Head office staff at the Common Man Coffee Roasters launch in the Philippines | Photo credit: Jollibee Food Corporation

Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC) has opened the first Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) in the Philippines at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.  
 

Founded in 2013, CMCR is a Singaporean brunch-focused café chain with eight outlets across its domestic market and Malaysia. CMCR also roasts specialty coffee and provides barista training in Singapore and Malaysia via its Coffee Barista Academy. 

The Makati City store features an in-house roastery and will offer a premium specialty coffee menu, including slow brew filter coffee priced from PHP220 ($3.90). Additionally, cappuccino and flat white are priced at PHP180 ($3.20) and CMCR’s signature Nitro Honey Oat Latte at PHP250 ($4.47). 

Market leader Dunkin’, which has 800 outlets in the Philippines, retails cappuccino at PHP90 ($1.60) while premium-focused Starbucks prices the same beverage at PHP160 ($2.80). 

The chain’s launch in the Philippines follows a joint venture agreement between JFC and Singapore-based Food Collective Pte. Ltd. which also includes a deal to bring 16-store Tiong Bahru Bakery to the country.  

“We’re excited to bring the Common Man Coffee Roasters in the country and give the community an elevated café experience. Common Man’s consciously sourced coffee and numerous deliciously healthy brunch options contribute to this experience and help fulfill our mission of spreading the joy of eating to everyone,” said Ernesto Tanmantiong, CEO, JFC.  

JFC operates more than 6,500 outlets globally across its 16 food and beverage brands, including its eponymous fast-food restaurant chain Jollibee, coffee chains Highlands Coffee and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, alongside bubble tea chain Milksha.The Filipino fast-food giant said launching CMCR in the Philippines forms part of its ‘aggressive growth plans’ for 2024 as it seeks to become one of the five largest restaurant companies in the world.