Magnum Opus Fine Coffees: The Art and Science of Coffee
I’m one of those people who have to have their coffee in the morning or else I won’t be able to function the whole day. And like many urbanites, coffee shops are my usual habitat – I hang out there to do my work (ambient noise for the creative mind), discuss ideas or just do nothing with good friends while sipping a hot caffeinated beverage. But when I came across Magnum Opus Fine Coffees, I found myself asking “What do I really know about coffee besides it’s supposed to wake me up?”.
The culture of fine coffee
Jonathan Choi’s coffee journey began a year ago with a cup of Panama Geisha brewed by a Q-grader (a person who professionally tastes and grades coffee) he met in Guangzhou, China. “He basically showed (me) that there’s more to coffee than just putting it in the pot or just mixing it,” shares the IT-professional-turned-entrepreneur. “When I got back here, I was convinced I had to share it somehow.”
As one of Manila’s few third wave cafes, Magnum Opus aims to elevate coffee and coffee-drinking to an artistic level by using a little bit of science (and some manual labor). Aside from using specialty-grade beans, careful attention is given to technique, temperature and timing to bring out its flavor. Here, there’s no large or extra large – they use smaller cups to showcase the coffee’s quality and taste.
Magnum Opus, located at Aguirre Avenue in BF Homes
Speaking of science, they have a TARDIS restroom, which attracted a group of Whovians who subsequently held their meet-up at the café. They have done two mini events on coffee tasting and appreciation (I’m keeping an eye out for the next one). “Besides the coffee event we’re also planning of expanding into other events as well because it’s a neighborhood café and we want people to feel that it’s a little spot in their neighborhood where they get to do anything. We get requests for maybe a spoken word or arts and crafts-making sessions. We’ll explore that option as well,” says Jonathan.
The café’s whole concept is unlike your regular coffee shop, from the choice of furniture to the menu. Wooden tables and stools are found inside and out on the terrace. Customers can see how their coffee is made by sitting at the bar, a feature that was an “absolute must”. “The reason there’s a bar-keeping is you can just ask me ‘I have a French press at home, what do I do? How do I get better coffee out of it? My coffee is a bit bitter’. So we’re like bartenders - you can talk to us while we’re making your coffee and believe me, the best seat in the house is at the bar.”
The place also serves as a mini art gallery where budding artists can display their artwork.
Of brews and breakfast food
It was hard to believe that Jonathan didn’t know much about coffee before that China trip as he explained to me the complexities of the brewed beverage. The first thing he let me try was an off-the-menu special called a Duet – a cup of Latte (P150) and a single shot of Ristretto (or restricted shot, which means that the shot has less water and is therefore more potent). Having them separate allows you to experience the espresso in two ways. Even if there was no sugar in it, the latte was very pleasant while the ristretto had a similar taste to dark chocolate.
Duet
Latte
Ristretto
Nicaragua Jinotega
Hand-Brewed Single Origin Coffee
The pour-over method
A bit later, Sir (that’s the name of the barista!) poured the water to wet the paper on the coffee dipper and heat the flask under it. He then added the beans and continued pouring evenly on the sides and at the center.
No sugar and also no milk this time for my second full cup. The flavor is a complex one that I couldn’t quite grasp and then later on realized it was reminiscent of black tea with a sweet after-taste.
Monte Cristo
Wafflegato
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. So the unknown, the mysterious, is where art and science meet” wrote Albert Einstein.
And in the intersection of that Venn diagram, there is this thing we call coffee whose complexities we have yet to explore one cup at a time.
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How to get there:
From South Superhighway, exit to Sucat. Then from Sucat Road, turn left to BF Homes entrance. Go straight along Aguirre Street. The Prime building is on the left just after the intersection at Elizalde Street. Magnum Opus is on the second floor.
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