Coffee breaks in the time of COVID-19

A new normal beckons as the Philippines transitions to a more relaxed quarantine.

More businesses have resumed operations, offices are getting filled up by as much as 50 percent of the companies’ workforce, while retail shops and dining establishments are starting to open their doors to “dine-in” customers—all while observing the new health and safety protocols to avoid the possible spread of COVID-19.

Coffee Project, for instance, has rolled out additional measures under its “Stronger Apart” campaign to provide a safer and more comfortable environment for both its guests and staff. This would allow you now to enjoy your favorite cup of coffee in the country’s most Instagrammable café with much ease and peace of mind.

To avoid physical contact between the guest and staff, clear acrylic dividers were placed in the counter and dispatch areas

So what makes it safe to visit your favorite café?

For one, Coffee Project regularly checks the temperature of its employees to ensure that everyone is healthy and fit to work. All employees are required to wear masks, face shields and disposable gloves. Regular hand washing throughout the day is also mandatory.

To ensure social distancing, only a limited number of guests will be allowed inside the café. While waiting, guests will be seated in the al fresco area as they fill out their health checklists. Delivery riders of Foodpanda and Grab will have a separate waiting area to minimize the number of people inside the store. The staff will then check the guest’s body temperature and spray alcohol to their hands upon entry.

Flowers, which were used to create beautiful spaces within the coffee shop, are now being placed in chairs and tables to ensure social distancing among guests.

Inside Coffee Project, one will find acrylic dividers placed on tables for customers who still want to dine inside the café. Flowers, which were used to create beautiful spaces within the coffee shop, are now being placed in chairs and tables to ensure social distancing among guests. Each table also has a QR code that guests can scan to access the menu, thus discouraging the use of physical ones. Tables and chairs as well as the restrooms will likewise be sanitized after every use.

Floor markers leading to the cashier will likewise remind guests of the need for social distancing as they line up. Also, to avoid physical contact between the guest and staff, clear acrylic dividers have been placed in the counter and dispatch areas. Payment trays, which are sanitized after every transaction, are used to avoid direct hand contact. Cashless transactions like GCash and AllEasy are thus highly encouraged as well.

Of course, you can still get your favorites from Coffee Project via delivery, take out or curbside pick up. Perhaps, it’s just comforting to know that, while you need to observe new protocols, you can again start enjoying the warm, cozy feeling of being in a coffee shop, with the soothing aroma of a freshly brewed cup or the savory scent of homemade pasta drifting through the air. It’s good to be back here at Coffee Project, albeit in the new normal.