The Below 20° Hot Chocolate Experience
I’m a coffee person.
Not iced. No Fraps. Just hot.
My preference will always be having a hot drink at a café. In fact, I’m addicted to Starbuck’s Soy Latte. So why did I go and order a cold, frothy drink that night? It still remains a mystery. LOL.
Yes. I’m referring to the Below 20° Hot Chocolate (EDIT: The drink is actually called 20° Below Hot Chocolate. Ack.), which you can only get at Bona Coffee. Was I deceived by the fact that it had the word “hot” in its name? Admittedly, the name has got to do with everything that made me decide to order it. Hehe. Of course, I knew it’s a cold drink, silly. I simply was intrigued on why they insist on calling it hot when it’s actually cold, so, I went ahead and whimsically got it.
It was an experience that I don’t regret to this day. The drink was so rich that makes you understand why it’s named that way. It has that same rich chocolate flavour of the hot drink but, of course, it’s below 20°. I actually made a beeline to it soon after that night to experience it all over again.
There are a variety of drinks to choose from, of course. I’m still planning to experiment on every visit. And, oh, they have these cool black shirts with their logo on it. Rico said they should give it as a prize on a contest similar to what Cocomanga’s running, only this time it’ll be downing 20 espresso shots. Egad. LOL.
Bona Coffee is a cool place to hang out. Apart from its quaint bohemian interiors (which I failed to take photos of but there’s always a next time, yeah?), the Al Fresco is well-thought out. It doesn’t make you feel like they threw you out on tables and chairs outside just cuz you smoke (not that it’s the only reason why people prefer going Al Fresco, ok?). LOL. There are plants and billboards tastefully put up to shield café customers from the road, giving a pseudo-private feel of being inside and a part of the café.
For now, they’re located in BF Homes, Parañaque. They’re planning to branch out to Makati next.
Ever been there? Any memorable drink experience? Or perhaps you know of a great café we can visit? Do share!
Photo © 2007 Sasha Manuel | Rico Mossesgeld (last photo)
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where in BF?
What’s amazing about the drink is that they really captured the taste of Hot Chocolate in a cold drink. Interesting when you realize that the flavor of real Hot Choco comes from the heating process.
Kix: Here’s a good map for it.
Rico: Ok… is that the geek talking? How did you know that the flavour comes from the heating thingie? LOL.
Hmmm. Ma-try nga ito.
Eugene: No harm if you do.
I was just there a few hours ago and I tried a different drink, Spiced Chai (cold). Not bad. A tad bit too sweet but it certainly was another unique drink experience. 
i’m a coffee drinker too but ever since I discovered bona coffee, i never went to starbucks bf na. the baristas are a lot friendlier and some of their drinks and food are low fat!
Venice: Yes, Bona’s known for their non-fat/low calorie food and drinks, er, on top of the fact that they serve alcohol, too. Hehe. Good to know another patron! Hope to bump into you sometime!
i’ve tried the 20 below too. its pretty awesome. they have so many other really good drinks, low fat too. i have a goal to try all their drinks, one by one! so far so good. the muffins are the bomb too.
Oh, dear. Now I’m craving for it yet again. Ack.
Bona is now open in Westgate Alabang, in an amazing garden setting called The Serenity Place!
This is a bigger Bona, great patio, and it has an antique furniture store with Indian furniture and jewelry inside (my mom’s always there!), and 2 more buildings coming up. One looks like a salon, the other one’s still unfinished.
Ask the baristas, because they always have me try something new. Just today I had the “Quadruple shot Espresso Smoothie” and WOW! is all I can say!
Mabuhay si Bona!