Moroccan coffee house opens two destinations in Metro Manila, introducing more than 200 varieties of 100% Arabica coffee and new opportunities for hospitality partnerships.
Bacha Coffee is bringing its century-old Moroccan coffee heritage and an extensive collection of specialty coffees to the Philippines with the opening of two destinations in Metro Manila: SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City and Greenbelt 3 in Makati City.
Founded in 1910 within Dar el Bacha, a grand palace in Marrakech, the coffee house is known for its distinctive interpretation of coffee gastronomy, combining traditional preparation methods with an extensive selection of 100% Arabica specialty coffees.
“Bacha Coffee is the product of a rich legacy, a brand that has ripened over storied brews since 1910. Our latest destinations will ignite the imagination of our guests in the same way that coffee transports us to faraway destinations. We have combined old and new into one experience, paying homage to the past and inventing the future, with 100% Arabica specialty coffee playing centre stage in this theatre of life,” says Taha Bouqdib, President & CEO of V3 Gourmet. “All the senses are at play here, and our coffee is the star.”
The Philippine debut marks another milestone in the brand’s international expansion, introducing local coffee enthusiasts to more than 200 varieties sourced from 35 coffee-producing regions around the world.
The Manila destinations bring together three concepts in one space: a Coffee Bar, a Coffee Boutique and a takeaway service. Together, they offer guests different ways to experience the brand, whether through a leisurely cup prepared by a Coffee Master, a selection of beans to take home, or a freshly prepared coffee on the go.
A legacy reintroduced to the world
Bacha Coffee’s story began in Marrakech in 1910, when the original coffee house opened within Dar el Bacha. After a period of dormancy lasting approximately six decades, the brand was revived in 2019 following an invitation to its current leadership to reopen the historic location.
Maranda Barnes, Chief Commercial Officer of V3 Gourmet, who discussed the brand’s heritage and philosophy during the Manila launch, described the restoration as a process that involved extensive archival research and planning. The original coffee house reopened in Marrakech before Bacha Coffee began expanding internationally.
The historic Dar el Bacha is now home to a museum, with the original coffee house remaining part of the visitor experience.
Today, Bacha Coffee has established a presence in major cities and international travel hubs, bringing its Moroccan-inspired interiors and specialty coffee collection to a growing international clientele.
Its Manila locations reflect the brand’s signature design language, incorporating black-and-white inlaid marble flooring, geometric zellige patterns, hand-carved cedar wood details and polished brass accents.
More than 200 varieties of specialty coffee
At the heart of the concept is a collection spanning four categories: Single Origin, Fine Blended, Fine Flavored and Naturally CO₂ Decaffeinated coffees.
The range allows customers to explore different origins and flavor profiles, from rich, chocolate-forward coffees to lighter selections with floral and fruity notes. Rather than offering a single house profile, the brand encourages guests to discover varieties that suit their individual preferences.
“We want to bring to the Philippines an understanding of specialty coffee,” Barnes explained, describing the brand’s ambition to encourage greater appreciation of coffee quality.
The collection is available through the Coffee Bar and Boutique, where Coffee Masters guide customers through the selections. Guests may purchase whole beans by weight or have them ground according to their preferred preparation method.
For those who want to enjoy specialty coffee at home without investing in additional equipment, the boutique also offers individually packed drip coffee bags. The collection includes single-origin and flavored coffees, while the Signature Nomad range and gift selections provide options for coffee enthusiasts and corporate gifting.
Coffee as an experience
The Coffee Bar provides an intimate setting for guests to explore the collection. In keeping with the brand’s traditional approach, it does not serve espresso drinks. Instead, coffee is prepared using a Moroccan-inspired method intended to bring out the characteristics of each variety.
The coffee is served in signature gold gooseneck pots, accompanied by freshly baked viennoiseries and desserts. Among the offerings is the Philippines-exclusive Soy-Marinated Chicken & Potato Croissant.
The SM Mall of Asia location accommodates up to 15 guests, while Greenbelt 3 seats up to eight.
For customers on the go, the takeaway service offers hot or iced coffees prepared to order from the extensive selection. Each serving is presented on a silver-toned designer tray with vanilla bean-flecked Chantilly cream, a raw sugar stick, a wooden spoon and a reusable glass straw.
Guests can complement their coffee with signature sweet and savoury filled croissants or take home the brand’s coffee-infused tiramisu, served in an amber glass jar.
Extending the experience to hospitality
Beyond its retail destinations, Bacha Coffee is also developing partnerships with hotels, restaurants and cruise lines, offering opportunities to bring its specialty coffees into different hospitality settings.
Barnes cited Disney Cruise Line as one of the brand’s partnerships.
“We just launched on Disney Cruise. So all the coffees in Disney are Bacha Coffee,” she shared during the interview.
The brand also works with hotels on whole-bean selections for restaurants, breakfast rooms and lounges, as well as individually packed coffee bags for suites and premium in-room amenities.
With a collection of more than 200 varieties, Bacha Coffee can curate selections according to a property’s identity, guest preferences or seasonal occasions. This flexibility may appeal to hotels seeking to distinguish their food and beverage offerings and create a more personalized guest experience.
Coffee bags, in particular, offer a convenient way to introduce specialty coffee into hotel rooms, allowing guests to prepare a cup with hot water and without specialized equipment. Whole-bean selections provide another option for restaurants, lounges and breakfast venues looking to broaden their coffee programs.
For hospitality operators, the opportunity lies in treating coffee as more than a standard beverage offering. Origin, presentation and variety can become part of a property’s wider food and beverage identity.
A new destination for coffee lovers
Bacha Coffee’s arrival adds another destination to Metro Manila’s evolving coffee landscape, bringing together a historic brand, an extensive specialty coffee collection and a retail experience designed around discovery.
From the intimate Coffee Bar to its boutique and takeaway offerings, the brand invites guests to explore coffee through different formats while introducing a wider range of origins and flavor profiles.
For the hospitality industry, its expansion also highlights the potential of specialty coffee as a point of differentiation in restaurants, lounges, hotel rooms and other guest experiences.
With its two Manila locations, Bacha Coffee is opening a new chapter in its international story—one that places the diversity of coffee and the experience of enjoying it at the centre of the journey.
