Get ready to take your shot with Buckshot Brew!

I think I sound like a broken record when I say coffee remains an everyday essential. But, it really is. Caffeine increases adrenaline levels in your blood which helps to prepare for physical exertion. Coffee contains magnesium and potassium. This also helps the human insulin, regulating blood sugar levels, and reducing your craving for sugary treats and snacks. With that said, Buckshot Brew gives us all the health benefits that coffee may give.

Get ready to take your shot with Buckshot Brew!

Andrew Bagay is the man behind Buckshot Brew which started off as a passion project. As a freelance writer, he used to work as a copywriter for an ad agency. He does everything from content creation, photography, brewing, and crafting the drinks for Buckshot Brew.

“I’ve always loved coffee for as long as I can remember. Buckshot Brew is a passion project of mine and I simply want to share my love of coffee with everyone. I decided on the ready-to-drink aspect for people who are always on the go and don’t have the time to brew their own. So far, the feedback has been very positive.”

Buckshot Brew received the name because Andrew wanted something that would sound strong, just like the coffee that he prefers.

“Personally, I like my coffee strong as well, and at the same time a name with easy recall. I’m personally not a fan of franchise coffee shops where you pay a premium for drinks that taste more like sugar instead of coffee. That’s why I settled with Buckshot Brew. It’s short, catchy, and rolls off the tongue well. And once you take a sip, the coffee hits you like a buckshot.”

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Buckshot Brew.

The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely affected a lot of people and a lot of businesses. For Andrew, it affected his decision as he has always wanted to start something that he can call his own.

“At the time we were all stuck at home, so I figured it best to start sooner than later. I could also use a side income, which would be helpful, especially during hard times.”

However, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, he still faced a lot of his own struggles when he opened up Buckshot Brew.

“My biggest fear and struggle was that I never had any experience in owning or running a business. How do I even start? Where will I begin? I’ve always been an employee so overcoming that fear and anxiety was the biggest hurdle. But you’ll never know unless you try, right? Just do it. So far it’s been a huge ‘learn as you go’ process for me.”

Buckshot Brew and its four flavors: Sweet Black, Chilled Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and White Mocha.

In the beginning, Buckshot Brew only launched three flavors. These included Sweet Black, Chilled Vanilla, and White Mocha. At the time, Andrew didn’t want to start out with a big menu as he knew it could feel overwhelming, especially to the consumers. He also didn’t have any data on the market and what flavors he should sell.

“So based on my research, these are the flavors that are regular on menus but have a great reach among different types of coffee drinkers. Each flavor is common enough to appeal to a wide market. Of course, flavor suggestions are open to us.”

Andrew described Sweet Black as a strong black coffee with a bit of sugar syrup for a hint of sweetness. He also shared that pure black coffee can remain an option as well.

Chilled Vanilla, on the other hand, has milk and french vanilla syrup. He pointed out that it has become a staple flavor for people who prefers something other than black coffee.

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Meanwhile, the Salted Caramel was only added later on. Andrew figured the shop needed something for caramel lovers and decided to add a different twist to its usual simple mix. He believed it balances well with the bold coffee flavor.

Of course, White Mocha comes last as he considers it his personal favorite. He also regards this as a premium flavor for the brand. It has a strong black coffee with white chocolate sauce and creamy milk for sweet and buttery goodness.

“White Mocha is my favorite. I already prefer white chocolate over regular chocolate in general so this is perfect for me. I just love the milky texture and slight buttery sweetness infused with coffee.”

Sourcing Arabica beans from the Cordillera region.

Helping out local Filipino coffee farmers remains one of the reasons Village Pipol reached out to Buckshot Brew. And, it remains one of the most impressive parts of the brand. Andrew shared a background behind his decision of using Arabica beans sourced from the Cordillera region.

“When I started this, I’ve always wanted my coffee beans to be sourced locally to help local farmers and roasteries as well, so using local beans as a foundation is the top priority for me. Philippine coffee is great. I’ve tried almost all types of coffee from different regions of the country but I always go back to the Cordillera region, Benguet to be specific. It has a balanced level of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness that I like very much.”

How to order?

You can order a handcrafted and made-to-order iced coffee from Buckshot Brew by sending them a DM on their Instagram account. Give them your name, address, contact number, order, mode of payment, and date of delivery. Once you settle your payment through BPI, Metrobank, or GCash, you can send them a screenshot and wait for your order confirmation. Then, they will message you once your order becomes ready for either pick-up or delivery.