The best specialty coffee shops in Makati

If you are looking for the best specialty coffee shops in Makati, start with Yardstick Coffee, The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, H Proper Coffee Roasters, Primal Brew and Satori.

Some helped shape specialty coffee in the Philippines. Some stood the test of time while dozens of others came and went. A few are slightly less obvious. All are worth your time.

If you’re in town for the Philippine Coffee Expo at One Ayala, these are the coffee shops worth leaving the show for.

Yardstick Coffee

_{Estimated taxi time from Philippine Coffee Expo: 8 to 10 minutes}

Yardstick helped build specialty coffee in the Philippines

Founded by Henry and Kringlee Ablaza, the company spent years roasting coffee, training baristas, and helping shape how coffee was spoken about locally. In 2026, Yardstick ranked No. 34 in The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops, which by all accounts felt less like a surprise and more like overdue recognition.

Yardstick feels established without feeling tired. If you only have time for one coffee stop in Makati, start here.

The Curator Coffee & Cocktails

_{Estimated taxi time from Philippine Coffee Expo: 10 to 12 minutes}

Curator is one of the very few places manage to take both coffee and cocktails seriously without one overshadowing the other.

Opened by David Ong in 2013, Curator began inside a wine shop as a café by day and cocktail bar by night. Eventually it took over the full space. Curator has appeared repeatedly on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, peaking at No. 33 in 2024, while still maintaining one of Makati’s most respected coffee programmes.

H Proper Coffee Roasters

_{Estimated taxi time from Philippine Coffee Expo: 6 to 8 minutes}

H Proper feels like the kind of café built by someone who became completely consumed by coffee and then decided to turn that obsession into a business. That someone is Harley Keith Yu.

The coffee programme benefits from input beyond the Philippines. Yu has worked with Hong Kong’s Hazel & Hershey on sourcing and roast quality, helping H Proper gain access to coffees that would otherwise be difficult for a regional café to secure. Which it then roasts in-house.

Skip the milk drinks and order a pourover.

Primal Brew Coffee + Roastery

_{Estimated taxi time from Philippine Coffee Expo: 8 to 10 minutes}

Primal Brew started small, selling bottled cold brew and drip bags from home before slowly growing into a proper café and roasting business. And that gradual growth still shows. Nothing about Primal Brew feels rushed or overly polished.

The coffee programme leans heavily into Philippine beans. And it’s the kind of place where baristas will take the time to explain roast differences and brewing techniques.

Order a pourover, particularly with local beans. Or try a favorite of most regulars, the Maple Oat Latte.

Satori Specialty Coffee

_{Estimated taxi time from Philippine Coffee Expo: 10 to 12 minutes}

Satori’s space is quiet, warm, and minimal, with a long wooden brew bar that puts the focus exactly where it should: the coffee. A great, broad introduction to what they do, is the Satori Sampler. Their Tokyo Drip and cold brew lineup in one set.

Satori runs an open bar concept. If you pick up beans at the Philippine Coffee Expo and want to brew them yourself, Satori will happily let you use the space and equipment. There is only one simple rule: be ready to share a cup with the other patrons.

Where I’d start

If time is tight, begin with Yardstick, Curator, and H Proper.

Yardstick will show you what a café serious about craft and education looks like. Curator represents consistency in a world distracted by novelty. H Proper shows what Philippine coffee can become when local producers are treated with the same care as celebrated international origins.

If you have more time, add Primal Brew, which feels like an extension of the local community, and Satori to experience a quieter, more contemplative side of Makati coffee culture.

Anyone else you would add to the list?

FAQ

What are the best specialty coffee shops in Makati?

The strongest specialty coffee shops in Makati include Yardstick Coffee, The Curator Coffee & Cocktails, H Proper Coffee Roasters, Primal Brew, Satori and Sulok.

Which coffee shop in Makati should I visit first?

If you only have time for one stop, start with Yardstick Coffee. It combines local credibility, international recognition, and years of influence on Philippine specialty coffee.

What is the best coffee shop in Makati for espresso?

Many local coffee enthusiasts still recommend The Curator Coffee & Cocktails when the conversation turns specifically to espresso.

Which specialty coffee shop is closest to One Ayala?

H Proper Coffee Roasters at Ayala Triangle Gardens is one of the closest respected specialty coffee cafés to One Ayala.

Is Makati good for specialty coffee?

Yes. Makati is one of the easiest parts of Metro Manila to drink well because many respected cafés sit close together.

Are these cafés close to Philippine Coffee Expo?

Most sit between 5 and 20 minutes by taxi from One Ayala, depending on traffic.