Niseko Coffee, Philippines – We love everything matcha! And a coffee shop in San Juan City called Niseko Coffee is just one of the few who serves quality matcha drinks at a reasonable price.
There are lots of coffee shops in Greenhills Shopping Center, including the large and famous brands such as Starbucks and CBTL. Due to the increasing love (or shall I say, need?) of people for coffee, you’ll have a hard time finding seats in the famous cafes when you buy their drinks.
But apart from the 2 tycoons, there are still some others who also need love, and one of them is Niseko Coffee. The underrated coffee shop offers coffee and matcha drinks that you’ll surely adore.
Come and check out what’s in store for you!
Niseko Coffee History in the Philippines
The pandemic happened but it didn’t stop Niseko Coffee owner, Diane, from opening a Kurasu Partner coffee shop in May 2021. By using matcha products sourced from Kyoto, Niseko Coffee will surely make anyone love its drinks.
But what does Niseko mean?
Don’t worry.
You don’t have to learn Nihongo to understand what it means. Niseko is a town in Hokkaido which means “a sheer cliff.” That explains why you see a mountain in every cup.
So, why Niseko?
Simple.
Diane’s favorite holiday destination is Hokkaido, Japan. And it’s where the town is located.
Niseko Coffee Beans
Not all coffee shops in Greenhills are alike, and you can say that Niseko Coffee is indeed a Filipino lover by heart. For one, the Niseko Coffee beans are sourced from our very own Benguet, Baguio.
Except with pour-overs, espresso coffee beans all come from the Philippines, so you’re not just getting a great cup of coffee, but helping fellow Filipinos with every purchase.
But what’s so special about Benguet coffee beans that you should give it a try? The citrusy – sweet and acidic – flavor of the expressed coffee from the beans are what to look out for. So, if you’ve never tried them, you better do!
We’ve been to Baguio quite a few times, and we also bought coffee beans that were harvested from Benguet and Sagada. And sometimes, it’s a great feeling knowing you’re helping your fellow countrymen by purchasing local goods.
Niseko Matcha Menu
If you’re like me, who always gets excited upon seeing a matcha cafe, then, you’re at the right place!
Because the Niseko matcha owner uses ceremonial grade matcha in its drinks to ensure that every drink has that premium taste with every drop. Once you’ve tried Niseko matcha (Philippines), you’ll never go back to just any other.
There are 3 types of matcha drink to choose from, and you can have them either hot or cold.
Matcha Latte
If you want classic and original matcha drink, then this one’s for you. The creamy milk blends perfectly with the slightly bitter and earthy taste. If you’re afraid of trying other matcha flavored drinks, then Matcha Latte is what you should try.
Sakura Matcha Latte
On the other hand, if you’re a bit adventurous and want to try something out of the world, then you can get Sakura Matcha Latte instead.
With an added cherry blossom floral scent, Sakura Matcha Latte can be your favorite drink!
Matcha Latte Espresso
Why choose when you can have the best of both worlds? Niseko Coffee’s Matcha Latte Espresso has a mixture of both my love! Combining coffee and matcha in one drink gives you both flavors without overpowering one another.
I used to hate the mixture of the 2, but Niseko Coffee has just changed my taste buds, making it palatable for this blend! So, go ahead and try it to see if you’ve also changed just like me! (Let me know in the comment section!)
But! The best part about the matcha drinks in Niseko Coffee is that you can choose not to add a sweetener for that authentic Japanese feel and vibe.
And since we are not the sweets type of people, we tried the unsweetened Matcha Latte, and matcha’s earthy flavor definitely got us grounded (pun intended).
My Niseko matcha review isn’t complete yet because I haven’t tried the Sakura one. So, I’ll give you an update once I’ve tried it!
Niseko Coffee Price
When you check out the Niseko Coffee menu, you might (or probably not) be surprised about the price of each drink. But for me, the price you pay is just right considering the quality of drink Niseko Coffee is giving you in return.
Coffees are fairly priced, especially if you compare them with other Greenhills coffee shops. The matcha drinks are at par with the other 2 brands I mentioned above, so I might as well choose Niseko Coffee over and over.
Niseko Taiyaki Review
Besides coffee and matcha drinks, another thing that you should check out is the Niseko taiyaki menu. And if you aren’t familiar with taiyaki, it’s a Japanese fish-shaped waffle with a filling.
If you’ve been to Japan and are a foodie, you must’ve tried taiyaki being sold in the streets. The most famous ones are filled with red beans or custard.
But you don’t have to travel to Japan to eat these filling snacks, because Niseko taiyaki Philippines lets you enjoy the crunchy outer and soft pancake with whatever flavor of filling of your choice!
With just less than 100 PHP (1.76 USD), – fair enough for the Niseko taiyaki price, huh? – you can choose to have the classic ones you’ll find in a Japan cart, red beans and custard. But apart from that, you can also get cheese, Nutella, and even sausage! How great is that?
We bought the Cheese Taiyaki and our toddler couldn’t help but give it a thumbs up! We’ll try the other flavors next!
Niseko Coffee Review Conclusion
If Niseko Coffee isn’t the best coffee shop in Greenhills San Juan, then I don’t know what is. Showcasing ceremonial grade matcha and premium coffee drinks extracted from Atok, Benguet, coffee beans, what’s there not to love?
Other than that, you can even order taiyaki, or the famous Japanese fish-shaped waffle with quality fillings. But if you’re not a fan, you can get chocolate chip or white chocolate Macadamia cookie, cream cheese pudding, or coffee jelly instead.
Have fun trying out new things!
