Pampanga’s café culture turned a vibrant shade of green as Hakone Coffee and Ice Cream staged the first-ever Pampanga Matcha Fest on October 18–19, 2025, at The Orchard Community Place, a growing hub for creative ventures and lifestyle gatherings in the province.
From the curious to the devoted matcha lover, festivalgoers poured in to witness a showcase of artistry, flavor, and community. The fest gathered 11 merchants—Anne Whisk, Artisanos, Be Sweet, Hakone Coffee and Ice Cream, Hash, Ikigai, Leaf & Bean Slow Bar, Mandatory Matcha, Matcha by Ell & Cass, Mizu Maccha & Coffee, and Whisk & Sip—all sharing their passion for matcha and craftsmanship.
“We are giving the spotlight to fellow cafés here in Pampanga which is a growing community. I would like to commend Queency, my wife Mia, and the Hakone team who worked hard to pull off this great event,” said Mark Dy, Hakone co-owner.
Among the highlights was the Matcha Latte Art Throwdown, the first-ever of its kind in the Philippines. Sixteen baristas from Pampanga, Manila, Bataan, and Olongapo competed in the ultimate test of skill and creativity.
Before the friendly battle began, Christian James Cabanban of No Bad Matcha led Matcha 102: The Advanced Matcha Discussion, giving participants and audiences alike a deeper appreciation of the art behind every green cup.
Emerging as Grand Champion was Loid Kaiser Springael, a Malabon-based barista from Master Café. With four years of latte art experience, he expressed his gratitude for the rare opportunity to compete with fellow matcha artisans.
“This is really a great opportunity for us matcha latte artists to commune and test our skills,” Springael said.
As the sun dipped low, the vibe shifted from calm to electric. The festival transformed into a Matcha Day Clubbing session, featuring Bench Dizon, Mikee Ong, Drew, and Bouj, who spun upbeat tracks through Maccha Beats by Mizu, filling the night with music, laughter, and green lights.
For Queency Koh, Hakone co-owner, the success of the event was both overwhelming and inspiring.
“It is unexpected and overwhelming that a lot of people gathered and celebrated with us in this matcha community event. We look forward to next year for another Matcha Fest with bigger and better scenes,” Koh shared.
Wrapping up the weekend, Carlo Lazatin-Magat, Strategic Leasing and Marketing Supervisor of Orchard, reflected on how the venue strives to nurture spaces for local creativity.
“Orchard is about supporting local businesses because we admire their passion and creativity. The fact that this event brings in a lot of people shows what we are about, which is to build a community,” Magat remarked.
With every pour, sip, and beat, Pampanga’s first Matcha Fest brewed more than just drinks. It stirred together artistry, passion, and the spirit of collaboration, marking a new flavor of community that is fresh, vibrant, and proudly local.
