When I was in college, I used to gawk at my dad's brother (who was a yuppie at the time) for buying gourmet coffee. I was in college then and my caffeine consumption was limited to cheap 3-in-1 "coffee"sachets. I didn't know any better, it was all I could afford and drinking it gave me a quick pick-me-upper, until I started working. I realized why good coffee was called good coffee and why bad coffee is merely a by-product of bad sugar and little caffeine. I learned how to be an economical caffeine connoisseur, this is why up to this day you will never find me buying coffee from those big chain cafes. The reason? And probably my greatest caffeine discovery in life: 18 Days Coffee Roaster. I never buy coffee from any other place. To do so, would be blasphemy as my taste buds have been doing the tango to its Special Blend for the past 5 years. I love it so much that I've made it my go-to pasalubong for family and friends that come home to Manila. Their Special Blend is a must-try. A blend of Arabica, robusta and barako, a cup alone is quite spectacular and you'll never want anything else. The price is excellent too, a medium-sized bag costs P275 and it can sustain 1 person for weeks. So, I say ditch those big coffee chain shops and buy local. Buy from 18 Days Coffee Roaster. Oh and the Manang that roasts the coffee herself is quite the charmer too. I recommend that you chat with her every time you visit. read more