The 8th Boutique in TriNoma is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia—proof of PH market’s relevance to the premium coffee industry

Written by: Ruth L. Navarra

Nespresso continues its sustainability efforts at its new boutique on the third floor of Ayala Malls TriNoma in Quezon City. At this Nespresso Boutique, the premium coffee brand’s eighth outlet in the Philippines, eco-friendly practices are incorporated into the design and interiors. For starters, the countertops are made of used coffee grounds. Visitors can run their hands over them and feel the familiar gritty texture.

Fabio De Gregorio, regional business development manager of Nespresso Asia, explained that this is something that they implement in other stores around the world.

The Art of Circularity corner takes a prominent position in one of the store walls. Nespresso Club Members can drop off their used pods in this corner. The pods are recycled and upcycled into new objects.

Patrick Pesengco, managing director of Novateur Coffee Concepts, Nespresso’s exclusive distributor in the Philippines, explains why they chose TriNoma for their eighth Nespresso Boutique.

“It’s in the biggest city in Metro Manila. It caters to a varied, discerning market. It just so happened that our eighth boutique opening coincided with the launch of the Generation 4 concept in Southeast Asia. It’s for tasting talaga, not just for shopping,” said Pesengco.

The floor treatment in one of the areas took inspiration from the salakot (traditional Filipino hat). De Gregorio said that the wood used in the store was sourced from a house in Quezon City. “We added this local touch, as we do in all our Boutiques. The flooring that you see came from one of the heritage houses in Quezon City. We took the woodwork and we repurposed it and transformed it into flooring,” said De Gregorio.

Nespresso chocolates

The Nespresso Boutique in TriNoma also offers Nespresso Chocolate Squares, which were launched in the country recently.
“It is the only store in Southeast Asia to bring in the Nespresso chocolates,” De Gregorio said. “Apart from the Filipino’s sweet tooth, this is because gifting is very important in Filipino culture.”

He cited different holidays as reference. They took note of the Filipino’s passion for celebrating occasions. The store even offers wrapping services for those who want to purchase their products as a gift.

Getting the chocolates for the store was no easy feat. Pesengco said that we are a hot country, and therefore special handling is required. Like De Gregorio, he says that passion spelled the difference. They can be trusted with the chocolates because they’re passionate about maintaining their product and protecting the premium brand’s name.

“We were the ones to reach out to Nespresso and ask them if we could bring the chocolates in,” said Pesengco.

It’s also the first Nespresso store that offers a lounge for visitors to relax in while sipping their coffee.

Nespresso was very experimental in the country for a reason. “We chose the Philippines because we’ve been witnessing how coffee is becoming more and more prominent here. If you go and check the coffee shops that are opening, people enjoy different types of coffee. I could see the diversity of coffee that Filipinos enjoy. So this is what made us decide to try this new concept in the Philippines,” De Gregorio said.

Personalization

But there are standards that all Nespresso stores adhere to. According to De Gregorio, they are coffee quality, sustainability and innovation. They applied it in different areas like Coffee As An Art, wherein master classes and events are set to be held.
This is also where two Ripples machines can be found. Ripples can personalize a cup through coffee art, whether through text or images.

Nespresso & You is all about the benefits Nespresso Club Members can enjoy like previews to new products and limited editions, exclusive offers, and personalized services like gift-wrapping.

The Taste & Discover is for the curious. Nespresso fans and those who have no idea what it’s about can walk in, pick a pod and enjoy a cup at no charge. There’s absolutely no pressure to purchase anything. They can just enjoy the coffee and have a better appreciation of the stories behind them.

“You taste the coffee, you like it, then that’s when you buy. But you are not required to buy anything, unlike other shops,” said Pesengco.

It’s about the experience of enjoying quality cup. Four to five Coffee Specialists are always on standby for assistance.

The Coffee & Style area features Nespresso’s latest machines and accessories. The Vertuo model takes centerstage on the display. Apparently, this is popular among Filipinos who like to drink their coffee in varied styles and cup sizes.

As for the experience, it doesn’t hurt to go inside the Nespresso Boutique. Check the machines, coffees, and accessories, feel, try and have fun with them. Sip your favorite blend or try a new one.

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This article is brought to you by Nespresso.