When Intuit Coffee set out to create a holiday drink lineup, the inspiration did not come from the usual seasonal flavors. Instead, it came from a memory rooted in home, childhood, and the unmistakable warmth of a Filipino Christmas.
These insights come from Louiel Jay Concepcion, Intuit Coffee’s Product team point person and one of the people who helped conceptualize the limited Kakanin Series drinks.
“When I was given the task to create a drink series for the holiday season, the first thing that popped into my mind was the memory I had of Christmas back home,” Louiel shares. “I grew up associating the holidays with kakanin, and that is why crafting the Kakanin Series felt like bottling that feeling. Holiday treats should not be seen merely as seasonal. They should also be uniquely Filipino.”
Louiel explains that the goal was not simply to recreate familiar flavors. He wanted to translate the emotion behind those flavors: the quiet air of Simbang Gabi mornings, the energy of family gatherings, and the gentle warmth of Filipino hospitality. Through the Kakanin Series, he hopes Intuit Coffee can spark a sense of shared memory among customers, something comforting and nostalgic that still feels freshly imagined.
A Taste of Home, Thoughtfully Crafted
The Kakanin Series was created with a clear intention to reimagine beloved Filipino rice cakes into specialty coffee drinks while keeping them proudly local and true to Filipino identity. Louiel wanted the drinks to feel familiar and emotionally grounding, yet still aligned with the coffee store’s commitment to #ThoughtfullyCrafted beverages.
Staying true to the coffee store’s #EverythingLocal campaign, he made sure that the entire series used ingredients sourced from local producers. “In Intuit Coffee, we use locally sourced ingredients and not processed syrups or artificial flavorings,” Louiel explains. This approach allows each drink to carry authentic Filipino flavors and also uplifts local communities and farmers. Every cup becomes both thoughtfully crafted and thoughtfully sourced.
The Heart of the Holiday Season
For Louiel, Christmas has always carried a specific feeling. “For me, it really boils down to the moment when my heart feels lighter as I approach the end of the year,” he reflects. “It is my cue to celebrate, to indulge in good things, and to reward myself for everything I have poured my heart into.” He wanted that same sense of joy, reward, and lightness to shine through each drink in the series.
A Personal Favorite: The Biko Latte
When asked which drink stands out the most, Louiel immediately mentions the Biko Latte. “It tastes surprisingly good with specialty coffee,” he says. “The blend I created for the Biko Latte even served as the base for the rest of the drinks in the series.”
For Louiel, the Biko Latte represents the essence of the Kakanin Series. It is comforting, nostalgic, warmly familiar, and proudly Filipino. It is a sip of home reimagined for today’s coffee lovers.
This Christmas, Intuit Coffee invites everyone to slow down, savor the moment, and reconnect with the warmth of home. Through the Kakanin Series, may your holidays taste a little sweeter and a little more Filipino.