By Cynthia Shank and Danielle Bonior
Filipinos love coffee. It is part of our daily routine, occupying specific schedules that we wouldn’t want to miss. To most, drinking coffee is not only a way to fuel the body but to also foster meaningful dialogue, community, and connection.
In Dumaguete, local coffee shops have become contemporary spaces for fostering rich conversations and connections not just for Sillimanians, but for everyone. In the city, cafes that cater to students’ needs sit in plain sight.
Thus, as Midterms season approaches, come with us and explore some student-friendly spaces for coffee enthusiasts who could only work and study with a cup on their hand.
Brain Brew
Brain Brew is a newly opened café just a short walk from the Silliman University (SU) campus. Located at Harold’s Mansion, it opened its doors on October 26, 2024, offering a fresh space for students and locals to gather, converse, and reflect.
The café is owned by 24-year-old Aiko Minnie U. Rivera, a Sillimanian alumna and MedTech graduate, who blends her passion for community-building with her entrepreneurial spirit.
“I wanted to create this concept because I was also a student myself,” Aiko shared. “I was fond of study-outs, going out with my friends, and studying. When I was in Manila reviewing for my boards, I got exposed to different study cafés, and that’s where I got my inspiration. There used to be a study café here in Dumaguete, but it closed. I wanted to make my own twist on it.”
This twist is provided by Brain Brew’s student-friendly features. The reasonably priced coffee, designated study area, and a special promotion that offers three hours of WiFi for only twenty pesos makes for a student-friendly environment.
“I would definitely visit my own café if I were a student today,” Aiko chuckled. “Because it was actually made with students in mind.” For Aiko, meeting students’ requirements is more important than turning a big profit.
Beyond its useful benefits, Brain Brew represents the fortitude and faith that many students maintain throughout their academic careers. “I went through phases where I doubted myself—if I would graduate, if I would pass the boards. But as cliché as it sounds, you do your best, and God will do the rest,” Aiko said.
Brain Brew is poised to become more than just a coffee shop—with future plans for partnerships and events. It seeks to serve as a gathering place for students to exchange ideas and foster a sense of community.
Yvan Café
The path to coffee shop ownership was anything but straight for Yvan Roi Latoza. Yvan, a Sillimanian business graduate from Zamboanga City, began his business career in the insurance sector before branching out into the food and beverage sector. After starting as a tiny stand at Krosskat in 2022, Yvan Café—now situated in Piapi—opened in January 2024.
It was a revelation when he decided on a name for his café. “I was café hopping, trying to come up with a name, and then I thought, why not just use my own name?”
Beyond branding, this personal touch is evident in the friendly ambiance of Yvan Café, where students may savor matcha soft serve, froth coffee beverages, and frozen yogurt.
“I wanted a space where people could connect, study, and make memories,” Yvan explained. “We provide seating, charging stations, good music, reliable WiFi, and a clean environment. It’s about making sure students feel at home.”
As for its future, Yvan Café is still brewing ideas. “We have more things in the works,” he teased, hinting at upcoming collaborations and events that Sillimanians can look forward to.
Kava
Trisha Fuentes and her companion Hanz Vallar had no intention of remaining in Dumaguete for very long. However, the city’s thriving artistic and cultural scene drew them in and ultimately inspired them to launch Kava.
“We came here for a vacation in May last year and fell in love with the people and the community,” Trisha shared. “Dumaguete has so many creative spaces, from arts to pottery to crochet. We couldn’t find that in Mindanao, so we decided to start from zero here and just give it a try.”
Named after the Croatian term for coffee, Kava launched on September 28, 2023. Trisha acknowledges that she founded Kava purely because she enjoyed the café experience—lounging, writing, and studying—in contrast to other café owners who are passionate about the technical nuances of coffee.
The café’s standout feature? Its atmosphere. “I think people love how big and spacious it is,” Trisha said.
On promoting a student-friendly atmosphere, Trisha shares how they don’t charge for WiFi or charging ports, and “I want our staff to be really communicative with customers. If you want something changed in your drink, just tell them.”
Kava curates experiences in addition to serving coffee. “We recently had Beats and Beans, where a DJ played while we served special drinks. It’s not something you usually see in a café, but we’re trying to bring something fresh,” Trisha shared. Future plans include matcha workshops, crochet events, and more.
As a business owner, Trisha emphasizes resilience. “Starting a business, you might think, ‘Oh, lots of people will come, and we’ll make a lot of money,’ but it’s not always like that. You have to be mentally strong. And take breaks—disconnect from social media, unwind, or you’ll go crazy,” she advised.
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Dumaguete cafés like Kava, Yvan Café, and Brain Brew are more than just places to have coffee. They represent the relationship between Filipinos and their coffee time, when students congregate, share ideas, and find solace in one another.
In the midst of midterms, deadlines, and all-nighters, these coffee shops are more than just caffeine stops. They are places that carry on the practice of creating connections, where students find focus, friendship, and a much-needed break over a cup of coffee.
