Livin La Vida Lokal

(SunStar Foto/Alex Badayos)
(SunStar Foto/Alex Badayos)

THE espresso machine whirred as Adrian Enriquez Jr. prepared the latte behind the bar of his newly opened café in Carcar, Lokal Brew, while eagerly explaining the nuances of the tastes of coffee. From that moment, it was clear that he didn’t just enjoy coffee—he loved it.

“The more you know, the more you don’t know. The deeper you go into studying coffee, the more questions you have. You never stop learning,” the 27-year old explains. After working as a barista for six years at three different coffee shops, he realized it was time to take his passion for coffee a step further by opening his own coffee shop—hence, Lokal Brew was born.

The café serves the classics like the Americano, Latte and Cappuccino—made with beans from Linear Coffee Roasters. But the real star on the menu is Lokal Brew’s signature drink: the Kabkad Latte, a decadent yet perfectly balanced espresso-based concoction—sweet, creamy and bitter all together in a dainty cup—topped with leaf latte art, an homage to the ubiquitous plant in Carcar the drink was named after which also happens to be the city’s old name. Lokal Brew opened just last May but it’s already received gleaming reviews from customers.

Tucked in a gas station in Carcar, this humble start-up is the first in the South to introduce the filter brewing method. Prices for the filtered coffee are lower than in most other coffee shops because Adrian wants to promote it in the South and have more people try it.

Adrian, who is hands on behind the bar and a people person, asks customers who come in on how they like their coffee—whether it’s black and strong or creamy and sweet. “For me, the best coffee is the coffee you like best,” says Adrian.

For those who prefer non-coffee beverages, Lokal Brew also serves frappes in fun flavors like Cookie Matcha, Cotton Candy and Salted Caramel Mocha; and smoothies like Tropical Green (a combo of matcha and banana), Sunrise (orange, banana and mango) and Banana Berry.

But if you think Lokal Brew is just another run-of-the-mill coffee shop, think again. The space itself is a showcase of local craftsmanship, including the furniture, dream catchers and murals on the wall. “It’s more than just about serving quality coffee in the South. It’s also a place for local artists to build their confidence,” says Adrian. The café is becoming an avenue for creatives like painters, musicians and tattoo artists to showcase their work—a humble hub for emerging talents.

Lokal Brew has a holistic approach to supporting local. Aside from the interiors and the coffee, even the food items on the menu are proudly local—baked goods like cookies and brownies made by locals, cakes from popular homegrown brands and pastas with sauces made by locals as well.

More than just great coffee, Lokal Brew has heart—a genuine one that champions homegrown art, talent and all things we should be proud of from the place we call home.

Lokal Brew is located in Petron Gas Station, Poblacion III, Awayan, Carcar and is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays.

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