Commune: A pioneer in the café-bar scene

The metro is peppered with a variety of café-restaurants ranging from famous global brands to the charming mom-and pop-stores—but café-bars are few and far between.

In fact, the only one I know is the quaint coffee shop called Commune.

I learned about my latest discovery through my social media network. It comes as no surprise I learned about it that way at all since Ros Juan—Commune's owner—is, in fact, a social media strategist.

“The whole idea was really for a place to get together with friends and different people. At the root of what I do now in social media is really community management,” said Ros. This young entrepreneur aims to get online communities to meet offline and Commune has become their new home.

Commune regular Gen Tiu has this to say of the café-bar: “My impression of Commune is that it’s a place that’s really cater[ing] to a community and [aims] to form communities. It’s a comfortable and cheery place to chill and work.”

When I entered the premises, the cartoony illustrations on the wall (by Kay Aranzanso and Jason Sto. Domingo of "Illustrador ng Kabataan") instantly put a smile on my face—indeed, they'd put a smile on anyone's face.

Shelves full of books and other knick-knacks populated one side of the wall, reminding me of the den in my house. Near the bar area was a big, hard-to-miss chalkboard, and several floral centerpieces served to brighten up the room. Overall, the atmosphere was relaxing and I found it a comfortable place to turn into my mobile office.

When I complimented Ros on the interiors, she disclosed that Nix Alañon did the design, but the two of them worked on the concept as a whole together.

Another source of inspiration for Ros was the hit TV show, Friends, which often depicted the cast hanging out at a café called Central Perk.

Of coffee cravings and menus

This café-bar serves its own blend of coffee—the Commune blend, which is a special combination of two Philippine coffee varieties: Arabica and Robusta.

But apart from this blend, for now, the store offers the usual espresso-based drinks, hand-dripped coffee, and iced coffee. More options will be available in the near future.

I sampled the Café Mocha, which was topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup to make it more decadent. I am no coffee connoisseur but I found this particular beverage delicious. It had the right amount of bitterness, sweetness, and creaminess, to my taste. I can imagine that the iced version must be a very refreshing treat.

I thought a sandwich would be a nice pairing for my coffee, so I ordered the Commune Club, a triple-decker, half-sandwich serving with chicken, bacon, and vegetable fillings. What's unique about this sandwich is that it is made with malunggay (moringa) wheat bread, a healthy option I could appreciate. I liked the flavors and textures of the rosemary infused chicken chunks, salty bacon, crunchy greens, and soft white asparagus.

The order came with some camote (sweet potato) chips and a side salad that had  cashews and bits of dried mangoes with vinaigrette dressing. I thought the serving  too big for my little appetite, but I finished everything to the last bite.

There are also vegetarian sandwich options such as the Tuna Melt and Grilled Vegetables.

Diners may choose the rice meals from Sa Banana, which is a slow-food version of Binalot, a food business that specializes in rice meals wrapped in banana leaves. Incidentally, Ros's brother owns Binalot.

The food menu of Commune includes all-day breakfast meals like the typical longganisa, tocino, and tapa. There are other Filipino classics such as adobo, sinigang, and daing, as well as vegetable side dishes. According to Ros, “We wanted it to be a mix of whatever mood you’re in and more comfort food.

“We have Pinoy food, which is really home-cooked fare. We have three variations of adobo, all-day breakfast, and the menu we developed together with Binalot and our cooks. I did the taste test. I ran two or three taste test sessions with my friends.”

Health-conscious eaters would love to know that Commune uses organic eggs, free-range chicken, and farm-fresh vegetables. Red rice is also listed on the menu.

For those who want to indulge, there are a variety of desserts to satisfy those with sweet tooth. Most of the pastries are outsourced from carefully selected suppliers such as Sweet Patti Cakes for the cupcakes, Aleth Ocampo for the cookies, and Marilyn Matti for the apple pie. The menu is actually still evolving, so diners can expect new dishes and treats upon their next visit.

The other face of Commune

What makes this coffee shop stand out from the rest is that it offers a good selection of craft beers and cocktails.

“As much as I love coffee, I would probably stop drinking coffee after 5pm. By then, I’d want to start unwinding and it’s best with a glass of wine or cocktail,” Ros reveals. “How the place is being run is basically how I would have my day. Start with coffee in the morning, then I would eat some meals, and then by the end of the day, unwind.”

The cocktail list is currently being beefed up. I was told that there just might be coffee-based cocktails in the future.

There are some days when customers may chance upon an event in Commune since it hosts Ros's tweet-ups, among other gatherings. Other groups have also gotten in touch with her for their company events. The café dining area has a division that can turn it into a function area.

With some reconfiguration, Commune can accommodate 50-60 people. 70 for cocktail events.

Ever since Commune opened last April, Ros has been very accommodating toward start-ups and other groups. “Part of the plan was to open it to other organizations. Kaya siya Commune. How I envisioned it is it’s really a place to get together and it’s nice because it’s happening now.” — VC, GMA News   


Commune is located in Ground Floor, Liberty Plaza, 102 H.V. Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City. Contact them at (0933) 720-0241 or havecoffee@commune.ph or visit their website.