Caffe Bene - Redefining Cafes

With an outlet popping up almost every minute around the world, Caffe Bene is definitely the pride of the Asian household names in the casual and favorite cafe category.

Originating from South Korea, the fast-growing chain outlet is gaining its base everywhere and in the hearts of many who have developed fondness for the unique healthy multigrain beverage, unique specialty shaved ices (bingsu), special brewed coffee and Belgian Liege waffles with various toppings.

I have not tried everything on their menu yet; probably not their coffee or misugaru (the healthy concoction of black sesame seeds, black bean, black and brown rice and barley creating that protein-rich mix) which many have raved about, but I did try their other two specialties.

It is interesting to note that the Misugaru beverage is Caffe Bene's signature differentiator that sets the coffee house chain apart from its other long-established and world-famous competitors such as Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Gloria Jeans, etc and is the brainchild of the cafe to attract the coffee lovers and health wannabes to their outlets, following their establishment.

The start of Caffe Bene was conceived by their CEO and owner, Sun-Kwon Kim who had traveled to Canada and noticed the popularity of the local coffee cafes and believed that he could bring that to his own turf and create a name that would hit it off, thus giving way to the birth of Caffe Bene; a name that sounded more European than Korean.

It was meant to be that way; as Bene is derived from an Italian word to bring the meaning of good and the name of the cafe was just modeled after the al-fresco style of the European cafes.

Their interesting beginning and the background of their fascinating brand name are not the only things to put to the success of their chain; as their menu proved its worth in capturing the attention of coffee/cafe lovers who wanted something more unique besides the usual offerings of coffee and tea.

The Bingsu is testament to the unique branding of the cafe, though it is not foreign to the South Koreans as this dessert is making its way to the cafes and on the palates of its fan base and Caffe Bene has introduced this popular dessert with her very own variants.

Pretty much shaved ice as the base ingredient but with a whole portion packed with varied ingredients to shake it off and crammed into a huge glass jar, this is something you can get away with stuffing yourself with sweet iced dessert while chilling out with a friend.

This may be something you need to share with someone if you want to enjoy or think that it's going to be a small serving, for it is far away from that perception.

The Green Tea Bingsu is delicately polished with shaved ice flavored with green tea and milk, laden heavily with red beans, almond flakes, hazelnuts and green tea ice cream.

Green tea always is a perfect match for red bean, and that is no way to turn this down when you are deciding on the variants of bingsu they have; not that the other flavors of bingsu are not that good - but this should be one of the choices if you are ordering more than one.

The portion easily fills more than one person; and the composition of the intense green tea along with all its accompanying ingredients just make this a winner.

The famous Belgian Liege waffles somehow landed on the menu of this South Korean brand, although there is no wonder why and more than that, an excellent and wise choice due to the rising fame of the waffles themselves. It is a perfect treat and addition to any beverages menu and would definitely have many swooning over its crispy exterior yet soft taste paired with a good cup of beverage/dessert while relaxing in a comfy couch.

Choose from the different flavors/toppings although the original would be a good option too if one is simply lost for choice.

Waffles, is another hard to turn down and along with chilled dessert like the bingsu, it sounds like a perfect combination for an afternoon treat with the loved ones especially on a weekend.

I may not have tried everything on their menu, but I was told these were already halfway to the goodness offered by the cafe, and I could not agree more.

Whoever passed this off as just another ordinary coffee chain outlet, ought to rethink that and shaved ice dessert may have found their way into a different dimension with the Caffe Bene's version of the popular bingsu.

Another outlet is probably on its way in the world as I write this post, and any wonder why it's catapulting into the hearts of many faster than Cupid's arrow?

Take a step into cafe and say for yourself :-)

Note: I love the simple rustic and cosy interior of the cafe which just makes it comfortable and just perfect for chilling out with family and friends.

*This is not a sponsored post/review and is purely based on my personal opinions*

Bangkok Food Diary: Breakfast at True Coffee

The title sounds a little cliched; with the reference to the famous Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's, but this is nowhere near the theme or even the familiar (and much lusted after) blue label known to women worldwide. Classic movie fans would definitely know what I am talking about.

That does not end the beautiful story we had here, for it was purely by chance and it seems like destiny that we stumbled upon this coffee joint on that rainy morning of our third day in Bangkok.
The morning we met, was the morning I will never forget....

We were there in November, and were forewarned of the unpredictable weather with unexpected rainfall at any time of the day and though it did not dampen our spirits, we were still a little anxious as it rained so heavily that particular morning when we were preparing to start our journey to the famous Chatuchak market (read about it here and here).
We woke up especially early that morning, and was all set to explore the weekend market and had even planned to have breakfast at McDonald's. (There is just this something about traveling to a foreign country and try out the local McDonald's menu, which was said to be customized according to the local culture despite it being an international fast food chain restaurant. This is probably the factor behind this giant fast food chain's evergreen success?)
We traipsed the streets to hunt for the McDonald's outlet nearby but was disappointed to find it closed (sad, why isn't the McDonald's here operating 24-hours?)

There was a sense of letdown in each of our hearts though the blank expressions (probably due to having just woke up) hid it perfectly, and amidst the drizzling rain, we slowly made our way along the streets, hoping to stumble upon any available breakfast place open for business that morning and we will just take it. Our plan of taking that slow walk was quickly dampened by the sudden transition of the soft drizzle to the hard pattering drops of rain from the skies and in a short moment, you find five ladies making a quick beeline, though in scattered pattern to the walkways, to shelter against the harsh weather. It was then that we spotted her, with the romantic lights dimly lit and sending that friendly smile which beamed right at us from the glass windows on which the rain continues to patter on.
Without a word, we knew that this was the place we will go into; it was just like love at first sight when we met this place.



Stepping into the place just brought that sense of familiarity, as though we had known each other for years and there was just something warm and comfortable about the place. The ambiance was cosy and finding a table large enough to fit all of us, we settled down quickly while admiring her simple charms and discovering the beauty within the place.
It was not surprising that this place was already filled with the usual crowd who were sipping away at the coffee or juices, and enjoying that bite while being connected to their loves via their laptops and mobile devices with the free wifi offered here. It was a friendly place, and I was captured by the relaxing ambiance which reminded me of being on vacation, and to just unwind and lay back, forgetting anything else in the world.


Coffee was definitely the main attraction here; and it got me wondering, True Coffee does sound like an interesting name to name a coffee joint. Are they emphasizing on the message that their coffee is more original and genuine? No, in fact, the reason behind the name was just simple and nothing complicated as the founders of this place just want to show their gratitude for the truly hard work and efforts shown by everyone in the team in bringing the best service and products to delight the hearts of their customers. It was just a humble yet warm and meaningful theme which just sounds so enlightening to the ears and enhanced the beauty of this place further.
While I am not a coffee fan, I am always fascinated with the coffee and its magnetic attraction which just seems like a deadly addiction among those who just could not get it out of their daily lives.


A pie


What is a non-coffee fan to drink in a place obviously filled with coffee? She treats me well, for though I was already deeply attracted to her natural charms of her simplicity, she surprises me with a long lost drink which I have yet to find (a good one) anywhere; the Ice-blended Kiwi.
I am insane to drink something cold and ice blended on a cold rainy morning, but I didn't care, I have found this and I am content.


I am TRUE-ly amazed by this place, though they may not serve the best food in the world, there is just this something about the place which just makes her so mesmerizing.
I hate to bid goodbye, but I have to get going on my journey....but I am sure we will meet again?