Mandaluyong people: if you’ve been craving to get a slice of the rising third wave coffee scene in the metro, then we’ve got good news for you: there’s a hip neighborhood café in the area and we promise it’s going to be your new favorite hangout.
YDG Coffee of Makati fame has taken up space at the Mandala Park along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City and it is everything a coffee lover could wish for: Aside from serving up some great specialty coffee, they’ve got a bright, open space that’s conducive for great conversations, or for working and studying (Hooray for freelancers and students!).
Originally started by friends Marc Tarog, Miguel Papa, and Nico de los Reyes who had a common passion for third wave coffee, the three put up a small hole-in-the-wall shop at Pasong Tamo in Makati last year. Within months, their cozy corner quickly attracted a following from the cosmopolitan office crowd, as well as young creatives in the area.
According to co-owner Sid Cabatingan, YDG stands for Your Daily Grind, referring to both the daily grind of diverse people that come to visit their coffee shop, as well as the specialty beans they serve.
YDG in Mandala Park has taken up residence at an old showroom for condominiums, which means that they automatically benefit from having a wide space and cool, modern interiors. Aside from a huge coffee bar in the middle where you can see the baristas in action, YDG also has huge workspaces, modern furniture, tons of natural light and a mix of plants, photography, and artwork that give the place a nice, laidback feel.
The group teamed up with Carlos Jesena and Sean Lee of Plain Sight Coffee Roasters, who supply coffee sourced from both international and local areas, such as Ethiopia, Costa Rica, and even Davao. What’s great about YDG is that they’ve created a bright workspace for people looking for a respite from their offices (they’ve got Wi-Fi and tons of outlets, as well!), as well as a meet-up spot for people who have learned to become more discerning about their coffee.
Aside from the standard coffee menu that has all the classics, YDG has some pretty interesting concoctions up their sleeve, as well as a great food menu that’s perfect for brunch dates. Here are some of the items you should try at YDG:
Mocha Negra
dark chocolate, milk, espresso
Honey, Wake Up
honey, milk, cinnamon, espresso
Dirty Matcha
matcha, milk, espresso
Daily Squeeze
fresh orange juice, honey, tonic, soda water
YDG Egg Sandwich
A cross between an Eggs Benedict and a Croque: English muffin, scrambled egg, sriracha mayo, cheese crust, potato chips
Creamy Pumpkin with Pork Belly pasta
Pasta in creamy pumpkin sauce, with coffee-crusted pork belly, kesong puti and cherry tomatoes on top.
Mushroom Omelette
Omelette with sautéed mushrooms and cheddar cheese.
