kapeng barako

Before coffee shops like Figaro, Starbucks and Seattle's Best became famous in the Philippines, there was the kapeng barako. And when you say kapeng barako, you are most probably referring to Batangas coffee. However, the real kapeng barako is the Philippine Liberica coffee.

Aside from the Liberica, there are at least three other identified species of coffee including Arabica, Excelsa and Robusta. Of the four species, it is the Liberica which is source from the largest cherries thereby producing bigger beans. Liberica is commonly grown in Cavite in the Philippines.

Barako is a colloquial term that refers to a man's machismo. Barako coffee is named as such due to its strong aroma and taste.

I have tasted Kapeng Barako before when someone brought it from Cavite. The fact that it is still stored in my kitchen somewhere means I have not really grown an affinity to its taste.

how do you like your coffee?

"Coffee should be black as hell; strong as death, and sweet as love," says a Turkish Proverb. Rightly so. For coffee should be drank the way it should be---black, strong and sweet. But there are people who drink coffee straight, without any sugar at all.

I like mine drip. Drip coffee is what you commonly see in coffee shops. Drip coffee means brewed coffee. If you are a coffee lover then invest in a good coffee maker. There are plenty of cheap coffee makers for home use. You can try buying coffee beans in any of the local department stores. NCCC Mall in Davao City has a section with about four choices of coffee beans. Just buy the beans and they will grind it for free.

I have tried the coffee beans being sold in the local stores though but nothing has so far captivated my taste enough to make me sin against the Monk's brew. There's another one though which I tried in a small cafeteria at Mintal market. If you happen to drop by the area, just order kapeng barako plain without cream. It surely rocks the coffee taste buds.