Here in Ateneo, coffee choices are usually limited to coffee shops outside campus or the instant coffee available in Gonzaga. The Coffee Collective comes as a solution to this problem, becoming a source of premium coffee on campus.

Taste

The Cold Brew has a bitter bite that mingles with a tame hit of acid and a subtle fruity flavor. The coffee feels potent, providing the strong kick that comes after a sudden intake of caffeine. Moreover, the milk and the syrup in the coffee leave the fruity and acidic notes on a minimum, while keeping the bitterness in check. It is sure to keep you awake.

The Iced Mocha, on the other hand, curbs the subtle flavors present in the Cold Brew. However, the texture is a bit too watery for a proper mocha, which means that the milk-to-coffee ratio is imbalanced.

The pastries, served with the coffee, steal the show. The Brownie has a superb texture: crunchy on the outside, but chewy on the inside. The Oreo Cheesecake Cookie is creamy and perfectly sweet. The Cookie Dough Ball’s filling is too soft, but the hard shell of chocolate coating makes it a satisfying bite. Paired with the bitter coffee, these sweets round up the eating experience.

Concept

The Coffee Collective serves cold brew coffee, a type of brew that brings out the fruitiness and acidity of the coffee bean instead of the usual bitter notes that come with the regular brewing process. It’s an impressive effort, although the price point may make it hard to execute properly on campus.

Value for money

The coffee is a little too pricey for the quality, but the pastries are worth it despite being on the small side. For the casual coffee drinker, the serving size is a lot for the price. Coffee served in a mason jar with a cap makes it easy to bring it around campus all throughout the day.

Final Verdict

The Coffee Collective is for the college student looking to stay awake on those days that just feel a little too long. The experience of biting into a perfectly sweet pastry then sipping the bitter Cold Brew makes it all worth it at the end, satisfying any student who needs his or her caffeine fix for the day.

Rating: 4/5

Photo by Trina Camacho.