For most urbanites, nothing kickstarts a productive day faster than caffeine. It stimulates dopamine, a chemical in the brain that is responsible for pleasure, motivation, and learning. It is no fluke, then, that students and professionals flock to cafés for a quick energy boost, especially during midday slumps or on all-nighters when staying awake and alert is a must.
This is why the Villar Group of Companies further capitalized on Manila’s caffeine culture with the official launch of Coffee Project Co-Lab. Their latest coffee venture was launched on January 29, with Manny Villar, Villar Group chairman, as well as Camille Villar, AllValue Group President and Chief Executive Officer, presiding over the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Located at Vista Taft, a condominium development along Taft Avenue, Co-Lab was envisioned to be a haven for all manner of coffee enthusiasts that could use a safe and cozy space conducive to both productivity and leisure.
Co-Lab draws in students from nearby schools and universities such as De La Salle University, the College of Saint Benilde, St. Scholastica’s College, Arellano University, University of the Philippines-Manila, and St. Paul’s College-Manila–as well as corporate denizens in the vicinity. Co-Lab looks to draw these students in and give them a warm cup of Joe to accompany them as they take on their schoolwork, thesis-writing, problem-solving, and everything in between. With this market in mind, Co-Lab is primed to serve as an ideal study hub for students seeking a conducive environment for learning.
But what makes Co-Lab truly unique are its niche rooms that are designed to function both as co-working and event spaces. For instance, The Quiet Room provides a distraction-free setting for individuals doing focused work or serious studies.
Conversely, the podcast area is tailored specifically for enthusiasts, featuring essential recording equipment and a conducive environment to enhance audio or video sessions.
“Co-Lab’s exceptional features make for a novel customer experience,” says Ms. Margarita D. Romero, Vista Land Division Head, “Through Coffee Project Co-Lab in Vista Taft, we affirm our steadfast commitment to creating innovative spaces that serve our customers’ evolving needs. We now invite Manila’s café society to come and get their caffeine here where they can also work, play, relax, and decompress.”
While Gen Z and the district’s young workforce are Co-Lab’s target audiences, family members of all ages, artists, and other professions related to creative production are enticed to come and spend quality time over their favorite brew.
Coffee joints abound in high-density areas across the metro, but innovation sets Co-Lab apart. As its name suggests, the coffee place is a collaboration between the Villar Group brands Coffee Project and Paper & Co., a company in the business of providing and selling an array of school and unique art products that students and young professionals require in their day-to-day. Co-Lab is also located next to AllDay, enabling a quick stop to the convenience store any time of day.