Viennese Coffee Community Welcomes PH Specialty Coffee During Filipino Food Month

Philippine Coffee Beans featured during the cupping session at GOTA Coffee Experts.

VIENNA 02 May 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Vienna and GOTA Coffee Experts showcased the distinctive flavors and qualities of specialty coffee from the Philippines in a cupping session on 24 April 2024. The cupping session is the first coffee event in Vienna centered around specialty coffee grown in the Philippines as part of the Embassy’s celebration of Filipino Food Month. The coffee project is part of an overarching initiative to promote Philippine coffee in international markets.

The coffee sampling session was attended by coffee industry professionals in Vienna, coffee enthusiasts, and Filipino community leaders. Her Excellency Ambassador Evangelina L.A. Bernas highlighted the Philippines' rich coffee tradition dating back to the 18th century.

“We are quite proud of our coffee tradition. The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world that grows all the four major coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa. Because we have over 7400 islands, we have all the types of terrain and temperature that is good to grow all these different types of beans, from low areas to mountain ranges with just the right mix of weather and soil,” she said.

Attendees were guided through the tasting experience by Mr. Oliver Goetz, a professional Q Grader and co-owner of Alt Wien Kaffee. They explored a selection of Philippine coffees presented by Mr. Markus Brun, co-owner of GOTA Coffee Experts, including Mt. Matutum roasted by Kape de Filipina, Barako roasted by GOTA Coffee Experts, Mt. Apo Cecilia Cavalida roasted by Monkey Co, Mt. Apo Lactic Honey and Mt. Apo Natural roasted by Wide Awake, and coffee beans from Sitio Belis of Kalsada Coffee.

GOTA Coffee Experts started serving the Philippine coffee  varieties on 8 April 2024. Customers  may continue to savor them at the brew bar of GOTA until supplies last. Art cards designed by Philippine Embassy Cultural Officer Kristine Camille Cruz accompany each coffee order, with detailed information on their origin and flavor profile. END

Markus Brun, co-owner of GOTA Coffee Experts, discussing the taste notes of each of the featured PH coffee beans.

Ambassador Luli Bernas highlighting the Philippines' rich coffee tradition.

Guests, which included coffee industry professionals, coffee enthusiasts, as well as Filipino locals, participating at the cupping session. (Photo courtesy of Gizelle Khan)

Markus Brun, co-owner of GOTA Coffee Experts and 2022 Austrian Coffee in Good Spirits Champion, crafting coffee mocktails using the Mt. Matutum Coffee Beans.

From left to right: Markus Brun of GOTA Coffee Experts and Ambassador Luli Bernas during the PH Specialty Coffee Cupping event.

Philippine specialty coffee being brewed at the filter bar of GOTA Coffee Experts.

Cafe guests enjoying the Philippine specialty coffee brewed at the filter bar of GOTA Coffee Experts.

Art cards made by the Cultural Officer Kristine Camille Cruz served with Philippine coffee .

For more information, visit https://www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.at or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinAustria/,  https://www.twitter.com/PHLinAustria or https://www.instagram.com/phinaustria/.