DARK ROAST COFFEEHOUSE – Maginhawa’s Best-Kept Coffee (and Cupcake) Secret

By: Tony Agudo

You wouldn’t know it was there if you weren’t looking for it.

Dark Roast Coffeehouse doesn’t scream for attention. No overly big signage. No sidewalk fanfare. Just a nondescript doorway tucked inside TKC Square along Maginhawa St. Blink and you’d miss it. But once you step inside, the story changes.

The owner/coffee connoisseurs (L-R): Eli Glova, Krista Bitara, Jiane Yu and John Calinao

The place was packed. The kind of full that says, this isn’t a fluke. Regulars, curious strays, coffee pilgrims. And I became one of them real quick.

Inside, the vibe is a blend of brutalist and warm. Concrete and leather. Steel and droplights. Glass makes the space feel airy—like you’re inside a hip loft built on caffeine and conversation. Industrial, but homey. Functional, yet intimate. If you need a hideaway to work, write, or just watch life go by, this is it.

The Drinks That Stand Out

I ordered the cold Salted Caramel Latte—and it did not disappoint. This wasn’t your typical sweet sludge. It was a cleverly layered affair, with milk, caramel, and coffee presented separately and together. Like the symphony of a well-composed jazz trio. Sweet, with backbone.

If you prefer bold and black, try the Coconut Americano. Strong and assertive, with a hint of coconut to balance the bitterness, leaving a tropical note on your tongue.

Then, the Coconut Matcha. It’s creamy, balanced, and delightfully refreshing—no extra sugar needed. It’s like they turned a lazy Sunday afternoon into a drink. Be warned, though, this might cause an addiction for matcha lovers.

The Guava Blush is bright, fruity, and punchy. My Editor-in-Chief, Cesar, and I immediately agreed—it could use a splash of gin or vodka. It’s practically begging for it.

A Cupcake Worth The Trip

The food? Surprisingly solid. I’m not a cake guy, but the Red Velvet Cupcake here is a game-changer. Krista, one of the owners, is on a mission to create the best red velvet in the universe. And I think she’s already there. Moist, not cloying, with just the right sweetness and creaminess.

But what really seals the deal isn’t just the coffee or baked goods—it’s the people behind it. The owners and staff truly care. It shows in their standards, their consistency toward quality, and the near-obsessive attention to detail. They’ve built something truly good. And it shows.

This isn’t a café for influencers looking for neon signs and flower walls. This is for people who truly, really get it.

And yeah, like the Terminator, I’d say—“We’ll be back.” Very soon, EIC Cesar and I—bringing gin in an inconspicuous tumbler. We’ll be putting the ‘gin’ in maGINhawa. Shhh, snitches will be jinxed.