A coffee shop in the middle of rice fields earns Php 50,000 daily
Inspirational couple Rozelle Mae Benedito and Mawi Mendoza Rillorta built a coffee shop in the middle of rice fields. At first, they received negative reactions after announcing their plan for a 500 square-meter property they brought in 2018. However, they stressed, “Paano mo malalaman kung di mo susubukan?”
They held on to their vision and pursued their business more. The coffee shop is located in the middle of a rice field in Mangatarem, Pangasinan. So, many people doubted its ability to grow. Currently, the couple earns about Php 50,000 per day. They started as the only two people working in their business, and now they have fifteen employees.
A coffee shop in the middle of Mangatarem, Pangasinan rice fields earns Php 50,000 daily.
How did the coffee shop start?
The coffee shop ag.KAPI.ta opened to the public on July 17, 2021. They already bought the property in 2018. But, the couple started building their coffee shop in April-May 2021 after returning home from Manila due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rozelle recalled the first set of doubts she heard when they started.
“Mga tao po dito… Sabi nila na ‘Bakit magpapatayo dito,’ ‘Sino pupunta diyan,’ ‘Sobrang layo,’ ‘Walang magiging customer ‘yan.’”
The couple also reminisced about their struggles and sets of doubts that they heard during their construction period during the summer. Since the place remains in the province, it became hard to get their materials delivered.
“Ang time lang po talaga namin na summer. So, pinaka time lang po namin starting po ng April atsaka May, ‘ yun lang po. ‘Yun lan gpo yung pwede kami magpaconstruct. Kunwari, may babaguhin po kami. Hindi na po kami pwede magpasok ng materyales, ng gamit.”
With their passion for coffee, the couple also created their own recipes and started the business on their own. Rozelle and Mawi invested approximated Php 1-million in the venture.
“From 100% po na feedback, kami lang po ‘yung 2% dahil naniniwala kami sa sarili namin. 98% po nanggagaling po sa labas ‘yung feedback.”
At the drop of a hat, Rozelle and Mawi succeeded.
The peak of their business
ag.KAPI.ta started to kick off during ber months. These become the days when the breeze fills the air. Then, the couple continues to throw caution to the wind. Luckily, they did because their coffee shop become crowded with people.
Mawi explained, “‘Yun nga pong gamit namin na machine nun is hindi po pang-commercial. So, pang bahay lang talaga. Hindi namin inexpect na sobrang daming tao.”
“Nakakatuwa po talaga kasi ang haba po ng pila po talaga. Talaga pong pinipilihan nila. Tapos ‘yun lang pong bamboo bridge po namin talagang umaabot po siya doon. Kaya po nakakatuwa po talaga na madaming sumusuporta sa amin.”
ag.KAPI.ta sells pastries and hot and cold beverages for between Php 80 and Php 115. The store opens from Mondays through Sundays from 7 AM to 10 PM. Located three hours from Manila in Daang Kalikasa, Mangatarem, Pangasinan. ag.KAPI.ta is an Ilocano pgrase that means “magkape tayo.”
Additionally, they have food stalls that offer local and international cuisine, all in a bid to help other entrepreneurs. Rozelle and Mawi prove to everyone that the noises will never blind you if you only focus on the sights within yourself. The key to their win revolves around believing in themselves and disregarding others’ negative comments.
Rozelle and Mawi’s last advice:
Mawi said, “Habang nagiisip po kayo, pakinggan din po natin ‘yung puso natin kasi mas maganda kung buong puso mo gagawin ‘yung design. Parang po si Mrs, di naman niya po ‘to magagawa kung hindi niya mahal ‘yung ginagawa niya.”
Rozelle, on the other hand, added, “At kung hindi po dahil sa support niya, iniisip ko po na ‘Kung magbo-boom kaya?’ Kaya pinalakas niya rin po talaga ‘yung loob ko na ‘Sige, go. Try natin.’ Kaya po nabuo si ag.KAPI.ta.”
Rozelle and Mawi plan to expand the business and open a second branch soon.
Visit ag.KAPI.ta Facebook page here.
