One of my personal favorites, probably the best coffee shop I've been to (thanks to my cousins Eileen and Joyce for introducing this place to me) is Coffee For Peace. Their place isn't spacious but seats and tables are just enough if you and your friends would like to own the place for a day. Their interiors are elegantly decorated with native crafts like native scrolls, baskets, some white pebbles on the side, and native racks for some displays. The place is so peaceful, you'll forget you're still in the city proper. It makes you feel like hanging out at a place far from the noisy traffic when in fact, their location is so much of the opposite. Nasa business strip ng Matina area yung location nila.
Everything about Coffee For Peace made me fall in love with this coffee shop. From the taste of their food and drinks, to their crafts (decors and those that are for sale), to the ambiance of the place, to their service, to their cause. Yes, the coffee shop exists for a cause. Unlike other coffee shops, Coffee For Peace isn't all about profit. They help Mindanao coffee farmers by fair trade education and buying coffee from them at the price that they truly deserve (fair trade). Of course, we all know about the hard work that they go through growing coffee and taking care of those trees and fruits, isn't it just fair for them to get the price that they truly deserve? They went through a lot of hard work just to give us the best cup of coffee that we want, that should be equaled with right price. Coffee For Peace isn't about capitalism. From their name itself, they exist to share peace, to spread peace in Mindanao be means of livelihood for our natives. As mentioned earlier, apart from buying coffee from the Mindanao coffee farmers, they also orient/educate them about proper and fair trade, the business to put an end to the capitalists' scheme of taking advantage of our natives' good heart.
Also, about what I mentioned earlier, Coffee For Peace exists to share pace, to spread peace in Mindanao. You might be wondering, "through coffee? Like how?" Diba nga kapoag nagkakape tayo, nagkakaroon tayo ng pagkakataong magnilaynilay o mag meditate, lalo na kung nagkakape tayong mag-isa? So we feel peace and eventually feel that aura the entire day. Wag nga lang ma-stress sa trabaho. Also, drinking coffee has been Pinoy's habit. Kape sa almusal, kape sa meryenda, kape sa gabi dahil may tatapusin, kape para magmukhang sosyal (at bibitbitin yung baso, iikot sa mall kahit wala nang laman yung baso, maipakita lang na nakapagkape ng mamahaling kape). Coffee has been a big part of Pinoys' lifestyle. Kape nga rin yung inihahain kapag may padasal at nag-uumpukan, nagkukwentuhan pagkatapos ng padasal. That kind of concept, having good conversation while having coffee definitely brings peace. That's the Coffee For Peace's idea of sharing peace with coffee.
When it comes to the price, they are just like any other coffee shops in Davao, excluding Starbucks, of course, because Coffee For Peace is cheaper than Starbucks. They have a lot of entries in their menu to choose from, all reasonably priced. Plus, the thought of patronizing products that our fellow Filipinos worked hard for (talking about the Mindanao coffee farmers), helping them build trust in their abilities of doing business, would make you forget about the price and just enjoy your food and drinks. Enough to put a smile in your heart and theirs, too. Everything they serve are healthy. Walang maalat, o sobrang tamis sa mga binebenta nila. They serve only fresh ingredients, like fruits and veggies, o the products that they serve.
Aside from the foods and drinks, they also sell souvenirs like native necklaces, shirts, mugs, scrolls for your home, calendar, etc. And if you still can't get enough of their coffee, coffee beans are also being sold by bag (I think 100 grams per bag). Their coffee is great to stock at home, at work (if your office's pantry has coffee maker), or give it as a gift for your coffee-holic friends.
Coffee For Peace is conveniently located near Ateneo de Davao University Matina Campus, they are fronting McDonal's Matina. They are beside Eastwest Bank at McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City. They are open from 8 in the morning until 10 in the evening, daily. Wifi is also available in the shop, so nothing to worry about your deadlines that needs to be sent through email, or have a video chat with your boss. You can always combine leisure (or even relaxation) at Coffee For Peace.
