DESPITE the existence of various co-working spaces in Manila, students studying around the University Belt (U-Belt) prefer cafes over study hubs and libraries due to their accessibility and ambience. 

Darius Latorre, a physical therapy junior from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), said he prefers studying at cafes due to the “oppressive stillness” of study hubs that affect his productivity at work.  

“I'm not too fond of study hubs because of their pervasive silence and the need for cautious movement to avoid disturbing others,” Latorre said. 

“I prefer cafes as an alternative to study hubs because they offer a relaxed atmosphere that fosters concentration. The ambient noise found in cafes creates a dynamic environment that stimulates creativity and focus,” he added. 

One cafe that Latorre recommended near UST is the Dapitan branch of Coffepages, which is owned by former UST student Janet Reyes and her business partner, Dan Montilla. 

“[Originally], Coffeepages should only be [put up] sa mga villages, pero nag-decide nga si Janet na ‘Why not let’s check sa alma mater ko?’” Montilla said. 

He revealed that after checking UST’s environment, they realized students needed more cafe options.  

“[At first], I [wanted] to maximize [Coffeepages], [filling the cafe] with many chairs and tables. Pero si Janet, sabi nga niya para sa mga students. So sige, let’s make it not that congested para mas comfortable,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Czar Austria, a civil engineering student from Mapúa University, said that the main aspect of what makes cafes a conducive place for studying is the smell and taste of coffee itself. 

One cafe he recommended is Nene’s Kapehan located in P. Guevarra Street, next to National University. 

“It’s really convenient for nearby schools; I see many people working there — not just students but also office workers,” Austria said. “I feel like a lot of it comes from the taste and how affordable their coffee is, [and how it lends] itself to a very cozy [environment] that boosts work productivity,” he said  

Communication junior Essiel Baculo from the Far Eastern University (FEU) shared the same sentiment. 

“I like the smell of coffee while studying, it helps me stay awake while doing long hours of work,” Baculo said. 

The communication junior’s go-to cafe is Zero Cafe, located at S.H. Loyola St., near UST and FEU.  

“I tend to feel sleepy when studying in my room. [So while cafes have] a bit of noise, I think the coffee and the ambiance helps set my mind for focused work,” she added.

Unlimited 

Unlimited hours, sockets, and free Wi-Fi attract students to cafes, Jerome Basa, the barista of Zero Cafe, said. 

“Sa cafe namin wala nga pong limitation, so they can stay longer kung gusto nila, courtesy nalang kung gusto nilang um-order ulit,” Basa said. “Saka wala rin kaming subscription unlike sa mga study hubs.” 

He added that affordability is the main difference between cafes and study hubs. 

Allyson Aguilar, a Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) senior, said that apart from unlimited access to these amenities, cafes are preferable than study hubs due to the various snacks and drinks they offer that are not provided by other co-working spaces. 

“Kapag nag-aaral ako gusto ko may iniinom ako or may kinakain while I’m studying or doing my schoolworks para din magkaroon ako ng gana,” Aguilar said. 

The cafe that she frequents is Black Scoop next to LPU.  

“I think one of the benefits of cafes compared to study hubs is when you get bored or tired, you can take a break first — eat something, drink something,” Richard Wu, the branch manager of Black Scoop Cafe’s Intramuros branch, said. 

On the other hand, business management senior Adrian Cosino at the De La Salle University (DLSU) - Manila, finds cafes as a great alternative when there is no space to study on campus or at home. 

“Depending on the timeline of the term, study hubs are often filled with students during midterms and finals week, so cafes are highly popular and frequented by students,” Cosino said.  

He added that cafes such as Drip Kofi along Taft Avenue do not pressure students to be quiet, making them conducive for group work. 

“I get that a lot of students actually need that sort of environment, especially when that study environment isn’t present in their homes for multiple reasons,” Austria said. 

He added that he believes libraries and cafes both have their own strengths. 

“A library is a more focused, formal, and work-induced environment, whereas a cafe can offer more comfort and an underlying social aspect between the other cafe visitors, and in student life in general,” he said.