Cover New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
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Kyoto-born speciality coffee brand, 2050 Coffee brings its principle of sustainable sourcing and high-tech “tap” brewing systems to the Philippines
Throwing its hat into the highly competitive ring of speciality coffee in the Philippines, 2050 Coffee opens what is potentially the first of many branches in Molito Lifestyle Center, Alabang. The Japanese brand was born out of what the coffee world is calling “the 2050 Problem”, which states that: “By 2050, climate change and rising global consumption may make it difficult to enjoy coffee at the price and quality we enjoy today.” It is widely believed that due to the progression of global warming and the fact that consumption is outpacing production, the area where Arabica beans are grown will be halved by 2050. Meanwhile, global coffee demand is increasing year by year, and the imbalance between production and consumption is becoming more serious. 2050 Coffee (from the Kyoto-based coffee lifestyle brand Kurasu) aims to contribute to a world wherein coffee has a sustainable future.
Above New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
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With the desire to spread its gospel of agricultural traceability in a high-tech, fast-paced world, 2050 Coffee has expanded from its original Kyoto location to Singapore, and now to the Philippines. Partnering locally with entrepreneur Charles Paw of Tasteless Food Group, the allure of the brand felt organic to the businessman known for his vibrant and youthful concepts. “As someone who is interested in both tech and food, I was impressed with how 2050 Coffee was able to combine both in one cafe concept,” Paw confesses. “After trying 2050 coffee in Kyoto, I knew I wanted to bring this unique and elevated coffee experience to Manila—something that goes beyond the usual cafe setup by combining quality coffee, thoughtful design and innovative technology.”
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Above New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
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Paw further explains how 2050 Coffee brings together sustainability and education, connecting Filipino consumers to the coffee journey and fostering a deeper understanding of coffee craftsmanship and engaging the community in meaningful ways. “We use tap-coffee technology for some of our drinks, which leaves our baristas free to engage with customers by talking about the story behind our coffee beans, which 2050 Coffee sources directly from farmers all over the world. We are also open to engaging the community more with events like cupping sessions,” he says. With a young and fast-growing local coffee market, Paw believes the brand is bound to click. “We noticed that locally, a lot of Filipinos are on the lookout for unique cafe concepts, and we think 2050 coffee fits the bill. 2050 Coffee combines good coffee with innovative technology and modern aesthetics, which I think is a good fit for the growing local coffee culture.”
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Above New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
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In choosing their location, Paw admits to picking Molito for its easygoing vibe that encourages human interaction. “Molito is an open‑air lifestyle centre right in the heart of Alabang,” he starts. “Its open spaces and lifestyle-oriented environment focus on providing customers with a relaxing and enjoyable experience, making it an ideal location for 2050 Coffee, encouraging interaction, conversation and connection, reinforcing a warm and inclusive atmosphere.” This works with the local culture that enjoys gathering over food and drink, and Paw made sure to make the right adjustments, adapting to Filipino consumers. “Some drinks and pastries were tailored to suit local tastes, balancing unique speciality coffee flavours with familiar flavours that Filipino customers enjoy,” he confesses. In addition, “prices were carefully calibrated to reflect the premium quality of the offerings while remaining accessible to the local market.”
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Above New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
New café: Kyoto’s 2050 Coffee is now open in Molito, Alabang (Photo: courtesy of Tasteless Food Group)
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Tasteless’ chef consultant Sonny Mariano was called upon to produce branch-exclusive menu items to make things more exciting. For instance, a hot and iced apple cinnamon latte was made with the intention of bringing comfort in a cup, says Paw. (“It will remind you of apple pie and drinking coffee by the fireplace.”) A banana walnut loaf is a familiar flavour that always hits the spot, studded with dark chocolate and walnuts. The Ube Matcha Cookie S’wich is a playful take on Asian flavours, combining sweet ube with earthy matcha in a soft, creamy cookie sandwich.
Paw is conservatively waiting and watching in terms of expansion, opting to move reactively according to market feedback. “We are definitely open to building more branches in other locations, depending on the demand,” he imparts. However, we can be sure to expect Kurasu Kyoto to open in Manila some time this year.
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Jaclyn Clemente Koppe is a food and lifestyle writer, as well as a consultant to some of the country’s beloved food and beverage brands. Her passion for food and drink is only surpassed by her devotion to her family, most especially to her soulmate, Pepa the poodle.
