Fresh Roast of Great – FROG Kaffee & Roastery Opens in Davao
Fresh Roast of Great Kaffee & Roastery or FROG Kaffee is an Austrian coffee shop that opened its doors in Davao City.
Photos by DavaoFoodTrips.com | All rights reserved
A new specialty coffee shop is added in the ever growing number of coffee shops in Davao City. Markus Ableitinger, an Austrian, and Filipina Gina Esperanza Ellorango who is the CEO, opened FROG Kaffee and Roastery on December 18, 2015 with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by invited guests.
Weeks before that, I have spotted their orange frog logo (similar to this one in the photo above) outside Prime Square II that left me curious as to what new establishment was popping up in that area. FROG Kaffee is just across Yellow Fin’s Torres branch at Prime Square II.
We were able to witness their ribbon cutting with some invited guests. 
Special guests include Davao City Councilor Edgar Ibuyan, Jr. (4th from right) during the ribbon cutting followed by throwing of coins for good luck and to usher in prosperity to their coffee shop business.
Here is Dr. Louie Gahol with Gina Esperanza Ellorango and Austrian Markus Ableitinger during the opening of FROG Kaffee.
Sharing more below photos taken at FROG Kaffee during their grand opening…
The invited guests enjoying the night away having coffee of course with their family and some friends. They have a second floor, by the way, which is al fresco. Also, I think it has a nice view of the sunset while you quietly sip your coffee.
The main floor is a mix of furniture with different style and type of chairs and tables which you will notice as you go and walk around this coffee shop.
It is interesting to meet new people like Markus especially those who pursue their passion and also being a foreigner who like to live here and invest in a business in Davao City. It was not that easy putting up this venture he told us as they faced some challenges, but he and Gina are happy that the coffee shop is finally open.
Markus showing how the Martini Pick Me Up drink is made with a Ferrero Rocher chocolate dipped into it and topped with tiny chocolate shavings.
This particular drink is a mix of coffee liquor, shots of espresso, sugar syrup, and a little vodka. They say it is a must-try. I may have to pass, it has vodka.
I would go for this instead…. iced cappuccino – cold espresso based – topped with cream.
I did finish this in no time. It was good.
Being a roastery, FROG Kaffee has a roasting session usually held at night.
One can watch and witness how they freshly roast coffee beans originating from Colombia, Costa Rica, Colombia and Burundi best for artisan hand-brew method. It’s good to enjoy coffee from fresh roasted coffee beans.
They do have a working pillar machine – the Diedrich roaster IR5 floor standing model. I would love to watch how they roast those coffee beans, one night soon, I hope.
FROG Kaffee is said to be the first Austrian coffee shop in Davao City. It makes me think more of those third wave coffee shops that have been in the coffee shops scene in other parts of our country for quite sometime already. According to Wiki, “The third wave of coffee is a movement to produce high-quality coffee, and consider coffee as an artisanal foodstuff, like wine, rather than a commodity.”
I read we are already on the fourth wave. Whatever that means, well I am yet still trying to embrace the third wave stage myself. Since most of us are still go for the first wave (mass produced coffee) and second wave (espresso-based drinks like lattes and frappuccinos yes like your fave international coffee shop brands).
FROG Kaffee perhaps gives us a chance to experience a different kind of coffee and how we see and drink coffee, hopefully.
Their baristas were busy making coffee for the guests that night.
I’m glad they do coffee latte art particularly on their cappuccino.
We enjoyed watching them in fascination since we don’t get to watch baristas often making those latte art. This is one thing to see at FROG Kaffee. I hope they would also try the latte foam art as well like those we see in Japan. Just thinking out loud.
The best thing about being in their opening is that we not only get to observe how the baristas make the latte art, I also got a very little hands on making it. That cup of coffee at the bottom left in the collage above, thanks to the barista, I got to swirl around the design. Yeah not perfect for a first timer who was put on the spot. But I’m happy I get to try it even just a little!
They also have different cakes at the cafe…
They made us try one of their cakes where I had a slice shown below… 
They gave Sachertorte cake to the guests at the opening. It is perhaps the closest you can get here in Davao City to the original classic dessert produced by the Sacher Hotel in Vienna, Austria. It is a chocolate cake which is said to be invented in Vienna by the Austrian chef Franz Sacher in 1832. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties. This cake is not sweet.
Some of the food they served the guests at the opening…
I went around the coffee shop and saw some interesting things.
One’s eyes would be drawn to these near the counter where the baristas prepare your coffee and other beverages. Not the usual stuff that one would see in a local coffee shop here.
Spotted this nice and gold-plated Halogen Beam Heater for Siphon coffee maker which I assume is used for another coffee brewing method.
Now here below are some snaps of their nice wall art found around inside FROG Kaffee.
It’s interesting to see F. Torres Street coming more alive again with new shops opening there and FROG Kaffee is a welcome addition.
We hope to be back here soon with my boys… I’ve been going through photos online of people coming to this new Austrian coffee shop over the holidays with their friends and family. They seem to be having a great time at FROG Kaffee.
FROG Kaffee is located in Davao City at F. Torres Street in Prime Square II fronting Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant which is your landmark.
Open on Sunday : 10:00AM to 12:00MN
Monday to Thursday: 9:00AM to 12:30AM
Friday & Saturday: 9:00AM to 1:00AM
I am a great coffee lover. I love to drink coffee everyday. In relaxed time, I am sitting on balcony with espresso coffee. I really love it too much. Thanks for the post.