Café Elijah: Tiny Space, Big Hearts
Gabriel Jamon, also known as barista Gab in the community, greeted me with a warm cup of brown sugar latte before the start of our conversation. I witnessed the progress of his practice over the past two years, and I’m truly proud to behold the winged tulip latte art in front of me.
I am seated hours before the bustling time of Café Elijah. Over the counter, I can see the espresso machine work its magic, smell and hear the fresh coffee beans going through the busy grinder. This intimate set up allows you to witness your coffee being brewed up close, nice and slow. And converse with kuya Gab who always loves to catch up with his patrons amicably. He likens the interior to a carinderia setup or an espresso bar.
This cubic store along Kagawad Road serves as kuya Gab’s playground, where his toil becomes completely bearable and almost unnoticeable. When you arrive here they want you to experience taking things slow. Brewing Your Dreams, says their tagline, and they do so, ever so gradually and gingerly as you take your time.
As I began asking what coffee meant to kuya Gab, he said that coffee witnessed everything; from heartbreaks to successes. Coffee intertwined him with his wife as well, a shared love they nurtured through the years. Just how coffee and pastries go together, Gab and his wife Jhen established themselves as a barista and baker team.
Photos courtesy of Café Elijah
The dream started way back, from a fascination with the overall coffee scene and coffee craft. Gab frequented Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds mainly for their brewed coffee in his twenties. He admired baristas’ craft and the happiness they emanated, eventually making him aspire to become one too.
The dainty café with narra-hued shelves and bar sits among the many food offerings along the road. But before relocating to their current location, the café was once an extension of their home.
First Steps nurtured at home
From small spaces, big dreams can grow. And homes are among the first venues for brewing aspirations. The coffee maker he got as a present from his mother would kick start his proper brewing journey.
Café Elijah started at the comforts of their front yard during the period of pandemic. Underneath a towering mango tree looking down at the quiet and small street of Mabini. Although months in the planning, a bike ride on UP Diliman’s oval will soon spark their plan, when kuya Gab sees a humble pop-up he remembers as ‘kapihan sa tabi’, with a simple set up complete with French press, pre-ground selection of beans. He knew he and his wife could pull it off too. And immediately did they start.
The couple took out a folding table and set it up on their doorstep. Family and friends lined up as their first patrons. Household items filled their initial arsenal. They got beans from their personal stash, holiday cookies from Christmas as their freebies, and an instant brownie mix as the first ingredient for the pastry menu. Days rolled then came the need to upgrade. Their investment in a Moka pot produced their first espresso-based cups. The line up includes caramel macchiato, mocha, and latte. Café Elijah gradually managed to develop their own flair to their brownies.
Photo courtesy of Café Elijah
Photos courtesy of Café Elijah
A generous gesture from a school friend will even improve their quality, the utility of an espresso machine. But prior to the café, the couple were already selling delectable homemade pastries under their platform, Kneadify. Along with their cheesecakes, muffins, and loaves offering, a coffee product, cold brew already sits among the menu.
Only three to four months in operation, the couple saved up to enrol Kuya Gab in Arcana Coffee’s workshop. Being an advocate of continuous learning. The lecture inspired them to upgrade their coffee beans. Understand the system of third wave coffee shops, and eventually lean locally and ethically sourced raw materials.
Home-grown Inspirations
Encoded on their cup is the tagline, “Brewing Your Dreams.” And the cafe’s very title shines as a reminder to keep moving forward, carrying the namesake Elijah, their son as their daily inspiration.
(Photo courtesy of Café Elijah)
The couple has always been adamant in their vision to make their patrons of diverse walks of life feel at ease inside their shop. Contrary to the intimidating feel of big commercial ones. For they also started outside their home; the same feel they want to provide to their customers. This is the very charm of third wave coffee shops. They might have but a tiny space, but the people who kindles its fire have big hearts. You can always bond with a friend, on the counter which Gab likens to an espresso bar.
“Coffee is not just about brewing, it’s also about connecting with people.”
The couple’s personal touch in the store reflects in the shop. They always make sure to integrate the youthful presence of their kid inside. On the shelves you will see figurines of Marvel superheroes. On the left wall hung a new blackboard exhibiting their menu items in which Jhen affectionately written by hand. One will also see 1930-esque original animated character starring in their merchandise tees named Coffee Kid. Another reminder to recognize the kid in every one of us. Coffee Kid holds a brownie, signifying their roots; brewed coffee and the initial pastry.
(Photo courtesy of Café Elijah)
Café Elijah’s Charms
Handcrafted with love and passion, this is how Gab describes the homemade pastries made by his wife, Jhen. With cheesecakes and banoffee pies as their specialties. But the shop still has a lot to offer! You can choose from their delectable pastry lane which includes their original brownies, Burnt Basque cheesecakes, revel bars, banana muffins among others.
Photos courtesy of Café Elijah & Kneadify
Gab recognizes that shops share similar menus, but Café Elijah offers their fair share of unique offerings. With the couple being both cooks, they have an inclination for using spices too. Producing the likes of ‘Spiced Mocha’. They also serve specialty blends, which incorporate guest beans from diverse roasters. Their Spanish Latte and Salted Caramel also remain as the crowd’s favourite.
Photos courtesy of Café Elijah
A knock upon Cafe Elijah’s doorstep
Café Elijah recently celebrated its second anniversary. Like many others, they aspire to branch out as well to accommodate more people and bring the humble shop to their far-flung patrons closer. All the while maintaining the quality they are known for and loved.
The enduring goal is not to become par with commercial ones but to become the neighbouring friendly café anyone can run to in an instant.
Ascending on the staircase of learning, Gab seeks to further improve his skills by enhancing his taste palettes by attending a basic sensory workshop.
Fill your hearts with delight by visiting the dainty shop at Kagawad Road, Corner Session Road, Area B, Talanay, Batasan Hills, Quezon City. You may also check out their Facebook and Instagram pages.
