Snug Café: Rizal’s Comfy Coffee Nook Offering Artisanal Drinks and Local Pastries

Drinking coffee is what most could consider an essential part of their routine: from students chugging the nearest bottled coffee in preparation for their exams to workers drinking a straight to the point, no fuss Americano to jumpstart their day of deliverables. Coffee could also mean barkada gatherings bonding over their favorite lattés while catching up on each other’s lives. Regardless of what role this beverage plays in one’s routine, good coffee is best paired with an equally comfy coffee shop.

Found in the quaint neighborhood of Fin-Asia Homes’s subdivision lies Snug Café, a simple yet elegant home coffee shop offering unique coffee-based drinks and local pastries founded in 2021. Run by mother-daughter tandem Charlene and Jennifer Ferrer, their café specializes in artisanal and home-crafted espresso-based drinks.

Some of Snug Café’s bestselling espresso drinks are the Marocchino, an espresso-based hazelnut-infused drink drizzled with dark chocolate, with cocoa powder and cacao nibs on top. “This is our original rendition of how a coffee drink would taste if it was a comfort drink, [just] like how kids love hot chocolate,” café owner Charlene Ferrer says. The café also boasts its Dirty Horchata, another espresso-based drink using plant-based milk, made with rice and oats instead of the usual dairy milk. Ferrer adds, “[This is] best for those who want a healthier version of the usual café latte!” Snug Café also notes another specialty on the sweeter side called the White Cream Mocha, an espresso-based drink mixed with white chocolate, french vanilla syrup, and topped with smooth cream.

Snug Café also supports other local businesses by sourcing their pastries and food products from different local suppliers as well. Ferrer states, “Snug Café aims to feature our fellow small businesses by sourcing our munchies (snacks) from them. We diversify where we get our munchies to help others sell their products as well. Seeing our customers commend our munchies make us and our suppliers happy!” The café boasts their fan-favorite munchies: Korean cream cheese buns, four-cheese flatbreads, and specialty cookies of unique flavors such as gooey choco flakes, and choco smores, and triple chocolate.

On the etymology of Snug Café’s name, Ferrer says, “Snug” means being comfortable, warm, and cozy. The term “Snug” also means “close-fitting” or a small, safe, and comfy space. We wanted Snug Café to embody this concept.”

The café first started as a purely online business to safeguard its sustainability when it launched its social media pages on Facebook and Instagram last August 2021. Snug Café’s online business makes use of Beepit, an online delivery platform that hosts its products for online purchases. The café then officially opened its physical storefront after less than a month, transforming its home’s former garage into a comfy neighborhood coffee nook.

Ferrer comments on some of the roadblocks Snug Café experienced along the way as she recalls, “The construction of the café itself posed many roadblocks. We had problems with the contractor, which led to delays in the completion of the establishment,” and says they eventually resolved the problem by hiring a reliever worker who was able to complete the café’s construction. Ferrer also comments on the cafe’s current location, “Since our café is situated in our (former) garage at home, the space is quite limited. But, we made sure to make Snug Café look and feel comfy for people to hang out at.”

The mother-daughter tandem also experienced problems with manpower, saying “As time passed by, we realized the two of us (my mom and I) can’t operate the business by ourselves due to our own duties (I work full-time, while my mom takes care of the house and my family),” Ferrer says upon facing this challenge, they eventually hired Joie de Guzman, their part-time barista to help them manage their time better.

In discussing the skills needed for their business to succeed, Ferrer says, “You need to know why you are building this business. Your advocacy, your concept, and the people you want to serve. Without those, you won’t be able to craft your business plan,” She also notes the importance of having a detailed business plan covering everything from finances to manpower.

Additionally, Ferrer says, “I’d say another essential skill while doing the business is learning how to take calculated risks. If a person is just [purely] a risk-taker, they won’t do much because there are many challenges they may encounter due to recklessness.”

Ferrer discusses her future plans for Snug Café, looking to add another branch within the Rizal area. “We also are looking to have our café franchised so more people can experience and enjoy Snug Café.”

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