Get ready to check these stops off your Cebu Coffee Crawl 2025 list!
It’s no secret that Cebuanos love coffee. Whether it’s their daily fuel or preferred leisure beverage to pass the time, you’re likely to spot a local sipping on a cup of joe.
No wonder the Cebu coffee scene is thriving.
A month-long event has begun to celebrate the local coffee community: the Cebu Coffee Crawl 2025. Twenty shops have gathered to create a memorable coffee experience.
Whether you’re a coffee aficionado or don’t know where to get coffee, look no further than this event.
SOMETHING SPECIAL HAS BREWED
The event is the first of its kind in Cebu. Per the High Grounds Coffee, the organizers, it’s a pilot run to introduce the concept to locals. Since this is the first test run, the event aims to “gauge interest, collect feedback, and lay the groundwork for future coffee-themed experiences in the region.”
Its core is simple: coffee and community movement. And this isn’t merely enumerating the best coffee shops in Cebu.
It’s all about bringing people together, building connections, and establishing a culture where coffee is the catalyst for uniting a community.
To put it simply, it aims to build a community. It wants people to discover, support, and enjoy great coffee in Cebu.
HOW THE CRAWL WORKS
Each participating shop has 10 limited edition passports available for crawlers. The passport’s second page shows the logo of the shop where you bought it. It’s also where you’ll claim your prize upon completion of the crawl.
Additionally, the passport’s back section has a QR code. The code contains each participating shop’s location details and business hours.
Rewards await crawlers at the end of their coffee adventure. The first finisher will win a sensory and brewing workshop.
The crawl will also hold a raffle. The grand prize is a portable, all-in-one pour-over kit—perfect for coffee lovers who are constantly on the go.
Aside from the big prizes, the Cebu Coffee Crawl has giveaways for every participant. They’ll receive a handcrafted tote bag from Oslob’s Small Tailor Community.
They’ll also get stickers from every participating coffee shop and a barista enamel pin.
For more specific crawl mechanics, head over to their official Facebook Page. There’s also a set schedule for crawlers to claim their event takeaways, so keep yourselves posted.
PARTICIPATING SHOPS: THE BEST COFFEE IN CEBU
Twenty participating shops have come together to allow Cebuanos (and coffee lovers everywhere) to experience and enjoy the best brews that the 032 has to offer.
Let’s go over some of them, shall we? We’ve grouped them according to location for easier identification.
CEBU CITY
There’s no better place to start than with the Queen City of the South itself.
The Spring may be new, but it’s becoming a great place to get coffee in Cebu.
THE SPRING
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: Ground Floor, MSY Tower, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
Note: Unfortunately, no jeepney route directly passes by The Spring. However, it is a short walk from Ayala Center Cebu. Taxi drivers and ride-hailing apps are also likely to be familiar with the building.
The Spring is a coffee shop tucked away in the MSY Tower. The cafe’s look mixes minimalist and cozy aesthetics, providing customers a comfortable space to enjoy their coffee.
Aside from cafe staples, the shop prides itself on its Warm Hugs espresso. It mixes the espresso’s robustness with the warmth of chai tea and sprinkles of cinnamon.
Unlike most coffee places, its pastry menu changes daily. This ensures they always give customers something to look out for.
GOOD CUP COFFEE CO.
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: F. Ramos Street, Cebu City
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily
Note: Jeepney routes 14D and 17C pass directly by Good Cup.
What started as a micro-roastery, coffee academy, and cafe is now a thriving local powerhouse. Established in 2018, Good Cup was once an 11-member team effort led by founder Gio Visitacion.
Fast forward to today, they’re now 54 employees strong, catering to coffee lovers and brands throughout the Philippines and Asia.
As reported by the Lifestyle Inquirer, they’re gearing up for a Manila expansion, with The Good Cup Coffee Studio opening in Makati within the year.
Among their bestsellers are their cold white brew and the classic latte. They’re best paired with their kouign-amann and plain croissants.
THIRD WAVE COFFEE
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: 2nd Floor, Bloq Residences Showroom, GND Arcade, F. Cabahug Street, Kasambagan, Cebu City
Operating Hours:
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Sunday to Thursday)
10:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Friday to Saturday)
Note: Jeepney routes 03A and 22G pass directly by F. Cabahug Street.
Specialty coffee shops today follow the third wave movement. For those unaware, it’s a trend that emphasizes higher coffee quality, ethical production, sustainability, and strong local support.
Going by its name, this coffee shop is an advocate of the movement. Third Wave offers a wide variety of coffee options, from classics like the americano, fun drinks like the sea salt latte (a crowd favorite), to their selection of pour-overs.
MANDAUE CITY
Great coffee in Cebu doesn’t stop at the capital. The island’s other major areas have gems of their own, too. Let’s start with the Industrial City of Southern Philippines: Mandaue.
KVYN'S COFFEE BAR
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: Phoenix Gas Station (across Cafe Racer), Ouano Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City
Operating Hours:
7:30 AM – 9:00 PM (Sunday to Thursday)
7:30 AM – 11:00 PM (Friday to Saturday)
Note: Unfortunately, no jeepney directly passes by Kvyn’s. However, taxi drivers and ride-hailing apps are likely to be familiar with the area.
If you think you can’t get specialty coffee in Mandaue, let Kvyn’s Coffee Bar prove you otherwise.
Aside from their espresso-based selections, they pride themselves on their filter coffee offerings. If you want to take a break from typical lattes, this is the place for you.
LAPU-LAPU CITY
Not to be outdone, the Historic Resort City has its own little list.
Since Lapu-Lapu welcomes hordes of tourists daily, it’s no wonder they have their own coffee scene.
THE HIGH GROUNDS COFFEE
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: Cadulang, Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City
Operating Hours:
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Tuesday to Thursday)
11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Friday to Sunday)
Closed on Mondays
Note: Unfortunately, no jeepney directly passes by High Grounds. However, taxi drivers and ride-hailing apps are likely to be familiar with the area.
The first entry on this LLC list is the brainchild behind the crawl itself. THGC began as a small table in Cordova back in 2020. It then moved to Marigondon and became a small shack in 2021.
Come 2023, it evolved into its present form: a coffee shop.
THGC serves specialty coffee because they truly believe that a great cup starts with an equally good source. The space’s open nature lets you see how they make your coffee from start to finish, making for a more intimate experience.
WAVE COFFEE
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: 3J’s and K Apartment, Marigondon Beach Road, Lapu Lapu City
Operating Hours:
12:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Tuesday to Sunday)
Closed on Mondays
Note: Unfortunately, no jeepney directly passes by Wave Coffee. However, taxi drivers and ride-hailing apps are likely to be familiar with the area.
Sometimes, simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication. Wave Cafe lives by that mantra through its minimalist look, keeping the focus on its coffee.
Their drinks, though, are anything but plain. They have traditional cafe staples, but they also offer specialty drinks such as their banana and salted cardamom lattes.
If you’re hungry, Wave also has hearty meals to satisfy your stomach.
NORTH
Good coffee isn’t just found in the cities. How about we head north?
COFFEE MADNESS
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: Tayud, Liloan, Cebu
Operating Hours:
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Tuesday to Saturday)
Closed on Mondays
Note: Unfortunately, no jeepney directly passes by Coffee Madness. However, locals are likely to be familiar with the area.
Coffee shops sometimes deviate from the usual tables-and-chairs setups in buildings. Coffee Madness does that, going for a hut-like structure in an outdoor space.
Since 2012, this secluded spot has been serving good coffee to loyal customers from nearby and from far away. They also serve delicious bites (pizza and pasta, to name a few) that pair well with their drinks.
TRAILS AND WAVES
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: Poblacion, Carmen, Cebu
Operating Hours: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM daily
Note: Unfortunately, no jeepney directly passes by Trails and Waves. However, locals are likely to be familiar with the area.
More often than not, coffee doesn’t need much to impress people. The aroma and flavors are more than enough to make people happy about their cups.
That’s what Trails and Waves is: serving classic drinks since 2020.
Trails and Waves is all about supporting local. Their bean selection is all-Filipino, sometimes featuring guest beans from various roasters outside Cebu.
SOUTH
We can’t complete this list without going south (literally). Let’s check out the last two stops.
COFFEE CHRONICLES
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: 100, Sacred Heart Village, San Isidro Village, Talisay City
Operating Hours:
2:00 PM – 12:00 AM (Tuesday to Sunday)
Closed on Mondays
Note: Unfortunately, no jeepney directly passes by Coffee Chronicles. However, locals, taxi drivers, and ride-hailing apps are likely to be familiar with the area.
Coffee Chronicles offers both an enjoyable and educational experience. Every cup has love and hard work behind it, thanks to their baristas’ expertise and high-quality beans.
Along with great coffee, the shop holds coffee-related events to spread knowledge and awareness.
Aside from the crawl, they’re also holding a barista basics workshop on May 24th and 25th.
LOKAL BREW
HOW TO GET THERE
Location: Petron Gas Station, Poblacion 3, Awayan, Carcar
Operating Hours:
9:30 AM – 8:00 PM (Monday to Friday)
8:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Saturday to Sunday)
Note: Unfortunately, no jeepney directly passes by Lokal Brew. However, locals are likely to be familiar with the area.
Tucked behind Petron is Lokal Brew: an unassuming place providing peace, quiet, and good coffee. The shop is also a micro-roastery; not only do they cater to themselves, but to other brands as well.
Lokal Brew has something for everybody. If you want your cups on the safe side, they have classics like lattes and cappuccinos. But if you’re up for house specials, try their take on sikwate.
There’s also their signature Kabkad latte: a creamy espresso-based drink.
GO WHERE THE BEANS TAKE YOU
Whether you’re joining the crawl or not, it’s nice to know that the Cebu coffee scene has a wealth of options. Step out of your usuals and go somewhere refreshing.
REFERENCE:
Beltran, Sam. 2024. “Gio Visitacion Redefines the ‘Good Cup.’” Lifestyle Inquirer. https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/518169/gio-visitacion-redefines-the-good-cup/.
