The Black Bean in Makati: Pure Satisfaction through Coffee, Food, and Great Service
The Black Bean is a hub for city dwellers who are looking for a cafe where you can get those creative juices flowing.
Located in the Cattleya Condominium Building in Legazpi Village, The Black Bean anchored on the goal of being a go-to place not just for great coffee and food, but ultimately, of good service. More than just a business, it is an avenue for Christian and Omu to share their love and appreciation for coffee to their customers.
Latte/ IMAGE from The Black Bean Facebook page
Instead of imposing onto others how they should take their coffee, they give importance in knowing your preference, making it a personalized experience for each and every one of their patrons. So when it comes to their coffee selection, all types of coffee drinkers (including non-drinkers) are considered.
IMAGE from The Black Bean’s Facebook page
Their espresso and cold brew drinks are for those who drink coffee on the regular and know a thing or two about it. They come in three simplified varieties, namely Black, White, and Mocha.
Black Bean’s Coffee Temptations, a selection of espresso-based dessert drinks. For one, the Lazy Barista (Php 240) is a drink perfect for a hot afternoon of chilling. The robust flavor of the muscovado syrup complements the equally strong taste of coffee from the espresso shot and bits of coffee jelly.
Lazy Barista
On the other hand, the Meringue Cappucino (Php 240) is undeniably pretty to look at and doesn’t disappoint in the taste as well. The best way to enjoy this, according to Christian, is to drink directly without mixing or removing the meringue.
Meringue Cappucino / IMAGE from The Black Bean’s Facebook page
Unlike other cafés and coffee shops, The Black Bean has complete choices for food on their menu. From starters to rice meals, everything is freshly made and prepared in their kitchen daily. With the help of their in-house chef and input from the owners, they have come up with a dynamic menu that transcends breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks—even desserts and wine.
A refreshing take on the usual vegetable salad is the Raspberry Salad (Php 350) . The heaping bowl is filled with a combination of mixed greens, arugula, feta cheese, and candied walnuts with raspberry vinaigrette as dressing, which results in a perfect blend of sour and sweet with a tinge of salty.
Raspberry Salad
You can also get the goodness of smoked ham, hollandaise sauce, and poached egg on top of a toasted pandesal bun with the classic Eggs Benedict (Php 400), which is an all-day breakfast special here! If you’re not a fan of runny eggs, you can always request to have them done to your preference.
Eggs Benedict / IMAGE from The Black Bean’s Facebook page
For heavier meals, The Black Bean offers pasta and breakfast rice bowls to fuel your energy and help you finish your workload for the day.
Exquisite is one word to describe the Red Egg Chili Pasta (Php 380) they served. According to Christian and Omu, this is the most sought-after dish in the café so far. In fact, there are regulars who frequent The Black Bean just for this pasta. And it’s no surprise why this is getting all the love from the customers. It just hits all the right spots—from the pasta to the gritty, umami-infused red egg and olive oil sauce. Not to mention, the spicy kick added into the mix did wonder for the dish.
Red Egg Chili Pasta / IMAGE from The Black Bean’s Facebook page
Another crowd-favorite is the Beef Pares Breakfast Rice Bowl (Php 400), a more upscale take on the classic Filipino braised beef stew. The beef is topped on a bed of garlic rice complete with soft-boiled egg and onion chives. It also comes with a separate serving of pares sauce giving you more control over how much you want to put in.
Beef Pares Breakfast Rice Bowl
Stepping inside The Black Bean with its industrial but at the same time rustic interior peppered by touches of green, it is not hard to feel at home. In fact, this might just be our next go-to cafe in Makati!
