 Ready to cut the ribbon for the launching of the first Common Man Coffee Roasters café in the Philippines. Shown in photo (from left to right): Jollibee Group’s AVP and Head of Business Development for Foreign Franchised Brands Ned Bandojo; Jollibee Group’s President and Group Head for Greenwich, Red Ribbon, & Foreign Franchised Brands JJ Alano; Spa Esprit Group’s General Manager for Food Division Michael Bovell; Jollibee Group’s Chief Business Officer Joseph Tanbuntiong; Spa Esprit Group’s Chief Executive Officer and Common Man Coffee Roasters Café Co-Founder Koon Beng “KB” Chua; Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines, Her Excellency Constance See; Makati City Vice Mayor, Honorable Monique Lagdameo; Jollibee Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Tanmantiong; Ayala Malls President Mariana Zobel de Ayala; Jollibee Group’s Chief of Real Estate and Design Officer & Chief Business Support Officer William Tan Untiong; Ayala Land Estates Inc.’s Group Deputy Head Chris Maglanoc; and Common Man Coffee Roasters PH Operations Head Chynna Ramos. (Image Source: Jollibee Group) |
The Jollibee Group is off to a great start this 2024 with the opening of the first Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) cafe in the Philippines at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City last January 11, 2024. This milestone opening is part of the Jollibee Group’s aggressive growth plans this year, consistent with its vision of becoming one of the top five restaurant companies in the world. “We’re excited to bring the Common Man Coffee Roasters in the country and give the community an elevated café experience. Common Man’s consciously sourced coffee and numerous deliciously healthy brunch options contribute to this experience and help fulfill our mission of spreading the joy of eating to everyone. We invite everyone to come visit our first ever Common Man Coffee Roasters café,” said Jollibee Group’s President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong.
Established in 2013 by Spa Esprit Group, Common Man Coffee Roasters aims to champion specialty coffee and the best all-day brunch and has expanded from Singapore to Malaysia, and now the Philippines. It also roasts and sells coffee beans and operates the Coffee Barista Academy in Singapore and Malaysia which provides coffee training to baristas and coffee enthusiasts. In the Philippines, the breadth of the café’s menu includes different types of specialty coffee, bannered by the Nitro Honey Oat Latte and Filter Brew. Its brunch is thoughtfully crafted headlined by the Common Man Full Breakfast that has generous servings of sausage, bacon, portobello mushroom, hash browns, house-made baked chorizo beans, and greens along with artisanal sourdough. The crowd favorite Common Man Beef Brisket Benedict packs an indulging punch of savory in its tender braised beef topped by poached eggs and creamy hollandaise. The first location in the country, which has a modern, casual, “come as you are” ambiance, also features its own roastery. “Having a roastery on site for us to showcase the roasting method will not only help the customers understand the coffee process better, but it will also offer a unique dining and sensory experience for them,” said Spa Esprit Group CEO Koon Beng Chua.
The Jollibee Group announced its joint venture with Food Collective Pte. Ltd. (FCPL) through FCJB Foods Inc. to own and operate Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines in August 2023. The Jollibee Group owns 60 percent in FCJB Foods Inc. “This is the first café from our partnership with the Spa Esprit Group and we’re looking forward to expanding the Common Man Coffee Roasters experience to more people. The strong collaboration between the two partners is very evident and is greatly rewarded by the enjoyment we see from people upon entering the café and upon tasting our menu selections. We recognize the increasingly discerning palate of Filipinos and we’re here to delight them,” said Jollibee Group Chief Business Officer Joseph Tanbuntiong during the store’s inauguration and opening. The inauguration rites were attended by Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See, Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, Spa Esprit Group CEO and Common Man Coffee Roasters’ co-founder Koon Beng Chua, Spa Esprit Food Group’s General Manager Michael Bovell, Ayala Malls President Mariana Zobel de Ayala, and Ayala Land Estates Group Deputy Head Chris Maglanoc. The Jollibee Group was represented by President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong, Chief Business Support Officer and Chief Real Estate & Design Officer William Tan Untiong, and Chief Business Officer, Joseph Tanbuntiong along with the President and Group Head for Greenwich, Red Ribbon, and Foreign Franchised Brands JJ Alan and AVP and Head of Business Development for Foreign Franchised Brands Ned Bandojo.
Customers who were lucky enough to have visited the first Common Man Manila store after its inauguration would have already experienced its friendly service, quality coffee and delectable all-day brunch recipes – a winning combination that truly urge Filipino customers to keep coming back and make it their top-of-mind stomping ground. Complementing the Common Man dining experience is its home-like atmosphere that beckons diners to come as they are, and stay, not only for good food and coffee but for great time and intimate conversations. The store is carefully curated using warm colors that complement the hues of Ayala Triangle Gardens. Its wide, open windows allow natural light in while offering a picturesque view of the garden. Meanwhile, the various seating options for al fresco or indoor dining – from its wooden benches and plush upholstery in group or individual seating – down to the store’s small details, including tableware, are given a personal touch to further highlight Common Man’s welcoming ambience. So whether you’re looking satisfy your daily coffee fix, enjoy a relaxing, sit-down meal with a loved one or by yourself, or simply looking for a place where you can slow down time for a bit, you can experience all that and more by dining at the Common Man Coffee Roasters Café, opening daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, at The Restaurants, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City.
