It was only last March, while aboard the Disney Adventure cruise’s maiden voyage, when I was introduced to the captivating brews of Bacha Coffee.
Amid the cruise’s high-seas luxury, I first encountered two variants of the legendary Moroccan coffee made from 100 percent Arabica beans: the berry-noted I Love Paris and the hazelnut-flavored Happy Gianduja. Sachet-wrapped drip coffee bags of both brews were available in our room and served in all of Disney Adventure’s restaurants.
That unforgettable four-day cruise where I had my repeated fills of Bacha Coffee was more than enough to get me hooked. Since then, I went on to ask an overseas-based friend to send me Bacha Coffee’s Navigator sampler, which allowed me to enjoy its numerous other variants, including the fruity 1910 and the Marrakech Morning Coffee with its mixed flavor notes.
For the uninitiated, which until recently included myself, Bacha Coffee is the legendary Moroccan coffee house founded in 1910 within the historic Dar el Bacha in, yes, Marrakech. Following its global revival in recent years, V3 Gourmet, the same group behind the equally exquisite TWG Tea, opened its first international store in Singapore in 2019.
Now, I’m very happy to learn that Bacha Coffee is now available here in the Philippines with not just one but two locations in Metro Manila: SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City and Greenbelt 3 in Makati City.
These flagship stores bring both the art of traditional coffee preparation and coffee gastronomy directly to Filipino coffee lovers.
‘Bacha Coffee is the product of a rich legacy, a brand that has ripened over storied brews since 1910. Our latest destinations will ignite the imagination of our guests in the same way that coffee transports us to faraway destinations. We have combined old and new into one experience, paying homage to the past and inventing the future, with 100 percent Arabica specialty coffee playing center stage in this theatre of life,’ noted Taha Bouqdib, President and CEO of V3 Gourmet.
Reflecting the heritage of its birthplace in Dar el Bacha, both spaces feature the brand’s signature visual spectacle: rich, warm ochre tones, intricate geometric zellige tilework, hand-carved cedar wood ceilings, polished brass detailing, and striking black-and-white inlaid marble floors.
With a whopping library of over 200 varieties of 100 percent Arabica specialty coffees, meticulously sourced from 35 premier coffee-producing regions worldwide, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration at all to consider Bacha Coffee as the ultimate coffee experience. Divided across Single Origin, Fine Blended, Fine Flavoured-including the beloved I Love Paris-and Naturally CO2 Decaffeinated categories, guests can explore the awe-inspiring stores through its three distinct concepts: an intimate Coffee Bar, a retail Coffee Boutique, and a full-service Takeaway experience.
For those seeking an immersive sit-down experience, the Bacha Coffee Bar offers an exclusive setting-seating up to 15 guests at SM Mall of Asia and 8 guests at Greenbelt 3. True to Moroccan tradition, no espresso-based beverages are served here. Every brew is meticulously prepared and poured from signature golden pots. The coffee is accompanied by gourmet and freshly baked treats, including the Philippines-exclusive Soy-Marinated Chicken and Potato Croissant. There are also signature desserts like the decadent Bacha Coffee Tiramisu, served in an amber glass jar layered with coffee jelly and Arabica-soaked biscuits.
The Coffee Boutique features floor-to-ceiling columns of ochre canisters. Coffee enthusiasts can purchase loose beans by weight or have them freshly ground by in-house Coffee Masters to match their exact brewing setup. The retail collection also offers exquisite gift choices, such as the Signature Nomad Collection-featuring rare origins like Yemen’s Grand Moka Matari Coffee-along with single-serve Coffee Bag Gift Boxes, bone china from the Heritage Collection, and curated gift hampers.
And yes, the Navigator sampler, a box of 25 individually wrapped, single-serve drip coffee bags, is also available here and the one I’ll most likely come back for the most.
Bacha Coffee also elevates the takeaway experience. Each takeaway order, whether served hot or iced, is presented on a silver-toned designer tray complete with vanilla bean-flecked Chantilly cream, a raw sugar stick, a wooden spoon, and a reusable glass straw.
As someone who has fully embraced Bacha Coffee’s timeless tradition after first experiencing it in, of all places, the open seas, being able to enjoy its rich brews at home and, yes, in their new Metro Manila stores is nothing short of a wonderful treat.
As I kept telling Maranda Barnes, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of V3 Gourmet, Bacha Coffee’s Marrakech roots reminded me of ‘Marrakesh Express,’ the classic folk song by Crosby, Stills and Nash. With its upbeat tone and inviting lyrics, I found myself on board this particular train thanks in large part to Bacha Coffee.
Looking forward to seeing more Bacha Coffee stores open here in the Philippines in the near future.
Destination Guide:
Bacha Coffee SM Mall of Asia: Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Open daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
Bacha Coffee Greenbelt 3: Ground Floor, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City. Open Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm, and Friday to Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm.