How Commune Goes Beyond The Brew

What comes to mind when people think of coffee?

For most, it’s a morning necessity, something to order so that they can sit down in a cafe, or a casual way to size someone up based on what they order at Starbucks.

But not a lot of people think about exactly where the coffee beans come from, who are the people getting their hands dirty in growing and cultivating them, and how the drink itself was made after crushing the beans. They don’t see the long, arduous journey behind every cup.

At Commune, however, every cup is intentionally tied to a broader story of local pride, craft, and connection.

Championing Local Coffee 

“I’ve been in coffee forever,” shared Ros Juan, owner of Commune and president of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance Philippine Chapter.

She’s had first-hand experience with the outward perception of Philippine coffee. In the past, Philippine origins were rarely mentioned in the same conversations about specialty coffee. “Some people have even forgotten we produce coffee [and] those who [did] know [about] Philippine coffee, [they believed] hindi naman [siya] good quality.”

Commune sets out to not only address that, but change the narrative entirely. “‘Yung main advocacy namin [is] to promote Philippine coffee and support [local] producers,” said Ros. Sourcing directly from farmers, every single origin on Commune’s shelves comes from a producer Ros and her team have met personally.

Putting the Commune in Community 

“When I was conceptualizing what kind of coffee shop [I wanted to open, I thought] if it could also be a home to all these communities,” Ros explained. “I wanted it to be a place where people would really gather.”

Since opening its doors at Salcedo in 2013 and moving to Poblacion in 2015, Commune has offered its space to be a backdrop of connections from both everyday life and specialized events. 

While coffee acts as the initiator, it is the community that remains the heart of the space. As Ros put it: “[If] they come in as strangers, [then] they [can] leave as friends or collaborators.”

Throughout the years, they previously hosted gatherings for Spit Manila, Type Kita (ran by the founders of Common Room), and Metro Manila Pride, just to name a few. 

Igniting Local Coffee Passion With Global Expertise

On September 3, Commune hosted an exclusive session with Hong Kong Brewers Cup 2023 Champion, 2025 World Brewers Coach, and founder of Moonshine Coffee Zenki Ho. 

The event offered a deep dive into the high-stakes world of the Brewers Cup, a premier international coffee brewing competition. Designed to give local baristas and coffee enthusiasts a clear picture of what it takes to compete on the world stage, the masterclass covered every angle of the process. From breaking down judge scorecards to demonstrating how easily a cup can go awry even with top-tier beans, it was a comprehensive look at a part of the coffee scene that felt much more vast and intricate than my non-coffee-drinking self thought.

By initiating interactions between our local scene and global coffee experts like Zenki Ho, Commune solidifies its role as an incubator where local passion for coffee can thrive and flourish. 

Beyond the Cup

Coffee is more than just part of one’s morning routine or an aesthetic prop for an Instagram carousel. As climate change and supply challenges threaten farms both globally and locally, Ros hopes consumers start looking at their daily brew with fresh eyes and more open minds.

​In the Philippines, local producers face a double-edged struggle. It isn’t just about Filiipinos not knowing enough about their products. They have to contend with unpredictable weather patterns impacting harvest yields and an ongoing shortage in local supply to meet growing demand. For Ros, bridging this gap begins with conscious consumerism on the coffee drinkers’ part.

“I suppose if there’s anything we want to remind people, it’s that maybe when they drink coffee, they should start asking where it’s from and show a bit of interest in the origins,” Ros reflects. “I think the more people know about the coffee they’re drinking, it becomes a bit more meaningful.”

Commune Café + Bar + Roastery is located at 36 Polaris, Poblacion, Makati City, Metro Manila.

Laura Mendoza Writer

Laura admits that she is a slow eater. She prefers to take her time with the food she likes to eat and the stories she wishes to write. Having graduated with a Creative Writing degree, she comes from a background in writing fiction and poetry. Because of this, she has set herself on a creative mission to explore and delve into what other modes and channels exist for stories and narratives to be told, expressed, and shared with others. For Laura, food as a medium is an exciting proposition. Behind every dish, every ingredient, and every cooking technique, there lies a history worth discussing, a human being worth listening to, a lived experience worth gleaning from. As a means to satiate her appetite for learning about and understanding new and known things, she aims to be the kind of food writer who is approachable, reliable, and personable to readers.

See Full Bio

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Commune Cafe?

Commune Cafe is a community-centric coffee shop known for serving 100% Philippine coffee and acting as a gathering space for local creative, civic, and professional communities.

Laura Mendoza Writer

Laura admits that she is a slow eater. She prefers to take her time with the food she likes to eat and the stories she wishes to write. Having graduated with a Creative Writing degree, she comes from a background in writing fiction and poetry. Because of this, she has set herself on a creative mission to explore and delve into what other modes and channels exist for stories and narratives to be told, expressed, and shared with others. For Laura, food as a medium is an exciting proposition. Behind every dish, every ingredient, and every cooking technique, there lies a history worth discussing, a human being worth listening to, a lived experience worth gleaning from. As a means to satiate her appetite for learning about and understanding new and known things, she aims to be the kind of food writer who is approachable, reliable, and personable to readers.

See Full Bio

Where is Commune Cafe located?

Commune Cafe is located at 36 Polaris, Poblacion, Makati City, Metro Manila.

Laura Mendoza Writer

Laura admits that she is a slow eater. She prefers to take her time with the food she likes to eat and the stories she wishes to write. Having graduated with a Creative Writing degree, she comes from a background in writing fiction and poetry. Because of this, she has set herself on a creative mission to explore and delve into what other modes and channels exist for stories and narratives to be told, expressed, and shared with others. For Laura, food as a medium is an exciting proposition. Behind every dish, every ingredient, and every cooking technique, there lies a history worth discussing, a human being worth listening to, a lived experience worth gleaning from. As a means to satiate her appetite for learning about and understanding new and known things, she aims to be the kind of food writer who is approachable, reliable, and personable to readers.

See Full Bio

Does Commune Cafe serve coffee beans?

No, Commune exclusively serves 100% Philippine coffee from local farms across the country.

Laura Mendoza Writer

Laura admits that she is a slow eater. She prefers to take her time with the food she likes to eat and the stories she wishes to write. Having graduated with a Creative Writing degree, she comes from a background in writing fiction and poetry. Because of this, she has set herself on a creative mission to explore and delve into what other modes and channels exist for stories and narratives to be told, expressed, and shared with others. For Laura, food as a medium is an exciting proposition. Behind every dish, every ingredient, and every cooking technique, there lies a history worth discussing, a human being worth listening to, a lived experience worth gleaning from. As a means to satiate her appetite for learning about and understanding new and known things, she aims to be the kind of food writer who is approachable, reliable, and personable to readers.

See Full Bio

What kinds of events are held at Commune Cafe?

Commune Cafe is designed as both a specialty cafe and an inclusive community hub. Over the years, the space has hosted a wide variety of non-coffee events, including improv shows with Spit Manila, craft markets with Common Room, Metro Manila Pride gatherings, spoken word performances, and local startup events.

Laura Mendoza Writer

Laura admits that she is a slow eater. She prefers to take her time with the food she likes to eat and the stories she wishes to write. Having graduated with a Creative Writing degree, she comes from a background in writing fiction and poetry. Because of this, she has set herself on a creative mission to explore and delve into what other modes and channels exist for stories and narratives to be told, expressed, and shared with others. For Laura, food as a medium is an exciting proposition. Behind every dish, every ingredient, and every cooking technique, there lies a history worth discussing, a human being worth listening to, a lived experience worth gleaning from. As a means to satiate her appetite for learning about and understanding new and known things, she aims to be the kind of food writer who is approachable, reliable, and personable to readers.

See Full Bio

Who is Zenki Ho?

Zenki Ho was the Hong Kong Brewers Cup 2023 Champion, 2025 World Brewers Coach, and founder of Moonshine Coffee Roasters.

He was invited by Commune Cafe last September to discuss what to expect should you compete at the international coffee brewing competition Brewers Cup.

Laura Mendoza Writer

Laura admits that she is a slow eater. She prefers to take her time with the food she likes to eat and the stories she wishes to write. Having graduated with a Creative Writing degree, she comes from a background in writing fiction and poetry. Because of this, she has set herself on a creative mission to explore and delve into what other modes and channels exist for stories and narratives to be told, expressed, and shared with others. For Laura, food as a medium is an exciting proposition. Behind every dish, every ingredient, and every cooking technique, there lies a history worth discussing, a human being worth listening to, a lived experience worth gleaning from. As a means to satiate her appetite for learning about and understanding new and known things, she aims to be the kind of food writer who is approachable, reliable, and personable to readers.

See Full Bio