Living in a Lucky Location
I frequent the mall near our place, it's convenient and we usually get all the things we use in our day-to-day life. And, if they don't have what we need, there's another one just 1.5 kilometers down the road from it. We also have two farmers' markets that are just a few minutes walk from each other, and from our house, which makes me really guilty if I get lazy and spend more by buying from the vegetable vendor who sells door-to-door. In my defense, I'd like to say that I am helping this lady out because it is hard to make a living these days, especially with the pandemic still here, they are risking their health so that I can buy food from the convenience of my own home. Call it lucky to be living in this place, or a divine plan, but whatever it is that led us to live here, I am just super grateful that we are in a good place.
On Coffee Shops and a Blurred Image
That said, I don't go inside the coffee shops often. We just buy roasted and ground coffee and brew it with a moka pot or via French press. We don't really use the espresso machine anymore. LOL.
This day was different, my wife had to do some work ASAP while we were inside the mall; thus, the opportunity presented itself and here I am writing this blog post.
For this #coffee-date (not really a date for her because she was working, but it was for me. 😂), my wife had a latte, while I had my usual Americano - is this a little boring for you millennials out there? Tell me please.
Too Sweet for the Sweet Tooth
There were a couple of cakes and pastries that caught my attention, but the camera on my phone was uncooperative and I couldn't focus clearly to show you here. It was a weird scene. Anyways, this was the best among the blurred photos that I got from the shots which I took of the cake display ref.
I got us the Blueberry Cheesecake to share between us because the sweets were too sweet at this place, even for a sweet tooth like me. It was Php155.00 (roughly US$2.83). I think it was priced just right. If it was a bit bigger,then it would have been a winner. Comparing it to the same from another coffee shop at the other end of the mall, this one comes in second.
Maybe they made it small because they put in too much confectioner's sugar. 😆
Airy Environment
The place itself was well lit and the coffee crowd have not come in yet so we had our choice of seats near the power outlet. This is always the first thing that I check out when working outside; a habit I picked up from freelancing.
Conclusion
It was a nice, productive day at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and we had a "coffee-date". This is a place that I highly recommend if you are in the area and just want to chill out and chat with your friends or have a business meeting with a small group. You can order coffee, cakes and pastries, salads, and fruits while having your discussion and not have to worry about social distancing because the tables are spaced far apart from one another that you won't have to worry about it too much.
That's it for today's #coffee post. I hope you enjoyed reading. It's almost Friday so get ready for your weekend adventure.
Love and peace.
Location: SM City San Jose Del Monte, Quirino Highway, Barangay Tungkong Mangga, CSJDM, Bulacan, Philippines.
Store Hours: Mall Hours/10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
*all photos are mine.