Address: Fil-Am Friendship Hwy, Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines
Opening Hours: Daily 8:00am – 12:00am
Phone Number: +639563323300
I came to learn about Coffeebay from a friend who was a huge Kdrama fan. Apparently the korean coffee shop was frequently featured in Korean drama shows like Hotel Del Luna. Knowing how much Kdrama fandom is in the Philippines, I decided to come visit. Was it going to be as successful as BBQ Chicken’s opening in Bonifacio Global City? And why was it opened in Pampanga instead of Metro Manila?
I found when I arrived, it was no less than another Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf / Starbucks doppelganger with a different logo and some whipped cream. Sure, I love the Korean charm that transformed Fil-Am Friendship Highway… which should have been named Fil-Korean Friendship Highway with the amount of Korean establishments dotting the long road.
Mocha coffee, nothing extraordinary. Blueberry cheesecake, good. Passable. Fruit waffles? It was one of those premixed waffles cooked on a waffle maker onsite, resulting in waffles breaking in the middle. The frozen blueberries did nothing to justify its expensive price. And the whipped cream… Well call me biased, but I prefer Viennese whipped cream.
I’m not sure how this coffee shop is going to survive with only its desserts and coffee. Perhaps Coffeebay is best left to be visited in Korea.