat with friends. Food is kinda pricey but definitely, you'll be happy with the taste.
I so love this cafe because of it's interior and warm ambience. I ordered blueberry cheesecake and "The Ultimate" ice blend. I really love the cheescake because it melts in your mouth. The frappe was great too and I am very satisfied with my order. 😊
My first time back in this CBTL branch after a very long time. I was pleasantly surprised that they renovated. I love their new look! Modern, clean, and simple. They also have more seats now that they have a second floor!
Service was a bit slower than usual but that was probably because the place was full.
I did LOVE my Chai Tea Latte. They made it perfectly! The last few times I ordered it in another branch... I was disappointed. Now I know where to get my Chai Tea Latte!
Matcha green tea hot the best - just the right blend not too sweet , get their reward card- no expiry of points. Place is cozy and not too noisy
This is the nearest branch from my house and also most frequented. I've been here too many times. It is beside a small garden, Ortigas Park.
Sharing to you the only five things I order here. First is the Grilled Chicken sandwich which is limited edition. If you order it at night, you'll likely miss it. They only prepare 4-5 a day. It's yummy, it's generously served.
Second is the Chai Tea Latte. The Starbucks version taste like medicine. Theirs taste like a cure for love.
Third is their Sardine & Feta on Whole Wheat Pandesal. I get this often when rushing out or needing food while driving. It's a good healthier option. Feta, who doesn't love it?
The fourth is their Turtle Pie. It's cholatey goodness reverberates to your soul. It's smooth not too sweet!
With the scorching heat stubbornly clinging on to us, ironically during the holiday season, the interesting mutation to the usual espressos is doubtlessly an appropriate move by CBTL that could bring many thirsty and tired people the much-needed refuge, all yearning to gulp the coffee down in one go.
Overall presentation of the pasta dishes were simple and clean. Flavors are just right; good tinge of olive, pesto and garlic, with slight spice. However, I would prefer the noodles to be al dente.
The café, in itself, is wonderful, with outdoor seating as well that has an amalgam of trees and tents protecting us from the persistent glare of the sun. The faintly lit interior, balanced by the reddish brown walls gives a relaxing feel. The bulging glass, displaying enticing goodies and the coffee machines whirring away, make you want to start gobbling and gulping everything down immediately.
Coffee Bean date with the sister = Chilled Spicy Chicken Pasta Salad. Our regular order here. Just love every element of this dish except for the kick from the onions. I could finish a whole order on my own on a hungry stomach.
We shared a Sardine & Feta Pandesal as well. Soft and filling but bitin on the cheese and Sardines. Bread was good though.
Still the place to go for my chai tea latte fix. My only problem is the slight inconsistency in the strength of the chai every time I order it. Still it is one of the better places for blended coffee drinks.
This used to be our hiding place whenever we feel stressed with work and when we wanted to avoid our boss. :) It's like our happy place.
Food/Drink: The White chocolate dream Ice blended coffee is heaven! It's one of my comfort drinks, just makes me feel happy instantly.
Service: The staff are very friendly and patient, they do serve fast.
Place: It's in Ortigas park, so you feel like having a drink at your garden.
I just miss this place so much. I hope to be back here.
I didn't even know there was a coffee bean hidden in such a cozy place. venue wise, ambiance wise, give it a 5! secure comfort rooms, exclusive for customers, friendly and eccentric staff as well. best place todine/have a drink and catch up with friends!
A saunter gem hiding along Junior road.
This is one of the coziest, appealing and prettiest CBTL outlets in the Metro. The view is attractive and the place is really serene. You may forget that you're in Ortigas for a minute there. Haha.
Crews are approachable. Value for your money.
One of the best CBTL branches in the Metro! Their customer service is commendable. The staff are friendly, proactive, and courteous.
I also appreciate that their pastry shelf is often replenished with pastries and gourmet sandwiches. Definitely my favorite CBTL store.
Must try breakfast dishes are Eggs Benedict and Salmon Scramble. Their Chocolate Chip Cookie and Chocolate and Banana Muffin are to die for as well.
Points for being the prettiest CBTL branch I've been in. It's not crowded like the others *coughTrinomacough*. The power outlets are a bit problematic for people who stay long hours like me, though. Food and teas are superb, as always.
It's a nice break from the hustle of everyday office life. I usually go here to think while having some tea. I love their spicy tuna pasta especially with thin layers of cheese toppings. Although it's nothing complicated, it's okay for lunch. They do write on your cup lids inspirational messages and what not to boost your mood up. Oh and plus throw in a little park view in the middle of busy buildings.
I didn't necessarily come for the drinks, but of the view. (The chai latte wasn't bad anyway). Got a waterfall wall with a mini park to enjoy from the generous outdoor seating area. Also a comfy interior if you want to stay cooler.
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