Perfect pairings

By Patricia May P. Catan
Photos: Contributed

NOTHING quite compares when you’ve finally found the perfect pair for your favorite cup of coffee. It’s like a match made in heaven and more often than not, you find the best pairing in sweet treats like desserts and pastries to easily balance the strong flavor of coffee. Lucky for you, Cebu has a number of cafés and coffee shops that allow you to enjoy and maybe even discover a new preferred pairing. Here, we highlight five of them that you might want to check out.

Abaca Baking Company

There’s no place like Abaca Baking Company (ABC) where pastries are made fresh every morning that guarantee satisfaction for all discerning palates. Loved by many since 2015, ABC has earned their rightful place in the culinary scene for serving not just freshly made pastries and baked goods, but hearty breakfast meals as well. Their pancakes, hand rolled bagels, sandwiches, and signature bakery benedict are constant favorites in their all-day breakfast selections enough to fill the stomach. And to best enjoy every bite into one of their golden pieces of pastries, their excellent coffee blends are suggested for a perfect pairing. You can indulge in these delightful selections in their 48-seater and newly opened ninth branch located at the Level 1 Verandah of Robinsons Galleria Cebu. They are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Treat Street Café

The recipient for Best Dessert Place in 2016, Treat Street Café continues to serve delicious dessert treats like that of pastries, cakes and pies that please the palate and satisfy the sweet tooth. Treat Street Café patrons are always in for a treat with a dessert and pastry experience like no other during every visit. That’s thanks to their smart addition of specialty coffee from Toby’s Estate that perfectly blends with the flavors of their extensive dessert offerings. It also makes it easier for dessert and coffee enthusiasts alike to find the right pairing that suit their taste. The café is located at the Expansion Wing of Ayala Center Cebu just outside Rustan’s Department Store and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

32 Umber Café & Co.

32 Umber Café & Co. likes their coffee real and good paired with their made-with-love desserts. The café serves espresso-based and black or drip coffee to give customers a chance to explore their coffee preference. The roster of desserts available in the café include lemon meringue bar, milky way, crack pie, and oreo cheesecake. A quality cup of caffeine and a slice of dessert to simply balance the flavors while allowing their customers to taste specialty coffee from roasters around the world make up 32 Umber. They are open on Mondays to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The café is located at The Forum Building on Archbishop Reyes Avenue.

Bicester Café

Plastered on their wall is the famous neon lights board with the words coffee, cocktails, pastries, and brunch. But more than just this instagrammable piece, Bicester Café is a place people frequent to for their signature coffee and savory food. Bicester is one of the booming cafés in town that gained loyal patrons for their all-day brunch. Equally loved by customers is their coffee selection of hot, iced or blended which are best paired with their decadent desserts. Bicester recently celebrated their first anniversary this month and they are positive to serve their customers in the long run. The café is located at Mahogany Arcade on Pope John Paul II Ave. and is open on Mondays to Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Degree 9 Coffee and Roasting

Degree 9 Coffee won Best House Blend Coffee in 2015 for an impressive balance of flavors in their blend. At present, Degree 9 continues to roast their own beans to ensure only the best flavors and guarantee the freshness in every cup. A good cup of coffee is best enjoyed with a sweet pairing and Degree 9 has an array of desserts, say a piece of donut or a bar of brownie that goes well with any of their coffee offerings. Degree 9 Coffee and Roasting is open daily from 9 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and is located at Gagfa Building on F. Cabahug St.