ABACA CAFE' THE BEST COFFEE HOUSE IN THE SOUTH

ABACA CAFE' 

Location - Along the road at Barangay Abaca

5 kilometers from the town proper of Cauayan, Negros Occidental

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"Tuod man. Kung hindi ka kapeling, hmm...ituloy ang pangape!"

haha.... joke lang. 

                         

"Oi, huwag, mangape pa kita! Hindi mo pa na "meet" si Ms. Brigid."

haha.... charr.

Shoutout sa kay bff natin...Kap, ari kami di. You have very awesome kapehan here. 

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Tabunan pa ang boy-on para dismolado, hayyyy.

We're here on the Viewing Deck. 

Waiting for our lunch. 

Abaca Cafe' has a wide selection of menu to choose from. We settled for Chicken Tinola and Ice Cream for dessert. 

After lunch, we moved to this customers' area. 

Dugay2, may naga abot nga mga customers, so, to give way to them, nag transfer kami diri. Besides, ka gahud sa amon, lol. Na nami-an kami sang place kay ka hayahay.

All photos by Henry Libo-on, Touristang Pobre. 

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Try mo click this one. 

Video | Facebook

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Introduction 

Drinking coffee is a habit that is as old as Ethiopia or Istanbul. Well, that's where coffee growing and drinking began, they say. We drink coffee to wake us up in the morning or in the afternoon.  How about you? But first, let's have a glimpse of the history of coffee. 

According to Polite Coffee Dot Com, coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian Goat Herder named Kaldi. Coffee planting and drinking evolved in Ethiopia and spread through Yemen as the story goes. The year was approximately between 14th - 15th century or the latest would-be 16th century. Please refer to the full story in the link hereunder:

To know more about what I found out, please visit this link: History of Coffee: From the Origins of the Plant to the First Coffee S – Polite Coffee (Source: politecoffe.com)

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I took this photo while standing on the parking space where cars can park. 

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In a nutshell, Polite Coffee Roasters narrated that there are two most common types of coffee, the Coffea Canephora or Robusta and Coffea Arabica or Arabica. According to Nicavera, Coffee Growing Thrives in Negros Town, there are two other types of coffee, the Liberica and Excelsa. 

According to bing.com Liberica is native to Western and Central Africa from Liberia to Uganda, and Angola. This article also mentioned that these types of coffee had been naturalized in the Philippines and other parts of Asia, specifically Vietnam, the country considered as one of the top coffee producers in the world after Brazil.

Excelsa coffee was discovered in 1903 in Central Africa. It is also known as Coffea Dewevrei and is believed to be a close relative of Liberica. 

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The first coffee shop in the world was established in Constantinople, the present-day Istanbul in Turkey. This coffee shop was started by Hekim from Aleppo and Schems from Damascus. They opened two large coffee houses in Tahktacal district in 1554 and they furnished their coffee houses with a place to study, to conversate (kwentohan, lol), and to play tabletop games. (Hala, pwede cguro ang Billiard?). 

Coffee Growing in Negros Island

I have done my research on coffee growing in Negros Occidental, but this gave me a few current information only and not the historical account of how coffee was grown on the island. 

Precisely, Negrense farmers have been growing coffee as another source of income other than sugarcane farming. 

Places that were popular coffee farming areas are: San Carlos, Minoyan, Ma-ao, La Carlota, Bago, and many others. Canlaon City farmers also plant coffee as another source of income. There are other towns that are known as coffee growers on the island like: La Castellana (Brgy. Sag-ang); Magalona (Canlusong); and La Carlota (Brgy. Yubo). These towns produced what Agriculturists call as Rainforest Coffee. 

A farmer-coffee grower in Minoyan Murcia Marginal Coffee Growers. 

Photo by Erwin Nicavera - Philippine News Agency 

Source:www.pna.gov.ph.

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Drinking Coffee in selected places in Negros Occidental. Well, because of my love for coffee and travel, I went around Negros Occidental to experience coffee from different places in the province. 

I tried Cafe K. M. 41 at Salvador Benedicto, then moved north to Kikulas Hill Cafe at Calatrava, Negros Occidental, then "surveyed" all coffee houses along the Silay-Lantawan Road ending my coffee adventure at Lantawan View. 

But not long after I made this road tour of coffee houses in Negros that I felt pain in my stomach. My driver-friend told me "hala sir, basi gin acid ka na, grabeng imnanay mo coffee daan." To which I replied, "sigi, ma untat na ko inom coffee, ma level up ako sa - - - - - "sara-sara", to which we both laughed out loud, haha. 

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Then, one day, we had coffee in the mountain area of Negros Island, I will not mention the name of this coffee house, and I was informed that they serve their locally produced coffee. When it was time to sip the steaming hot coffee, can you guess how it tasted? My wish, "Sara-Sara". Ang panabor ko daw mais "nga gin sanlag sa kalaha asta mang git-om kag gin butang sa takore kag gin bu'bu' an tubig nga mainit. Bingo - may "Sara-Sara" na ko!.  My driver-friend and myself were laughing out loud again. In fairness, we were also discussing that it could be native coffee "pero kapila na siguro gin bubu' - an tubig nga ininit". That's why ang flavor has changed. 

Coffee in the middle of nowhere? Yes. Our running tour of the Northern Negros Island Mountain areas where coffee houses are plenty, ended in this coffee shop. We passed by this coffee shop enroute to the coastal area. My driver-friend ordered coffee while I got "Leche Con Hielo".  When the steaming hot coffee arrived, Leo began sipping it. Then, whispered - "sir, coffee sa sachet, pero kabalo ko, gin tunga lang. Ma sagamsaman ko gid ang savor sir". Leo told me. So, I said, what probably happened? "Basi gin tunga ya sir, kay imnon nya guro ang tunga karon sa hapon."  To which, I cannot stop laughing. This ends my/our stories about drinking coffee from all over, lol. I did not drink coffee at this time, but I ordered cold "Leche Con Hielo", lol. 

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But the story did not end there.  When I went to La Castellana, I visited the popular coffee shops in town and had a "running tour" of the Masulog-Canlaon Road. Along the road there are several coffee houses that also serve breakfast and lunch. Others have resort facilities for overnight stay. I ended up at 13th Cafe, Masulog, La Castellana. 

This 13th Cafe is at the entrance to La Blanca Resort here in Masulog and it is 7 kilometers to Canlaon City where there are more Coffee Shops, and the newest one (2022?) is near the Century Tree. Ok, balik tayo sa Abaca Cafe. 

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ABACA CAFE'

Abaca Cafe is one of the newest coffee shops in the south of Negros Island. It was opened a few years ago by entrepreneur, civic leader, and Barangay Captain in Bacolod City, Brigid Santes-Tan of Cauayan. 

You will never miss the location of Abaca Cafe because it is on the side of the concrete road 5 kilometers away from the town proper of Cauayan. 

Photo shows the author, former OIC-CPDC (City Planning & Development Office)

 of Bacolod City Government, having lunch here in Abaca Cafe. He is joined by his sister Neneng Icalina, Dyords and Pinky and travel buddy Leo Uy. 

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A short video of Abaca Cafe's viewing deck. 

Makita nga ka kaging sang bukid pero gin balanse sa mabugnaw nga view sang baybay. 

We know that the "greens" will return once the rain comes. 

Source: YouTube by Henry Estado Squad

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What to eat at Abaca Cafe? 

Rice with free coffee such as: 

1. Chorizo with Eggs and Coffee

2. Hotdog with Eggs and Coffee

3. Sweet Ham with Eggs and Coffee

4. Tocino with Eggs and Coffee

Hot Drinks - - - Hot Tea, Hot Choco, Native Coffee

Cold Drinks - - Iced Coffee, Iced Choco, Soda

Fruit Teas and Milk Teas 

Main Course - - - Fried Chicken, Korean Chicken, Pork Chop, Chopsuey, Boneless Bangus, Crab Meat with Rice, and more. 

Barkada Meals - - - - 3 Burgers, 1 Pitcher Fresh Lemon Juice.

Specials - - - - - Native Chicken with Rice (Tinola), Ramen, But-ong, Ibus, and more. *

Short Orders - - - Burger with Fries, Egg Sandwich, Triple Decker, Arroz Caldo.

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What to do in Abaca Cafe?

Well, if you are a traveler, blogger, youtuber, motor vlogger, cyclist, or simply lovers of beautiful sights of nature, and more - - - - Abaca Cafe is your place. 

I forgot, you can go there to Selfie, haha....and of course you can hold a small gathering to celebrate your birthday, wedding anniversary, a small group meeting, and more. 

For me, Abaca Cafe' is the Selfie Capital of the town of Cauayan, haha...please don't disagree. Try mo visit, kon indi ka mag Selfie, sugid lang, haha.... joke lang ah. But the Lookout that overlooks the ridges, hills, and the distant sea is really breathtaking.

Chasing Sunset at Abaca? Why, not? 

Recently, Abaca Cafe' built new structures on the ridge near their coffee shop. There is also a "hagdan" going up the ridge where the good view of the sea and the hills await you. I did not go there, maybe next time. Ga sakit bala tuhod ko mga abyan, tigulbang na Lolo nyo, charr....haha. Ga tagiti ang init ah...sa dason na lang...agahan ta pa, o' di ba? 

How to get there? 

Let's all agree that you reach the town of Cauayan, Negros Occidental. 

From the Municipal Hall follow the national highway, going south and turn left on the road going to Barangay Abaca. Follow that road until you reach the public cemetery. I said this because the other road on the right side, before the cemetery, will take you to the First Bible Baptist Church, that's far.  

Sorry, that is the only landmark I can share that is really visible on the road, "ang patyo". From there, just follow the road that will lead you to Barangay Abaca. 

Abaca Cafe - Google Maps

Few minutes from there, it will not take you ten minutes, I guess, then you see Abaca Cafe' along the road. 

***Please try to click this link (hereunder) to see the location of Abaca Cafe' on the side of the road which is 5 kilometers away from the town proper of the town of Cauayan in Negros Occidental. 

Cauayan, Western Visayas - Google Maps

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Do you want to watch a Drone Shot of Abaca Cafe?

Just click the link hereunder - Facebook .....and watch. 

Source: Abaca Cafe Facebook Page by Cornelio Cirilo Santes

and "Day Off Quest". Thanks guys. 

Facebook

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ENJOY YOUR "But-ong" & "Ibus" 

and Abaca Coffee. 

Steaming Hot Coffee

From fineartamerica.com & www.bing.com

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Now, I thank you for visiting our Blogsite Touristang Pobre. 

If you find this blog informative, please LIKE our Facebook Page and SHARE this story with your friends. Thank you. 

You can also visit my other Blogs about Coffee Tripping ni Henry - - - just click the link hereunder: 

1. Kikulas Hill Cafe' - KIKULAS HILL CAFE' - Touristang Pobre

2. Lantawan View Cafe at Silay - LANTAWAN CAFE, RESTO BAR & RESORT STRIP - Touristang Pobre

3. Cafe K.M. 41 - CAFE' K.M. 41 AT SALVADOR BENEDICTO - Touristang Pobre

4. 13th Cafe at La Blanca Resort, Masulog, La Castellana here - LA BLANCA RESORT: HIDDEN HIDEAWAY IN CENTRAL NEGROS ISLAND? - Touristang Pobre

5. THE GOVERNOR AND I - Touristang Pobre

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Shoutout to Ms. Myla Santes of Abaca Cafe' our very friendly "Abyan" & sistah of Ms. Brigid. Salamat Myl. We'll be coming back. Pramis, haha.

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Thank you again. 

This is Henry of Touristang Pobre, saying thank you, gracias, salamat.  

New Jersey, U.S.A. 

**See you next time - - Honey.....Take My Hand ...haha... title ni ya sang kanta ni Cody Francis, a   Utah based singer-song writer...

Wild, is a video that features Reese Witherspoon, a Hollywood star...Enjoy.

Source: Youtube

JUST A SECOND, 

In the future we'll check where we can have a cup of green coffee, like this one.

Image by The Frisky at www.bing.com

Green Coffee producers are mostly in Asia like Vietnam, Yemen, Indonesia, and others. But recently, Green Coffee is available in grocery stores, and online. 

If you want to know more about Green Coffee, how to prepare it, what benefits you can derive from it, and what is the best time to drink it, among others, please check this out through this link - here - Everything You Need To Know About Green Coffee (+ Where to Buy Green Coffee in the Philippines) - Coffee Smiley

*****Bye......

Updated on March 27, 2024

Updated on April 10, 2024.

by Touuristang Pobre

Henry Libo-on