Coffee Shop Reviews: Coffee Bean $cent – Mango Avenue Branch

It has been five months since my last review of a coffee shop where online freelance workers can work in while having a good cup of coffee or tea. The fourth coffee shop I checked out was Coffee Bean $cent along General Maxilom Avenue (formerly Mango Avenue).

Image Credit: Coffee Bean $cent Facebook Page

Since the place I normally work in is closed during the weekends, I normally stay in a coffee shop whenever I need to finish something. Coffee Bean $cent is actually a new player in the coffee shop market in Cebu. In fact, some people mistake the name of the place for Coffee Bean and TeaLeaf. The place opened over a year ago and is owned by a Korean. While I used to pass by the place on my way home, I never really got to visit it. But, due to force majeure and the fact that my usual coffee place was full, I decided to check the place out. 

Image Credit: Coffee Bean $cent Facebook Page

 The internet connection is quite good. In fact, the connection is nearly as fast as the internet connection at The Tide, where I work during the weekdays. Apparently they have three routers, two for the second floor and one for the ground floor. All three routers have the same password, which is changed every day. 

Image Credit: Coffee Bean $cent Facebook Page

Coffee Bean $cent also has a good number of outlets scattered all around the place, which is good news for online freelance workers. I think the ground floor has at least five locations where one can plug his or her device. The outlets are located along the posts as well as the seats facing the windows. The second floor also has at least six outlets located under the long couch, the far wall and on the floor close to the terrace. 

Image Credit: Coffee Bean $cent Facebook Page

Coffee Bean $cent is located along General Maxilom Avenue, which was formerly known as Mango Avenue. Similar to the Gorrordo Avenue branch of Coffee Dream, Coffee Bean $cent is readily accessible to just about anyone. However, online freelance workers living outside the city may have to take two rides to reach the place. Parking space is also no problem since it is right beside One Mango Place, which has a huge parking space. Due to its proximity to a medical school, there were instances when bags were left on the tables while the owners went out to eat lunch. The place is also right across the street to the happening places in uptown Cebu, which means some of the patrons of the restaurants and bars across the street may come over to reduce their level of intoxication before they go home. However, I have yet to come across these people since I normally work here in the afternoons and early evening.

Image Credit: Coffee Bean $cent Facebook Page

Since I came here after lunch, I only ordered a Grande size Americano, which is actually cheaper than Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf by P15. The prices at Coffee Bean $cent are actually similar to the prices of the drinks at Coffee Dream. They range from P105 for a Tall Americano up to P270 for the Mixed-berry Snow Flower. They also have a good number of delectable pastries, including a Choco Brownie and Oreo Cheese Cake.

Image Credit: Coffee Bean $cent Facebook Page

Customer service at the place is quite good, and it is probably the first coffee where I saw one of their baristas asking people who owned the bags and books left on the table. There are also instances when the personnel would go upstairs to check how things are going in the second floor. This was the time when I saw one of them asking the people around if they knew who owned the bags and boos left on the table. This simply shows that they want to make sure tables are available for other customers.

Image Credit: www.hangingrice.com

When Coffee Bean $cent opened its doors to customers in the middle of last year, it was operating 24/7. However, the place changed its operating hours to allow them to cater to their customers while ensuring they make ends meet. Coffee Bean $cent is open from 9:00 AM to 3:30 AM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 5:00 AM on weekends. You should have noticed by now that instead of the letter ‘S’ the dollar sign is used on its name, but I still have to ask the baristas the story behind this idiosyncrasy. The ambience of the place is excellent and it is conducive for either studying or working. They also have an alfresco section where one can enjoy a good cup of coffee or tea under the night sky. In my opinion, the best seats in the house are the long comfortable-looking couches since each time I visit the place, its the first seats to be filled up. The second best seats are on the second floor close the huge windows overlooking the General Maxilom Avenue. Similar to the Gorrordo branch of Coffee Dream, it gives me the chance to people-watch whenever I encounter a disturbance in the force writer’s block.

Image Credit: Coffee Bean $cent Facebook Page

For me, Coffee Bean $cent is an online freelance worker’s paradise since it offers good food, great ambience and high-speed internet connection. Now, if only they have the same membership card where patrons can earn points to use for future purchases.

Image Credit: www.zomato.com

PS: Post was made while experiencing the aftereffects of malted hops the night before so forgive me for any grammatical or spelling errors . . . I promise to edit it in the tomorrow morning afternoon evening.

Disclaimer: This review is based on my personal experience. If you have any comments, suggestions and not-so-violent reactions, please sit down and gather your thoughts before writing them down and editing them on the comment box below. Rocks, rocks in the heavens, whoever gets angry will have Mr. Murphy to deal with.