23 May 2025, Seoul - In celebration of Filipino food month, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul brought the warmth and richness of Philippine Coffee to Korea through a special tasting event and coffee pop-up, Kape Sa Korea, on 24 April 2025. 

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega was pleased to welcome some of the guests and introduce them to the rich heritage and distinct flavor of Philippine coffee drinks specially developed for the Korean palette using Apo ni Bayosa Coffee Beans — a premium coffee variety grown by indigenous communities, cultivated with care and tradition in Atok, Benguet.

Serving around 200 cups of Filipino coffee in iced, hot, regular, and special latte variants, Kape sa Korea drew a wide array of guests at the Philippine Experience Center throughout the day, including Former Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Delia Domingo Albert, Korean beauty queen Mina Sue Choi, as well as Korean local government officers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and coffee lovers living and working in the area. It also brought a taste of home to Filipino clients of the Embassy. 

The gathering served not only as a showcase of the global potential of Filipino coffee but also for the Philippine Experience Center as a dynamic space for cultural exchange and community building — one meaningful cup at a time.

Alongside the coffee, guests were likewise treated to a variety of Philippine rice and cassava-based snacks provided by the Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul, showcasing rich Philippine culinary traditions and ingredients. A digital QR code for information on coffee was created for those who want to learn more about Philippine coffee farming practices, production, and distribution. 

The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world capable of producing all four commercially viable coffee varieties: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. This agricultural diversity is made possible by the country’s varied climates and fertile landscapes. The Republic of Korea’s coffee consumption is an impressive average of 405 cups per person annually, way above the global average of 152 which underscores the integral role coffee plays in the daily lives of the Korean community. 

Ms. Dokyeom Jang, a Korean professional barista and café owner developed the recipes and assessed brewing methods from Philippine coffee beans for the pop-up activity. 

The event was made possible by the joint efforts of the Embassy’s food and cultural promotions group, FOCUS Philippines, led by Ambassador Dizon-de Vega, the Embassy’s Economic Section, the Philippine Agriculture Office-Seoul, and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Seoul.