July 23, 2023

Arbiter Coffee: Quality Coffees Shall Prevail

There’s this new coffee shop that is located three towns away from our hometown and a plenty more turns away from the highway and yet, we traverse the long way just to get a high quality coffee. It was worth the ride! It’s definitely one of the best-tasting coffee in Mindoro.

Promoting third-wave coffees and offering specialty coffees, Arbiter Coffee aims to provide caffeine drinks that are flavored only and purely by the natural notes of the beans. It means that caramel syrup, vanilla syrup, chocolate syrup or any artificial flavorings are ditched in this coffee shop. The baristas here are like magicians that even without these syrups and flavorings and with just milk and coffee alone, they were able to expose the beautiful flavors of coffee beans, which can be as sweet as chocolate and caramel or fruity as citrus and berries. Basically, it’s a coffee shop built out of passion.

Flat White

Obviously, the latte art was done professionally. I’m more of an iced coffee fan but this changed my heart for a moment. It was just mere milk and coffee with foam but it isn’t too bitter. I can’t believe that there was caramel-like sweetness lingering, which probably came from the java itself. It has this velvety consistency that I love. Moreover, the coffee shop’s effort to give complimentary sparkling water to clean the palate says a lot on how the shop want its customers experience the coffee at its best.

Build Over Ice

In common terms, Build Over Ice is what we know as iced latte. The first thing I noticed is the thin consistency of the iced coffee. This is probably because the barista opted for less creamy milk to keep the flavor of dairy subtle. Moreover, there wasn’t any flavoring or syrup present to thicken the texture. In this way, drinkers will be able to focus more on the flavor notes of the beans, which is how a latte should be. The taste and consistency actually reminds me of Bluesmith coffee, one of my favorite specialty coffee in Manila.

Iced Blended

It’s my first time trying this unique coffee experience brought by Arbiter’s Iced Blended. It’s iced cold coffee but without ice! To make this happen, the barista blended the ice with a housemade Spanish latte until the ice was completely liquid and the texture of the drink got frothy and thick like a milkshake. The cup was surprisingly light. In terms of taste, it also didn’t disappoint in exposing the flavors of the beans, which has some sweet hints. It may give a new and playful sensation but I still prefer their coffee over ice.

Cold Drip Coffee

I remember when I first had a sip of the bottled Cold Drip Coffee in the cafe. The owner was looking at me, perhaps, he was wondering what my initial reaction would be. He asked what flavors I got and we both said chocolate at the same time. That is how clearly this drink showcased the notes of the coffee bean. It even got the acidic aftertaste, which is the same acidity that I could get on a dark chocolate. The caffeine was strong but I couldn’t feel it because of the luscious flavor. This is my personal favorite. Whenever we visit Arbiter Coffee Shop, we buy a few for take out and stock up at home.

Green Tea Cookies | Fudge Brownies

Arbiter Coffee also offer sweet delights and savory snacks to pair with their coffee. We had their Green Tea Cookies and Fudge Brownies one time. I don’t know but the brownies tasted like dates to me. It has this chocolaty and fruity essence. It has crispy exterior but surprisingly soft interior. My teeth was actually ready for hard bite. On the other hand, I prefer the Green Tea Cookies to have stronger matcha flavors. The earthiness was kinda covered by the sugar. Nevertheless, its sweetness complemented the coffee. I also like the touch of white chocolate from the Green Tea Cookies.