Café
Commune Café + Bar + Roaster
A Poblacion café, bar and roaster devoted to Philippine-grown coffee, with all-day breakfast, coffee classes and late opening at weekends.
Yardstick Coffee
A Manila specialty roaster since 2013, ranked 18th in the first World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list in 2025, with its home café in Legazpi Village.
At a glance
- Type
- Specialty coffee roaster
- Area
- Legazpi Village, Makati, Manila, Philippines
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- yardstickcoffee.com
Good to know
- House-roasted coffee
- Beans to take home
- Coffee workshops
Why we recommend it
Yardstick Coffee has been roasting specialty coffee in Manila since 2013. Its standing was confirmed in February 2025, when it was placed 18th in the inaugural World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list, announced in Madrid, the highest placing of any Philippine coffee shop on that list.
The company describes coffee as the language it uses to build communities, and that shows in the way it works. Beyond its cafés, it runs workshops, education and training for home brewers and professionals, sells coffee equipment and distributes La Marzocco and Rocket Espresso machines. Its beans come from around the world, and it roasts both single origins and espresso blends, which change with the seasons. Customers can buy bags of beans and blends to brew at home, which makes a good souvenir for coffee-loving friends.
The Legazpi Village café in Makati is the first location on the company's list. Yardstick also has cafés at MOA Square, SM Aura and Opus Mall, the Otaku Room in BGC, and smaller counters inside other businesses, including Cartel in Salcedo Village, Maisonette in Rockwell and The Daily Cut at The Podium. Earlier coverage highlighted the Original Cold Brew and the Gibraltar as drinks to try.
Opening hours vary by location and are best checked on the company's channels before you go. Mornings on weekdays bring office workers from the surrounding towers, so the café is busiest before 9am and around lunchtime. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon are calmer times to linger. Ask the baristas which single origins are on offer that day, as the line-up rotates.
If you are new to specialty coffee, ask for a recommendation based on how you usually drink it, with or without milk, and let the team suggest a bean. Those who already brew at home can ask about grind size and brewing ratios for the beans they buy, as the company's training work means staff are used to these questions.
Legazpi Village is in central Makati, close to many hotels, Greenbelt and the Ayala Museum. Yardstick suits coffee enthusiasts, remote workers needing a reliable flat white and anyone who wants to see how specialty coffee has taken root in Manila. If you are also interested in Philippine-grown beans, combine it with a visit to Commune in Poblacion, which focuses on local coffee. Together they give a good picture of the city's two strands of coffee culture.
Yardstick Coffee FAQs
When was Yardstick founded?
It has been roasting specialty coffee since 2013.
What award has it won?
It was ranked 18th in the inaugural World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list in 2025.
Where is the main café?
In Legazpi Village, Makati, the first location on the company's list.
Are there other branches?
Yes, including MOA Square, SM Aura, Opus Mall and the Otaku Room in BGC.
Can you buy beans?
Yes, single origins and blends are sold to brew at home.
Does Yardstick run classes?
Yes, it offers workshops, education and training.
What should you order?
The Original Cold Brew and the Gibraltar are popular choices.
When is it busiest?
Weekday mornings before 9am and around lunchtime.