Another #BaguioEats post on this day, September 1, the 107th Charter Anniversary of Baguio City. A gloomy, rainy birthday, but a birthday still, so Happy 107th, Baguio! I’m going to talk a bit about this out-of-the-way coffee place, one of the verryyyyyy many coffee places that sprung in Baguio City in the past couple of years: The Coffee Library.
This recent trend of coffee shops popping up like mushrooms in Baguio and La Trinidad is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing for those who want to have variety (and sick of those 3-in-1 coffee servings in packets), but a curse to non-coffee drinkers. Or casual coffee drinkers. Like me.
But I prefer to look at the bright side, so when I get the opportunity, I check them out.
The Coffee Library is a relatively small coffee shop with a library theme (duh). Fitting, methinks, since it is in a building that houses a dormitory/residence for students, where a bookstore is also located. And just several minutes walk away from the University of Baguio, Saint Louis Laboratory School, and Saint Louis University.
The interior gave off a woodsy vibe, from the tables to the chairs. Some are handcarved, and there were even some tables that were reworked from those old Singer sewing machines. Which I found quite charming.
Crafts and artsy pieces decorated the walls, and it was kept clean and spotless. Wi-fi is also available, so it’s an ideal spot for students who are studying. Or playing a computer game.
The clientele is comprised mostly of students and yuppies. On Sundays, I noticed some families going there for lunch, so it gets quite rowdy, especially when they have kids around. It also seemed like a favored watering hole for foreigners (mostly foreign students).
Now let us talk about the food, shall we?
We cannot talk about a coffee shop without first focusing on the coffee.
When I first saw the menu, and I saw “Vietnamese Coffee”, I literally squealed. Vietnamese Coffee is YUM. One of my regrets during my trip to Vietnam earlier this year was not being able to try as much as I can, but the few that I did, I loved. (I regret not getting more of their Civet Coffee and Arabica Coffee beans. Snap.)
The Coffee Library had three coffee categories: Vietnamese, Italian, and Filipino. Once, I was with my folks, and my Dad spotted the lone local coffee offering, which is the Kapangan Coffee.
Well, we are from Kapangan, so he wanted to see how this coffee shop prepare it.
One note about my Dad, though: he has a sweet tooth. Like, he’d fight with me for chocolates. He loves his sugar. And then came the Kapangan Coffee, which was an entire coffee press, and it was… DAYUM STRONG.
I, the casual coffee drinker and without a sweet tooth, liked how intense the brew is. My Dad, not so much. He had to pour in lots of sugar, and even got the condensed milk given to me for my Milk Coffee.
How strong was its kick, exactly? Well, my Mom had only a small sip, but it kept her up until late at night.
Caphe Sua (Milk Coffee) was just the right blend for me. I drink coffee with just the creamer, no sugar, so the sweetened milk served separately went to my Dad.
It is served in a traditional drip set-up. I bought a similar drip-cup when I was in Ho Chi Minh, and I used it only once or twice. It did its job, but I prefer to drink my coffee while it is still hot. Like, so hot it scalds your tongue.
The problem with the drip-style is that, during the time that coffee drips to the cup, the coffee is getting cold. By the time the cup fills up, the drip coffee is already lukewarm. And I’m no longer happy. XDD
This one, though, I love. I don’t usually go for cold coffee, or those with cream and froth thrown in. But I liked how this tasted. It’s another Vietnamese fare, the Caphe Bak Xiu, or Coffee with Coconut Milk. I liked how the taste of coconut milk gave it character.
The first time we went there, the Egg Coffee was still unavailable, and I’m glad that during my last visit, they already have it.
You see, I fell in love with Egg Coffee when I was in Hanoi. So when I heard they will be serving it soon, I really looked forward to it. I wanted to see how their blend compared.
So. Ok. The Egg Coffee I remembered from Hanoi had more consistency. This one was thicker, maybe because it had more egg, I can’t be sure. But it tasted close to what I remembered. Maybe around 80 to 85 percent….?
My problem, I suppose, was the temperature. I wanted it hot, The Hanoi egg coffee I tried was quite hot. This one was lukewarm. I can understand how “hot” would affect egg but, still, I wished it were hotter.
I dunno. Maybe my memory is wonky. Or maybe I expected too much. Or maybe it’s still a work in progress for the shop. I won’t mind trying it again soon, though.
Let’s talk some Italian. Most of the time, if I order coffee, I go for Americano or Latte. Why? They’re not sweet, that’s why.
The Coffee Library’s Cafe Latte, I was satisfied with it. More than satisfied. What else can I say about it? It’s…. latte. XDD
I saw something in the menu that was interesting, and I wanted to try it. It’s their Strawberry Lemon Latte.
So it’s cafe latte, with strawberry puree (crushed? mashed?) at the bottom, and topped with lemon rind, and probably with a squeeze of lemon as well. It was an interesting combination. Did I like it? Yes, I did. But it was too sweet for me, I suppose.
Now the food. This is the Smoky Tinapa Pasta, which is basically your usual pasta, but with smoked tinapa flakes. Those who like their pasta rich, and those who love creamy carbonara, might be disappointed and think this one is quite dry. But I liked how savory the tinapa made the whole thing. And no, I am not a huge fan of too-creamy carbonara, so the lack of richness was all right with me.
This one, I really, really liked. And yes, it is quite rich and had lots of sauce, too! It’s the Spanish Sardines with Tomato Sauce and Garlic Basil Pasta.
What I really really liked about it was the understated spiciness that hit you when you are halfway through with the dish.
This is The Coffee Library Clubhouse Sandwich. Nothing special about it, though. But I liked the presentation. I thought it was quite pricey, though, but two to three people can share. (Or two, if you’re both really hungry.)
I was intrigued with how their Vietnamese Spring Rolls tasted…. so I tried it as well. I tried asking if they have the fresh ones (which I preferred), but they only serve the fried version.
In my opinion, it’s the Vietnamese dipping sauce that made the difference. As for the spring rolls themselves, they seemed like your regular Shanghai lumpia, but with a crisper wrap.
I still just really prefer the raw spring rolls, with vermicelli and lots and lots of herbs. Next time, I want to try their pho, although I already know that nothing will compare to the ones we tried in Hanoi. XDD
Are you up for some dessert? Our wandering eyes caught one of their cakes on the shelf. This is the Matchamisu, or Matcha (green tea) and tiramisu. With a layer of cream cheese, and crushed walnuts.
We ordered without checking the price, then our eyes rounded when we saw the receipt and realized one slice cost Php140.00. Takai~~~~ Haha! It was yummy, though. And hey, YOLO.
Location: 3/5. I hope you don’t mind walking. Or taking a cab. Or riding a jeepney and having the traffic test your patience.
Ambiance: 4/5. If you’re looking for cozy, you may be a bit disappointed. But it’s still very welcoming.
Food & Drinks: 4/5. I haven’t tried them all, but what I tried, I liked~
Price: 3/5. Midrange for some offerings. Coffee’s relatively cheaper than other coffee places, though.
Service: 4.5/5. Friendly and accommodating staff. There was a bit of a wait, though, but they take care of you, so I hardly noticed it.
The Coffee Library is located at Rex Hall, Upper Bonifacio St. corner Gen. Luna Rd., Baguio City. Check them out on Facebook.
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