For Kopi Kubo Kollective, coffee is more than just a daily pick-me-up. It is also an opportunity to create livelihoods, support local communities, and introduce people to something beyond their usual cup.
Founded by Michael Parayno, the coffee shop began in 2021 with a mission to provide meaningful employment for members of Zambales’ Indigenous Aeta communities.
Following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the 1990s, many indigenous families were displaced from their ancestral homes and forced to settle in the lowlands. Parayno saw an opportunity to help change their circumstances by giving them a platform to develop their skills.
“When we first started in 2021, all our baristas were all katutubo,” he shared. Rather than limiting community members to informal or low-paying work, the business placed them front and center as trained baristas.
One of them is Rachel Madrelejos, who has been working at the café for almost six months. Before joining, she had little experience preparing coffee and initially thought the process would be difficult.
“Akala ko magulo-gulo yung pagtimpla, yun pala basic lang,” she shared, recalling how the training helped her become more comfortable with the work.
For Madrelejos, the opportunity goes beyond learning a new skill. It provides financial support while opening doors for others in the community. She also appreciates Parayno’s efforts to extend assistance through employment.
“Nakakatulong siya financially, dahil nabibigyan niya ng trabaho talaga. Yun yung kailangan,” she said.
Her experience reflects the café’s larger purpose: creating opportunities that allow community members to build confidence, develop their skills, and earn a living.
Beyond the Usual Cup
As the Philippine café scene continues to expand, Kopi Kubo Kollective has chosen a different direction. Parayno describes its current concept as a “sixth-wave café,” moving beyond artisanal coffee and experiential dining through the use of botanicals and florals.
Its drinks incorporate ingredients sourced from different parts of the world, including kava from Fiji, ashwagandha from India, maca from Peru, and Korean ginseng. The café also explores locally available botanicals, introducing customers to ingredients they may not encounter in conventional coffee shops.
The goal is to encourage customers to explore new flavors and appreciate coffee beyond familiar combinations of syrups, milk, and sugar.
“We’re trying to get them to actually taste coffee instead of masking the coffee flavor,” Parayno explained.
Creating Opportunities Beyond Coffee
The café’s influence also extends beyond its immediate community. Parayno recalls how Kopi Kubo helped introduce specialty coffee to provincial towns, giving residents access to café experiences without traveling to larger commercial centers.
He believes establishing a business can encourage other entrepreneurs to follow. In some locations, neighboring businesses eventually opened after Kopi Kubo established itself as an anchor.
However, he acknowledges that running a small business remains challenging, especially amid rising operating costs, inflation, and other economic pressures.
Despite these challenges, the business continues to develop its presence across Zambales and Pangasinan, serving students, office workers, and healthcare professionals. For many regular customers, the café has become part of their daily routine.
A Cup With a Bigger Purpose
Today, Kopi Kubo Kollective continues to bring its concept to more communities. Through its combination of coffee innovation and local employment, it hopes to demonstrate how a small business can make a meaningful difference.
For Parayno, it is about making specialty coffee accessible while creating opportunities for people who deserve a chance to grow. And for baristas like Madrelejos, it is about having a place to learn, work, and build a more secure future.
Because sometimes, a good cup of coffee can do more than wake you up. It can help build a community.
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