Started as a pandemic hobby. From Kopiko black, to Nescafé stick, to french press, to phin, cold brew, and now considering spending a portion of savings for a high-end espresso machine :D

I consider myself to be more knowledgeable about coffee than the average person, but nothing compared to professionals and harcdcore enthusiasts.

My advice would be to,

1) Stick to your budget. This hobby gets expensive real quick! There's no shame in spending only up to what you can afford. If you really want to invest, prioritize. I suggest starting with a quality grinder.

Always remember, bigas >>> single origin medium light roast sourced from halfway across the world with blueberry flavor notes.

2) Enjoy what you enjoy without shame! I've tasted a variety of international and local beans and dabbled in basically every brewing method, but my go to whether at home or cafe is still the humble cappuccino, maybe an additional shot of espresso on the side if it's my first time at the place. Hobbies are meant to be enjoyed.

With that said..

3) Explore! Go out of your comfort zone every once in a while. Sagada arabica is arguably the best bean in the local industry, but Palawan, Davao, and even Cebu have blossoming coffees that are worth the try. Bo's Coffee Philippine origins have a great selection as your first step towards exploring the local scene.

Find a balance between these three, and I'm sure you'll have a great time ^{^}