Made in Melbourne, Now in Manila: ST. ALi Manila Now Brewin' at OPUS Mall

The local coffee culture gets a flavorful infusion of the unique Melbourne brew experience with an array of artisanal coffee beans plus an equally extensive selection of sumptuous dishes. Step inside ST. ALi Manila, now brewin' at OPUS Mall...

The enjoyment of coffee is an intensely deep and personal reconnection allowing you to savor that elusive moment when everything is perfectly aligned with each soothing sip. It's this special moment where Australia's leading independent specialty coffee roaster brings both art and creative innovation to every cup as Melbourne-based ST. ALi Manila shares its laneway coffee culture at its very first store in the country in OPUS Mall. Read on and enjoy your virtual cup from ST. ALi Manila...

The impressive development in Quezon City's Bridgetowne Development Estate anchored on the massive and luxurious OPUS Mall is gradually emerging as the metro's newest and hottest shopping and dining destination. The presence of acclaimed foreign brands places OPUS Mall at the very top of your list... 

...with the opening of ST. ALi Manila. A fiercely and proudly independent coffee roaster brand driven by ethical sourcing and the art of roasting, ST. ALi is widely acknowledged as one of the pioneering trailblazers in Australia's coffee revolution. Established back in 2005 at the heart of South Melbourne, ST. ALi Manila now operates in four countries including the Philippines roasting an impressive 1.5 tons of coffee beans annually. That's a whole lot of coffee, but then again you can never have enough of a good thing like a perfectly brewed cup. 

Inside ST. ALi Manila in OPUS Mall, the fragrant aroma of the master coffee roaster's craft teases the senses immersing you in the Melbourne-based brand's uncompromising mission in its pursuit of coffee perfection. You may ask yourself, is there room for one more coffee chain in an already crowded and extremely competitive market? Absolutely. There's always room for good quality coffee in the metro. 

The difference in setting one coffee brand apart from the other is its unique and uncompromising philosophy and vision reflected with each soothing cup. ST. ALi is committed to democratizing specialty coffee by making it accessible worldwide. And ST. ALi is well on its way of spreading its passion and story with the opening of its very first store in Manila. 

"We're proudly Melbourne born and bred, and driven to share our passion for coffee and hospitality around the world," shared Lachlan Ward, CEO of ST. ALi. "At ST. ALi, coffee is more than just a drink, it's a craft. We're excited to bring the ST. ALi experience to coffee lovers in the Philippines representing Australian coffee on the global stage." 

With artisan coffee as its medium, ST. ALi collaborates and partners with other industry leaders sharing the same passion and advocacy pushing the boundaries of the coffee experience and what it can be with the infinite possibilities from each cup. Constant innovation from designing next-wave signature drinks to exploring new brewing techniques, ST. ALi Manila takes you to the forefront of specialty coffee with innovative processes and technologies. 

For Manila's coffee enthusiasts, the entry of ST. ALi in the blossoming local coffee culture is a welcome and positive sign. Despite the number and still growing options for coffee in the metro, good coffee is still a rarity. And exquisite coffee made with the highest standards is rarer still, but you'll find it at ST. ALi Manila in OPUS Mall. 

You next-level coffee experience begins with the Barista Signatures at ST. ALi Manila like the Barista Breakfast, a comforting flat white, espresso and filter for that perfect start. Deep, robust and bold flavors rounded by a subtle nutty sweetness lines the palate with its flavorful richness while another sip seals its elegantly smooth finish. After just one sip, you know ST. ALi Manila is serious about the craft of coffee. 

That "feels good" vibe of ST. ALi comes alive with each successive sip, and your first taste of Melbourne's laneway coffee culture takes you straight to the heart of the brand's story of artisanal specialty coffee. Whether alone or with friends, it's moments like these that are made even more special with an excellent cup of coffee. 

And if you prefer to beat the heat, simply ice it. The iced options may be just what you need to cool down in true laneway coffee culture style at ST. ALi Manila. But the Melbourne-based specialty coffee concept has even more playfully inventive spins built around its artisanal coffee...

...like the visually stunning and soothing Coco Mingle with its blend of ST. ALi Orthodox Espresso, ST. ALi Drinking Chocolate, chilled thickened cream and coconut water. The intricately layered concoction offers contrasting notes coming together seamlessly with each sip as each unique note complements the other elegantly finished by a gentle yet lingering sweetness from the coconut water. It is by far one of the most unique coffee expressions I've tried, and you'll find it only at ST. ALi Manila. 

ST. ALi Manila then takes a shot at a matcha-inspired concoction with the MatchaMansi Tonic, a vibrant and uniquely refreshing and tangy beverage with Japanese matcha, tonic and local calamansi. I'm honestly not a fan of matcha but ST. ALi Manila manages to smoothen out the sharp bitter hints with a splash of calamansi for balanced and surprisingly refreshing flavors capped by the tonic water. 

Just like the Coco Mingle, the MatchaMansi Tonic are just some of the inspired beverage creations from ST. ALi Manila's repertoire of top hits. And there's more. Rock your palate with the Winter Freddo made with Orthodox Espresso, peanut butter chocolate, cold milk, cold milk foam and shaved chocolate and the indulgent Apple-Gato with vanilla ice cream, house-made apple purée, Orthodox Espresso and granola garnish. Already, the possibilities for a memorable and satisfying coffee break at ST. ALi Manila comes with a variety of creative options you simply won't find in your usual coffee joint. 

But the focus remains on the extensive premium coffee selections at ST. ALi Manila...

...with each artisan batch masterfully roasted at ST. ALi's roastery in Port Melbourne. Fine artisan coffee and creative beverages comprise just one layer in the complex weave of the ST. ALi Manila experience, with an equally tempting array of sweet and savory dishes to complete your well-deserved coffee moment. 

ST. ALi Manila complements its artisan coffee selections with a solid menu of classic breakfast and brunch staples with a Melbourne twist. The carefully curated and crafted menu is another component in the ST. ALi Manila experience, each one prepared with the same attention to detail and rich flavors as their coffee line-up. "We believe that coffee is best enjoyed with great food. Our dishes are made with the finest ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible, to deliver quality and flavor in every bite," explained Greg McFarland, ST. ALi Head Chef. At the exclusive preview, guests sampled a trio of traditional and hearty offerings fresh from the kitchen...

...starting with the Coconut Rice Pudding, a creamy coconut rice dish made even more flavorful with just the right hint of vanilla. The porridge is comfortingly familiar, and local diners will easily recognize this dish as a nostalgic meal warming the palate with each creamy spoonful. 

The ST. ALi Granola with fresh fruits and yogurt brings a delectable play on textural contrasts and all-natural flavors into play for another perfect start to your day best paired with a bold brew. Freshness is flavor, and this dish proves it from that very first bite.

Enjoy your brunch with the Coco Mingle, MatchaMansi Tonic or Barista Breakfast. Or if you prefer, take a deeper dive into artisan coffee culture with ST. ALi Manila's special pour-over releases like the Iron Man Geisha blended with Panama coffee, Green Tip Geisha, jasmine and honey or the El Vergel Col. Magnum Sidra with premium Colombian coffee beans, Bourbon Sidra, 72-hour Mosto Anaerobic, raspberry cordial, floral and banana. 

The heat index goes a notch higher with the next dish. The Hummus Breakfast is a mildly spicy number with perfectly poached eggs, parsley pesto, crispy chickpeas, curry leaves, ST. ALi chili oil and crisp baguette. The lusciously creamy texture of the hummus is made even richer with the poached eggs while the parsley pesto, crispy chickpeas and curry leaves bring even more layers of flavors and textures to the palate with the ST. ALi chili oil completing the dish with its soothing heat. 

But the kitchen isn't done just yet, serving up even more savory dishes. The Turkish Eggs with poached eggs on herb labneh or yogurt based cheese sprinkled with pepita and sunflower seeds paired with Peshwari Naan is a complete and satisfying meal in itself any time of day. The creamy and savory richness of the dish is tempered by the mild lingering heat of the ST. ALi chili oil for the tasty finishing touch. 

The Squid Ink Risotto with soft, moist and fluffy rice simmered in squid ink topped with fork-tender charred octopus, red grape and chili salsa is another winning dish with its layers of complex flavors. The briny sweetness of the succulent octopus pairs well with the subtle nutty hints of the risotto while the red grape and chili salsa brings flavorful bursts to complete the well-executed dish. 

But it's the Tokyo Omelette with its light and soft omelette wrapped in nori that's made quite an impression. Imagine the creamy and velvety smooth texture of the omelette wrapped in delicately crisp nori. Then, add the savory smoked eel sauce, pickled enoki mushrooms and nori bonito flake butter and you have a savory omelette with uniquely Asian flavors. Elegantly plated, the Tokyo Omelette is one more dish to add to your list at ST. ALi Manila.

Other must-try specialties at ST. ALi Manila include the Avo Toast, Chili Scrambled Eggs and The Royale for an Australian spin on the classic and timeless burger.  

Good coffee and good food is always a winning pair, same goes with a good and decadent dessert. ST. ALi Manila offers a lavish selection of indulgent cakes too for your mid-afternoon coffee moment to complete your experience at the metro's newest coffee destination. 

Credit Stewart Ong, the local franchisee and successful restaurateur for discovering and bringing ST. ALi to Manila. "Melbourne is known as one of the coffee capitals of the world, famous for its vibrant coffee culture, and that's where we discovered ST. ALi. I knew that Filipinos, with their unmatched love for great coffee, needed to experience these expert flavors. We're excited to bring the very first ST. ALi Coffee to Manila at OPUS Mall in Quezon City." 

But above all, ST. ALi Manila is all about a culture of community. "We're all about creating spaces where people can escape reality for a bit, where time stands still, allowing them to savor their coffee while watching the world go by," added Lachlan Ward. "Our team features some of the best chefs and baristas from around the globe, all dedicated to crafting a memorable experience for everyone who walks through our doors."

After a satisfying meal and exquisite cup of coffee, stay a while and relish the moment. It's your own "feels good" moment that you rightfully deserve at ST. ALi Manila. 

The local coffee culture gets a vibrant shot of good vibes with the entry of ST. ALi Manila in the metro's blossoming coffee scene. It's for all those moments when you need to find peace and positivity in a cup, masterfully brewed at Melbourne's best now in Manila. Explore the infinite possibilities of what good coffee can be in all its creative renditions at ST. ALi Manila, now brewin' at OPUS Mall...

ST. ALi Manila is located at the Ground Floor of Opus Mall, Bridgetowne Destination Estate, Bridgetown Blvd. corner C-5, Quezon City. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/st.ali.manila/ and https://www.instagram.com/stali.ph/ for more information and updates. 

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