The Four Unspoken Rules for Working From a Coffee Shop

“Coffee is the common man's gold, and like gold, it brings to every person the feeling of luxury and nobility.” - Author Unknown 


You are pressed for a deadline, and you need to work—even while you are on the road. No problem, you might think, and park yourself at the nearest coffee shop, order a single latte and go to work for hours at a time. No harm and no foul, right? After all, you are a paying customer, so you might as well stay as long as you please. Well, you are not exactly right. Although coffee shops exist in part to provide an alternative work space for employees on the road, students in need of a place of study and free lancers, this does not mean you can fully exploit that to its fullest extent. While true, coffee shops have you as their target customers in mind, they would not want to lose potential profit just because you have a report to finish. You might have gotten a cup of coffee, but in the duration of your stay, the coffee shop could have sold at least a dozen more of those had your space been unoccupied.

One good rule of thumb to remember when it comes to coffee shops is that although coffee is their primary product, the space they offer you also comes at a premium. It would be the height of discourtesy to buy a single product from the menu and park yourself at the largest table for about six hours. You are not only denying the coffee shop profit, but you might be inadvertently causing them to lose their patrons to competitors instead. So, be a little considerate. In any case, here are some unspoken rules to keep in mind when you are working in a coffee shop—whether that may be a cafe in a hotel, or a regular famous coffee shop joint:

1.) Visit during off peak hours

If you intend to spend the majority of the day working on something from the coffee shop, you might want to be a little flexible with your schedule. This means you need to consider going during the off peak hours which could be anywhere in the early morning, after lunch hours or late in the evening. Avoid the rush as much as possible and see to it that the barista is not serving a queue and the shop is relatively vacant.

2.) Order enough stuff

What you order should be directly proportional to how long you intend to stay. Ordering a cup of coffee should give you about a couple of hours max sitting in the coffee shop, but if you plan to stay longer, then you should consider buying more stuff. Furthermore, it is inappropriate to bring your own drink—as you are using the coffee shop's premises, you are expected to buy something from them. If they serve regular hot meals, you might want to eat there as well. Remember, your coffee shop is running a business as well, so help them by buying enough stuff if you are going to be staying longer than most patrons.

3.) Do not take up a table bigger than you need

You might want to spread out and have a little leg room, but in a coffee shop where space is limited, you should refrain from doing so. Park yourself in a table that is big enough only for you and not big enough to accommodate you and your belongings. Try to occupy as little space as possible. Remember that although you can select the table you want (first come, first served basis after all), you might want to limit your impact if you are going to be working there for hours. During peak hours, that table could serve a lot of customers which you deny the coffee shop by parking yourself there.

4.) Clean up after yourself

Your coffee shop is not a restaurant in a sense that you have busboys who would clean up after you. Although baristas would routinely go from table to table to clean up after a customer leaves, they will hardly find the time to do this above ringing customers and making drinks. So, do your part and clean up after yourself, your barista will thank you.

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Four Ways to Create The Perfect Coffee Shop Experience

“A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.” Unknown Author 


Over the years, the Philippines has seen a recent boom in the coffee shop industry—particularly in the main areas in the metropolis. With its primary market ranging from young professionals to postgraduate students, even a humble coffee shop can see an influx of patrons on an ordinary day. Despite the prominence and proliferation of coffee joint juggernauts such as Starbucks and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, a localized and homegrown cafe can still be a lucrative business. However, the Philippines' booming market for coffee shops is no guarantee that yours will be a success. A flourishing endeavor in this industry takes a lot more than just brewing the right cup of coffee and a cozy place to stay. After all, with a myriad of coffee shops to compete with you, how do you entice customers to patronize yours over much more established ones? The trick is to start with the basics and get it right. Complement this with an excellent customer service, a certain wow factor, and an extraordinary experience, and you can expect people to not only come pouring in but come back for more as well.

Whether you are planning to open a cafe in a hotel or elsewhere, here are some tips and techniques to make sure that yours will stand out from the crowd:

1.) Your coffee shop ambiance and environment matter

More often than not, a good coffee shop constitutes more than just great tasting coffee. Like many coffee shops, entrepreneurs will tell you, drinking coffee is as much occasion as it is about the drink itself. This means you have to create an appropriate environment where your customers can sit down to relax, chat, study or even do their business proposals. The ambiance of your coffee shop should not only cater to a particular type of guests but diverse groups as well—ranging from business executives to students.

2.) Select the right coffee partner

Regardless of whether you are going into the coffee business venture solo, you are inevitably going to need partners who would help you make your cafe a success. Be meticulous about who you partner with and choose the ones who can offer you comprehensive service support. This means providing barista training, offering marketing and branding materials to offer. Look for a partner that can meet all your needs. Furthermore, be selective in choosing coffee beans. Know what quality-grade they are and how they are roasted. Do not go for the cheapest alternative as this would likely be poor in quality.

3.) Be different

Coffee shops are rife in almost every nook and cranny of the city that customers would not have a hard time looking for one. Considering how stiff the competition is in the coffee business, you need to make sure that yours stands out and attracts not only potential customers but regular patrons as well. Create a unique coffee experience that would set your shop apart from the rest. Be creative and think out of the box, create that unique environment that will make your guests come back for more than just your excellent cup of coffee.

4.) Make staff training a priority

An excellent coffee experience entails three components: great coffee, cozy ambiance, and excellent service. While the first two are the things that would market your coffee shop to customers, it is the excellent service that would keep them coming back for more. No matter how great your environment is and how delicious your coffee tastes, if the service rendered is subpar, you can expect customers to never walk back in again. Even worse, they could leave you with bad reviews and consequently tarnish the good name of your cafe. With this in mind, make sure you make staff training a priority and routinely check up on them to ensure that your standards of service are consistently met.

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A Guide for Great Night Out for Newbies

I bet you’ve wanted to enjoy the nightlife in Manila but hindered to go for some reasons. Maybe your parents are so strict,  have tons of school or office works to finish, or whatnot. Then the next thing you know, you haven’t been able to tick “go for a night out” on your bucket list.

If you are the person who’s been dreaming of a semi-wild (or all-out wild) party or night out somewhere in the Metro, do not wait for forever and let’s get this party started! Here is a short guide for a memorable and fun night out for you:

Clear your mind

At least for that night, even before you go out, clear your thoughts about your office, school work, problems and miseries (wow, deep) in life. At least for one night, give yourself a break. It is important to give your mind, soul, and body a “sanity break”. Let yourself breathe! There’s nothing wrong with enjoying for a couple of hours as long as you’d still follow the laws, of course, you don’t want to be imprisoned or something, and remember not to hurt anyone in any way.

Before going to a night out, ask permissions to the people or authorities you may need to. I hope you, the one reading this, is already of legal age and capable of handling yourself, okay?

Secure your belongings AT ALL TIMES

I would not forget the story of my college block mates who went to a rave party. Yes, I was jealous because I wasn’t able to go with them and rock the party. However, I was surprised to know that my friend just lost her iPhone 6, the period where the said phone was released in the Philippines just a couple of months ago. We tried to locate the phone but to our dismay, we just couldn’t. By the way, her parents don’t know how it lost, which is because she was partying real hard that night and didn’t notice that her phone is gone.

So remember to bring only enough amount of money and as much as possible, use a spare phone especially if you are going to big parties. You always don’t need a lot of pictures to treasure a moment; you live it to remember it. Or ask the official photographer of the event to take pictures of you.

It’s okay to mingle with strangers but learn how to say no

There was a night out with my colleagues, and sure we were having fun. A couple of drinks, well a lot actually, and some dance on the floor. Since it’s just a small bar greeting strangers is pretty much inevitable and all right for me. Someone started to offer drinks, and I respectfully rejected the offer. Another incident was when I was dancing and a person from the same group of the guy who offered me a drink suddenly hugged me from the back. I immediately get his arms off me and started to be extra mindful.

It’s an old point that you should not easily accept drinks or food from someone you don’t know, especially if you don’t see it coming from the bartender or wherever. Not being so much of a killjoy, have fun but take care of yourself too.

(Responsible) Carpe diem

To sum it all up, work hard then party harder. Just kidding! But yes, you can live up to that saying. Seize the day, enjoy every moment.


And plus tons of things you can do when you are already there, alone, with relatives or friends. Have fun the way you guys would want just don’t forget that you still need to survive until tomorrow and for the rest of your lives. I hope this quick list was able to convince you more to go or give you an idea what you can do with that night out.

Philippine Eats: Four Reasons Why Filipinos Love Buffets So Much!

“The quality of food at buffets today is every bit as good, if not better, than most midlevel casual restaurants.” - Jeff Devito 


Food is the necessary fuel that energizes the body and ignites the soul. In a modern age wherein food is not just simply caught, seasoned and cooked, dining is no longer a means of sustenance but an experience in itself. Today, food comes in many forms, and it comes in different tastes, but what is the best kind of food there is? Well, there is certainly nothing better than all-you-can-eat food dining deals and options. Ever since the advent of all you can eat restaurants, Philippine hotels have been following suit and have been offering their patrons a delectable array of food items from all over the world. Simply walking into an all-you-can-eat affair gives the ordinary Filipino a chance to travel the world, one bite at a time. Seeing as there is such a profitable market for buffets and eat-all-you-can deals, most hoteliers offer this dining option in their respective restaurant. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a 3 to 4-star hotel in the Philippines sans this option.

For this reason, Filipinos have found a unique penchant for international gastronomic eats and a developing affinity for food buffets. So, what exactly does a buffet have that entices a Filipino to have some of its fares? Read on below to find out why:

1.) Filipinos have a love affair with eating

There is absolutely no doubt that Filipinos love to eat and any hotel in the Philippines would only be glad to cater to that. Wherever they are and whatever they do, food is almost always involved. This is why things such as coffee pastries, pulutans, and meriendas exist—because Filipinos love to eat whether they are out for drinks or are simply having their afternoon coffee. So, it should come as no surprise that buffets would instantly become a hit with Filipinos. With the innumerable choices of dishes, a food buffet is definitely a godsend to a Filipino.

2.) It is cheaper than Gourmet or Fine Dining

Gourmet or Fine Dining dishes may offer you some of the best cuisines, but they come at an exorbitant price, there are limited options, and you only get a single order. Buffets, on the other hand, may be a bit pricey, but it is compensated for the extensive array of food items you get to sample as well as the unlimited number of times you can get to eat and enjoy them. From a mathematical standpoint, it could easily be seen that food buffets are far cheaper.

3.) It is everywhere, and there are affordable options

Buffets do not come in cheap. Given their wide selection of food (and the unlimited number of times you get to refill your plate) it should come as no surprise that hoteliers and restaurateurs offering this option would find a way to rack up the price so as to defray the costs. However, there has been an influx of all-you-can-eat deals recently that in the midst of the competition, some lesser known all-you-can-eat restaurants and buffets would be constrained to dish out affordable options so as to stay afloat in the food industry. With this in mind, Filipinos would not have to empty their pockets just to pig out and eat like a king. Food buffets are almost everywhere, and at a price, they can certainly afford.

4.) It is always a feast

No matter what food buffet you choose or restaurant all-you-can-eat deal you select, it would always be a feast. The prolific food selection you are offered coupled with the unlimited times you get to refill your plate would be enough to make anyone feel like they are in a celebration—a feast if you may.

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Four Good Reasons to Attend a Conference

“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” -Brian Herbert


Over the years, the modern world has vastly upgraded and revamped the way people learn. The Internet itself has made it possible for countless individuals all over the world to access various articles created with a specific subject and theme in mind. Cooking enthusiasts who would once have to pick up a recipe book in order to create a particular dish would now only have to look for a video with a step-by-step guiding visuals as to how to create said dish. People with a penchant for sharpening their skills can either attend a webinar or even list to a podcast. Nowadays, it seems like modern technology has perpetually dispensed with the need for actual face-to-face learning sessions. So, with all these recent advancements in learning at our disposal, why should one even bother to inconvenience themselves of getting out of the house and spending some time in an in-person conference or workshop? Well, contemporary means of acquiring information might have rendered physical conferences and workshops obsolete, but you would be surprised as to how much you are truly missing out by refusing these events. Workshops, seminars, MICE events, and conferences provide you with opportunities you cannot find elsewhere—from unique learning experiences, job offers and career building opportunities to expanding your business circle.

If you are still unconvinced, below are excellent reasons why you should consider attending conferences:

1.) Meet Experts and Influencers Face to Face

Watching countless of videos of esteemed experts and your business idols have nothing on meeting them and interacting with them in person. While not every conference would grant you this opportunity, your chances are significantly improved when you are attending one or sharing the same space—you will never know if the workshop or conference you are in has a “surprise guest” in attendance. Meeting someone who has made a great impact you or even someone who has influenced you is something not all of us can experience, and conferences are certainly one way of doing so. You might be unaware, but meeting these people might present the opportunity of finding your next mentor.

2.) Networking Opportunities

While different social media platforms may offer you various avenues for networking (both local and foreign), there is no substitution for interacting with potential business partners, clients or customers in real life. Additionally, it adds a personal touch and depth to the whole networking experience which the people you are dealing with would truly appreciate.

3.) Learning in a New Space

Though learning can virtually happen anywhere, absorption of what you learn happens more often in fresh new places where you have not established a routine yet. This is because your brain is associating what you learn to the memory of the new place thereby creating better absorption for what you learn. Additionally, it breaks you out of your comfort zone. So, if you are always learning new stuff from behind a computer screen and sitting on a desk, then change it up a bit. New environment would stimulate fresh and new ideas after all.

4.) Basking in the energy of like-minded individuals

There is quite like nothing as being in the same room with individuals who share your passion. The enthusiasm and energy are both so palpable that you cannot help but feel a rush of excitement. These are the very same people who you might make potential business partners, customers or clients and be around them talking about your shared interest and passion would only buoy your spirits and enthusiasm for learning. Lastly, you would never know, but you might just have a chance at making new friends at this event.

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Five Characteristics of A Successful Conference

Conferences are excellent mediums for companies who want to cement their presence in the business industry. It is an excellent avenue for putting the word out about a certain product, spreading a specific awareness or basically, an event to lure in potential clients and customers. Unfortunately, not all conferences are created equal. There are some that succeed swimmingly, and some would miserably fail—whichever outcome you have of the two, you can expect it to positively or negatively impact your business. For this reason, it is crucial to hold conferences that you know would significantly affect your company in a good light—one that would inevitably result in an increase not only in company sales, but morale as well. However, how does one determine whether the event thrown was a successful one or not? Are there certain parameters set to which you can gauge your success? Well, there is no exact standard of measure to know whether you have truly planned and held a successful event, but there are several characteristics and traits that you could aim for and hopefully achieve.

Apart from the goals and agenda you want to accomplish, your attendees should also leave your event feeling like that they got a good deal in exchange for their time or their money (if your conference was a paid event). In any case, whether your conference is about mice events or something altogether, here are some of the characteristics your event should aim for:

1.) Getting Positive PR

One way to gauge the level of success of your event is by how much positive exposure you receive after hosting it. Check local newspapers if they mentioned your event, and listen to what people have been saying about it. Additionally, try to see if people were talking about your event on social media as getting positive PR can help you in your future endeavors for a conference next time.

2.) Great feedback

Measuring your event's success is hinged on what the attendees have been saying about it. After wrapping up an event, ask your participants about their experience and encourage them to give you suggestions as to how you can improve next time. One way to make sure that you get an honest feedback is to provide anonymity to the people submitting it. Distribute leaflets after the event with a comment and reaction section—you might just be surprised at how excellent and fantastic some of these observations and suggestions are.

3.) Speakers have everything at their disposal

Planning ahead of time helps you throw a successful conference. On the day of the conference, make sure your speakers have everything they need to be able to deliver a good presentation and convey their ideas well. These would range from tools to various materials that would enable them to give a good performance. A few of these things would include a microphone and speakers that are in excellent working order. After all, you would not want to experience any technical difficulty on the day your speakers are due to give their talk.

4.) Everything is organized

An agenda is an excellent blueprint of what a successful conference looks like. It would aid you in knowing what to prepare and how to prepare them. Additionally, this would serve as the reference tool for delegated tasks and would also contain any contingency plans should anything go awry. Everything should be well organized to make sure the flow of your conference goes smoothly—from the registration down to the closing address. Lastly, having an organized event gives an excellent first impression on your attendees.

5.) Contingency plans are executed well (in the event that calls for one)

Regardless of how much preparation was done or how much brainstorming has gone into your planning stage, running into unexpected occurrence is inevitable. You cannot always prevent these unexpected situations, but you can prepare for them and how you execute them determines the success of your event. Always have a backup for anything that might happen such as power outages and shortages of seats or food. Should the unexpected happen, have a contingency plan at the ready.

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Four Questions to Ask When Selecting A Conference Venue

A lot of work goes into planning for a conference. You need to plan for a specific theme, look for available vendors and a particular date to hold your conference. More importantly, choosing the appropriate venue is paramount to the success of your conference event. However, it can be easy to get caught up in the minor details and complicated logistics when you are busy scouting for the ideal conference location that meets all of your criteria. When this occurs, you might overlook something that could be pivotal to your conference's success. This is all the truer if you are a novice in planning a conference for your company or are simply not too familiar with how venue sourcing works. Whichever it may be, selecting and booking a conference venue requires a concrete plan in place.

Prior to making arrangements, prepare a list of requirements that would guarantee that you would ask the important questions whenever you visit a venue. This will enable you to make comparisons easily and more effectively. Whether you are looking for an ideal MICE hotel or simply an appropriate conference venue, here are some of the questions you should take note of:

1.) Would the venue be available on your selected dates?

Ideally, the planning preparation of an event would take you somewhere from six months to a year. This is to ensure that all the aspects and elements you would require for your conference would all be available on the same date—most especially your venue. When it comes to selecting a date, remember that the date you have initially chosen would possibly not be available for an event which is why it would be foolish not to have backup dates in mind. Choose a variety of dates falling on different months of the year and ask if the venue is available. Additionally, find out whether the venue can provide you with AV equipment, rooms and everything else you would need during your event and on the same date.

2.) What's the venue's accessibility like? Is it within the proximity of highways, the airport or the public transit?

A venue's accessibility is an integral factor in deciding whether you should book a particular place or not. Consider who your attendees will be and how they will be arriving at your conference venue. If they are from out of town and would most likely need to fly-in and fly-out, having the venue near to the airport would be favorable to them. Additionally, if most of your attendees would be arriving from the airport, ask if the venue can provide a shuttle service. Lastly, scout the parking area and see if there is ample parking space for everyone who would be attending.

3.) Is the venue big enough for your event?

Prior to booking a venue, it is important to ascertain how many attendees you would wish to attend your event and look for a site suitable for the number of participants you will be having. Make sure there is enough legroom and that your attendees would not be cramped in a tight space with you trying to make the most out of a small room. Seats should be comfortable enough for all sessions—especially for events that would last for a whole day. Consequently, there should be sufficient space for attendees to relax in between sessions.

4.) Would you be able to afford the venue?

Ideally, you should have a rough draft of what your budget when you are still drawing up the plans for your conference event. If you plan on charging attendees for your event to defray some of the costs, then take your door or charging fee into account. In any case, your chosen venue should fall within your budget.

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