Over a cup of hot coffee…A New Kid on the (Coffee) Block
by Ma. Glaiza Lee, Mabuhay Magazine, June 2008

"Coffee can be served and taken in various ways. It can be drip brewed, percolated, or French- pressed. It can be hot or cold, plain black or sweetened, with milk or cream.

Experiment with various concoctions. There’s the basic espresso topped with whipped cream. Add hot water for an Americano. Put steamed milk to make a good latte, or milk froth for a cappuccino.

There are many blends one can try, but there are only a few that can meet expectations, appeal to the most discriminating taste, and become a classic.

BoNa Coffee, owned by Candace Schmidt-Gonzales and Luis Gonzales who are both self-confessed coffee addicts, has become one of the favorite hangouts down south because of its unique blends.

The couple meticulously created their own brews. They were discriminating about what would be included in their menu. They didn’t duplicate existing concoctions.

Its inception happened over cups of coffee. Luis and Candace were on a nine-hour stop in Nairobi, Kenya. That time, they were at a crossroads: they were deciding whether to take the corporate route or find their passion. The couple stayed in a coffee shop, the only hangout area at the airport.

"We observed how people come and go: they bought coffee, drank it, and left. For them, a coffee shop was simply a place to eat or buy beverages and snacks. And Candace and I wanted to change that," said Luis.

In November 2006, the couple established their first branch in Parañaque, and opened another in Westgate, Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang. It stands right next to the couple’s Bohemian Nation furniture shop.

What’s the brew of the day?

Their "brew of the day" could be chocolate raspberry, roasted caramel, their house blend, or any of their flavors and blends. They offer thermos mug refills for less than the usual price.

They serve several espresso variants: the classic Espresso, Con Panna (topped with whipped cream), Macchiato (with foamed milk), Aroma (with a shot of flavored syrup), Coretto (with a liqueur shot), Veneto (with chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream and shaved chocolate), Aroma con Panna (combination of Aroma and Con Panna), and Coretto con Panna (combination of Coretto and Con Panna).

Candace’s favorite is the Romano, an espresso with a squeeze of lemon. One can actually smell lemon essence from the lid of the cup, and it has a citrusy taste. She describes it as "the real coffee in Italy."

Their Nacho Libre is so irresistible (you need to ask for it because it’s not in the menu). It’s a double shot espresso with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and the secret ingredient that Luis doesn’t want to reveal. It’s very thick, smooth and silky, and surprisingly not bitter. It’s so strong, you can’t drink it everyday.

Their menu says it all: "We know how to make good coffee. The fun part comes from the creation of new exciting coffee concoctions, full of amazing flavors, twists, and turns. Just ask our baristas."

Drinks for everyone

Don’t worry if you’re a non-coffee drinker because they have several comforting caffeine-free blends such as Hot Chai Latte (classic chai with a latte finish), Dutch Hot Chocolate (silky goodness of hot choco in a cup, enough said!), Cocoa Loco (hot choco with cinnamon syrup, dash of chili, and topped with whipped cream), and numerous tea variants.

Want something cold? Try their blended smoothies. They have blended ice coffees such as Heath Mocha, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Mint, and Kona Mocha.

Get the chill without the java rush with their Hazelnut, Belgian Chocolate, and Vanilla Bean blend crèmes. Or opt for the frozen hot chocolate, called 20° Below Hot Chocolate. This will surely revolutionize the way one drinks hot chocolate.

You’ll also love the Tofu Banana Honey Smoothie. It is not too sweet, but not too bland. It’s low-fat and low-calorie, definitely a guilt-free drink!

Treats for the palate

BoNa has Tuna Wasabi, Nairobi Vegetarian, Mrs. Schmidt’s Egg Salad, Buddha Belly, and Robust Roasted Beef gourmet sandwiches, generously packed with fresh greens and healthy ingredients as well as the Peanut Buttah Banana Almond, Spanish Sardine and Onion, and Turkey Jack (turkey slices topped with Monterey Jack cheese) whole-wheat mini sandwiches.

They also have a string of assorted muffins: carrot pineapple, cinnamon, and banana chocolate with walnut, especially the orange chocolate chip muffins with real orange essence. They are freshly baked, very moist and soft, with melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

What do you think of chocolate/vanilla ice cream with a shot of your favorite liqueur, the blueberry ice cream with vodka or the calamansi sherbet with tequila? The descriptive label, "drunken desserts," definitely says it all.

With its sumptuous offerings and comfy ambiance, BoNa Coffee is surely a great place to argue on politics (maybe start a revolution), talk about fashion, gain friends, or even fall in love!