Is Bo’s your cup of coffee?
by Rica S. Facundo on August 20, 2010
Ateneo's Bo's Coffee has branches in Matteo Up and the MVP Basement.
A coffee cup a day keeps the crammer awake— especially for the sleep deprived, whose day-to-day miracles rely on cups of heaven-sent coffee concoctions. Luckily for Ateneans, the recently-opened Bo’s Coffee branches in the MVP Basement and Matteo Up are brewing up a solution to our much needed caffeine fixes.
But is Bo’s our cup of coffee? Relax a minute, and put that cup down— g will tell you soon.
On the Coffee Stand
Bo’s Caramel Latte
Short at P90, Tall at P99 and Grande at P112.50
Bo’s Caramel Latte is one of Bo’s Ateneo’s best selling hot drinks, according to Kuya Eric, the resident Bo’s barista in Matteo Up. In Matteo alone, they sell at least 10 cups each day.
For an espresso, the caffeine is surprisingly not too overpowering, so you can forget about that aftertaste that makes you feel like you’re always on the edge. The flavor however, is kind of generic, so it’s like any other Caramel Latte experience. It’s also a bit expensive for its price, so your pockets might feel lighter once the presence of caffeine starts losing itself in the watery body of the actual drink.
But coffee junkies can’t be choosers, so if what you’re looking for is a light coffee that has enough oomph to keep you from dozing off in class, then Bo’s Caramel Latte is for you.
Bo’s Oreo Froccino Primo
Tall at P117 and Grande at P126
With soft whipped cream crowning the Bo’s Oreo Froccino Primo, you’ll be a merciful servant to the drink’s sweet reign of flavor. Although we’re used to having Oreos infused and added with almost anything, this budding romance with coffee looks quite promising.
Bo’s Oreo Froccino Primo lets you happily fulfill your sweet tooth without having to worry about chunks of Oreos or ice obstructing your experience with this well-blended beverage. It’s the kind of drink that makes you want to lick the whipped cream off with your straw, and smack it between your lips after you’re finished— especially when you’re more “sweet” than caffeine-inclined.
Bo’s Oreo Froccino Primo Tall at P117 and Grande at P126
Coffee Culture
Although Bo’s boasts of quality beverages, serving approximately 60 to 70 drinks in MVP basement, real coffee experience is more than just good taste. While the flavor is supposed to awaken your taste buds, the atmosphere needs to stimulate your mind to engage in quiet conversations with yourself or with your friends.
“The ambiance is decent and I can sit down,” says Angelo Galindo, a Chemistry freshman, “but I can’t study here at MVP.” Angelo gives Bo’s a 6.5 rating (out of 10) for the environment, but an 8 for the coffee itself.
In Matteo Up, the situation’s a bit different: “The men running it are always missing,” says Margaret Sandoval, Management freshman. This doesn’t pose as good news for Bo’s: when you’re in dire need of a caffeinated pick-me-up, where are the black aproned, khaki pants wearing baristas when you need them?
Coffee convenience
Whether or not the coffee or ambiance is good, the truth still stands— students need their coffee. Even if it’s “a little expensive”, as Margaret admits, she still buys it for convenience, especially when student-run food mall JSEC has no coffee.
“It’s inside the campus; there’s coffee, and you need coffee. Students need coffee,” Angelo emphasizes. Indeed students thrive on these cups of magic, what with all nighters becoming increasingly part of our lifestyle.
Overall, whether you’re a crammer or simply just a coffee aficionado, Bo’s Coffee serves the right kind of cup for you. Be it sweet or caffeinated, the beverages will definitely keep you awake.
After writing this article, I know it did for me.
