Agimat: Kape + Kultura: Sanctuary of Arts and Coffee
In an alleyway near Kapitan Moy Street in Marikina lies a coffee shop full of mystical and whimsical possibilities.
Tables, which became a horizontal graffiti canvas, and chairs lined up parallel to their wall, ornamented with amber lights. All these leading to the storefront of Agimat : Kape + Kultura. The first few steps provide a magical treat in itself. Where one will walk on antiquated patterned floors of the alleyway.
Eye-catching visual pieces greet you at the bar of the store. Paintings by local artists, trinkets of travels, and childhood figurines. The ceiling covered in eyes painted red and white, and from there a collection of distinct agimat (amulets) dangle decoratively.
The coffee shop’s very own Gewel Cyrus Gabriel prepares to welcome patrons as I arrive, a few hours before the amber sun sinks. His story made me anticipate the evening more. He told me when the eve comes his fellow artists congregate to enjoy their cup of caffeine. Indeed, culture and the arts, and of course coffee, meet in this charmingly peculiar rendezvous.
The name of their shop, Agimat: Kape + Kultura, roots from sir Gewel’s passion as an artist in their local community theater for 10 years. Particularly, he makes mention of the play he penned, ‘Marka.’ A musical highlighting Filipino Mythological creatures. One in which did not reach fruition, when yielding to practicality weighed over pursuing his passion.
However, that is not the end of the line for the humble artisan. Rising from the setbacks, Gewel found a new stage in the form of his store.
Sanctuary for fellow Artists
The shared stage. A new medium for performing arts. An outlet for many who share the same vision. This is what the humble shop became. In here Gewel also rediscovers both the art of brewing and the stages of specialty coffee, as he treats its meticulous process as an artform in its own right. The traceable link from farmers, to roasters, and finally to the small coffee shops.
His humble stage, in turn, he offers as sanctuary to artists of any kind. With his heart-warming vision which emphasizes that one does not have to suffer by choosing passion over practicality. He recognizes that “art is fluid,” one cannot enclose in a shape. And it is interesting to see these diverse artists come together in the evening, over a humble cup of coffee.
For instance, Agimat’s recent event ‘Obra’ lined their alley with arts of different varieties. It became a stage to performing artists, individuals who sell handicrafts, knitted clothing, graphic arts, and delicacies. The colorful street fair was made possible in collaboration with Indie Lifestyle, held on January 14 to 15.
(Photo courtesy of Agimat : Kape + Kultura’s Facebook Page)
Artists thrive by doing the thing that feed their souls, and Gewel testifies to this. However, he also know too well the struggles of a budding local artist. As we need to continuously feed our physical bodies. Thus, these opportunities they generously give to their fellows, even to their neighbours.
Agimat’s charms
Gewel’s brimming love for the arts and Filipino Mythology evidently manifests up to the details of the menu. I got myself a cold cup of Sirena (Mermaid), Salted Spanish Latte, with the hint of sea’s taste giving its name. Then I happily paired it with hearty oatmeal cookies. Manananggal, a creature with a split body, takes after their Caramel Macchiato, half of it espresso and the other is its foam. Their Strawberry Milk earned its title as Aswang in the menu, with the strawberry likened to the color of flesh.
These are just some of the items thoughtfully named in their selection of drinks. Among others include the strong and mighty Kapre as Americano, the graceful Diwata as Latte, Tikbalang being their Cinnamon Dolce Latte, Minokawa as Vanilla Latte, and their Brown Sugar Latte named as Bathala.
Aside from featuring Filipino Mythological characters, their specialty coffee stands among the many charms of their café. With great care on the quality, Gewel stays keen on witnessing the process himself, acquiring materials directly from the farmers and roasters. He even showed me his supply of beans named after the very farmer who sowed the seeds.
Gewel wants his patrons to taste specialty coffee in its truest sense, and the product of the years spent learning the craft. All the sleepless nights fuelled by taste tests, beans and milk spilt, coupled with passion and determination, led to gradually perfecting the craft.
From one dreamer to another
Like many others, Agimat : Kape + Kultura built itself inspired from many others in the industry. Gewel makes mentions of their friends, Resonate Coffee. He admires the fellow from Marikina and the impact they made, the way they talk to people and their generosity in passing down their coffee knowledge. Others that Gewel looks up to include Café Elijah and Frankenroaster.
And these inspirations reach others too. With the aims to feed both the soul and body of his fellow artists, Agimat offers its stage not only to showcase talents but also an opportunity to sustain themselves, a sanctuary in its truest sense. Their roster of baristas are their artist friends who either painted the insides of their shop or added their work on its gallery wall.
The early traces of Agimat
When asked about what coffee meant to him, it is a fuel to jumpstart the day and something can be consumed for pleasure. Coffee fuelled Gewel in his previous ventures. As a theater artist for a decade, Gewel reminisced how drinking coffee become his daily ritual as he deemed theater as a daunting form of art. It was also his companion as he memorized thousands of technical terms in dentistry, and in his stint as a Calisthenics coach.
Gewel recalls that the early beginnings started from selling coffee jelly. With a fledgling knowledge on coffee craft, he sold his first batch to his workmates. Twelve bottles which resembled a medicine flask show his early branding aesthetic-wise.
Eventually, as both his capital and knowledge (acquired from watching YouTube videos) grew, he then set up a mobile shop on Kapitan Moy. Equipped with a kettle, Americano and Latte graced his first menu, and to his surprise they went sold out. Gewel saw the potential and head on to see more of its capability which eventually turned into a bike set up.
(Photo courtesy of Agimat : Kape + Kultura’s Facebook Page)
(Photo courtesy of Agimat : Kape + Kultura’s Facebook Page)
Eight months after selling aboard bicycles, the café became an extension of his home. Gewel’s vision remained clear; to intertwine it to arts. The first love in which he had to let go once he now redeems.
Up Ahead
Gewel sees a very bright future ahead, not only for the coffee shop owners but the farmers who bring the beans. Being part of the Philippine Coffee Guild equipped him with knowledge to take part in the advocacy of third wave coffee to uplift vital players in the chain, the farmers. Through his budding shop, he aspires to educate the people about the state of our local farmers. A movement he is glad to be a part of.
He also aspires to see this intervention manifest in other products in the country, given its agricultural potential. And of course to continue bringing quality coffee in the most affordable price they can offer.
Only but a humble shop, but Gewel has faith that even “droplets can make the biggest ripples.” And what better way to start is by being fuelled by both passion and coffee.
(Photo courtesy of Agimat : Kape + Kultura’s Facebook Page)
Step into a different world and let your true selves wander by visiting the sanctuary/coffee shop at #2 Kapt. Antonio Santos St., Sta Elena, Marikina City, Philippines. You may also check out their Facebook and Instagram pages.
