Pili Nut Surprise: A Cappuccino Adventure in Legazpi

Have you ever been so captivated by an ingredient that you had to try it in your coffee?

That’s exactly what happened to me on a trip to Legazpi City. As a die-hard coffee lover, I usually stick to the classics, but the allure of Pili nuts as a coffee topping was simply irresistible.

Cebu vs Legazpi Coffee Scene

Unlike Cebu City, Legazpi City has fewer coffee fans. Why did I assume that? Let me continue.

I live near one of Cebu’s biggest universities, San Carlos Uni Talamban, and coffee (and tea) shops crop up on every corner. If I’m bored with nearby cafes, I have to walk a little bit to reach another coffee street, A.S. Fortuna, where Coffee Factory, Coffee Prince, Starbucks, CBTL, and Bo’s Coffee line up to serve sleepy BPO workers, executives having lunch meetings, and digital nomads searching for a decent wi-fi. Don’t get me started with cafes in IT Park Cebu and Ayala Mall.

Unlike the bustling cafe scenes I’m accustomed to in Cebu City, La Mia Tazza offered a more relaxed atmosphere, perfect for unwinding with a unique cup of joe.

The La Mia Tazza Experience

La Mia Tazza is an independent, cozy coffee shop along Rizal Avenue, Legazpi City.

Unlike its more popular Embacadero de Legazpi branch, it is located near colleges and universities such as Divine Word College of Legazpi, STI College, AMA Computer University, and Bicol University Main Campus. According to my notes, the other coffee hangout around the area was Bicol Blends Cafe, but as I discovered later, it was closed permanently. 

Stepping inside La Mia Tazza, I was greeted by the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the gentle strains of instrumental jazz.

Anyway, I asked the cheery baristas of La Mia Tazza for a cup of pili-flavored coffee, paid 130 pesos, and settled in a comfy chair near the door. I looked around and found just one girl reading her thick textbook while texting on the side. Amazing multi-tasking, I mentally noted.

When my order arrived, I began sipping my first-ever pili-infused cappuccino. While dissecting its flavors, I had half a mind to dig into their glass-cased confections but quickly rejected the tempting idea. It was gluttony to eat anything after a hefty breakfast at Jollibee, located right across this shop (it’s how I found La Mia Tazza).

So, impressions. The pili coffee tasted like the standard cappuccinos I’ve tried before, sweet and creamy, but the pili nuts added crunch (and punch) to it. Because of the rich texture and subtle notes from the nuts, it was an enjoyable, uniquely Legazpi drink worth trying.

You can also order a frappe version if you want it cold, I bet it would taste the same as the cappuccino.

When I visited in April, the place was not crowded (maybe because of school holidays). The nice jazzy background music, sans the lyrics, gives the place a chill vibe. The decor can be improved, starting from the choice of seats and tables to the painting on the wall.

If it’s not hot and you want to smoke, they have an alfresco area. If you need a quieter space for a group meeting, the shop has more tables and chairs upstairs (but they were not open when I was there).

Despite the laid-back atmosphere, I truly hope La Mia Tazza thrives and becomes a vibrant hangout for locals and tourists. This unique coffee experience and the potential for more boutique cafes in the area paint a promising picture of Legazpi’s burgeoning coffee scene. So, on my next visit, I eagerly await seeing this cafe flourish and explore more of Legazpi’s hidden coffee gems. Cheers to La Mia Tazza and a brighter cup (and Pili nut!) in Legazpi’s future!

Update: I had to check if it was still around, but sadly, La Mia Tazza in Legazpi has closed.