London’s smallest coffee shop is located inside a red kiosk – owned and run by a Filipino, spreading his love for Philippine coffee and his famous ensaymada!
The red telephone box, also known as red kiosks, is a typical sight that can still be found all throughout London. It was the result of a competition held in 1924 to design a kiosk that would be acceptable to the London Metropolitan Boroughs.
However, these particular phone booths have stop operating but some are being protected and preserved by the UK law. Nowadays, these phone booths have been converted into stores,restaurants and even photo booths.
One of which has been converted to be London’s Smallest Coffee Shop, owned and operated by Joel Carlos, which he named “The Manila Brew”
Joel Carlos, who is fondly known as Joecar among friends, was born and raised in Quezon City, Philippines. A graduate of Bachelor in Hotel and Restaurant Management at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines; and was an active member of Sining-lahi PUP Polyrepertory and the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors.
Growing up Joecar reminisces that he has always been pre-occupied with the school’s extra curricular activities’ by joining choir groups, travelling with his family and fishing with his Dad.
Joecar made a decision to move to the UK in November 2003 and worked in different hotels, mainly to help his sister finance his niece’s heart operation in India. He then moved to Switzerland in 2015 and stayed there for almost 5 years to teach in a culinary and hospitality management school.
Joecar returned to London where he is currently residing when the pandemic hit that affected his career. That opted him to make a decision and do something about it. “The hospitality industry changed a lot because of the pandemic. Most companies doesn’t give permanent positions anymore. But things started to look better when I was able to secure the red telephone box. After a week, I finally decided to put up a coffee shop. It was the best option for me because it has less equipment and minimal inventories to maintain.” said Joecar
His main goal is to be able to introduce and educate the locals in the UK on Philippine coffee. Although sourcing rice coffee, peanut coffee, and our local cocoa might be challenging, that is something that Joecar would love to see thriving in his coffee shop in the near future. He draws his inspiration from his family, especially his parents who worked so hard to raise their big family and their effort to provide them a decent living. He also found inspiration from his mentor back in the Philippines, Mr. Rolando A. Buencamino, who always reminded him “to always remember to reward yourself for a job well done.”
Manila Brew is located at Sicilian Avenue, Southampton Row, London (near the Holborn Underground Station). This London’s smallest coffee shop offers Espresso, Double Espresso, Macchiato, Americano, Flat White, Latte, Cappuccino, Hot Chocolate, Hot Teas, Salabat (Ginger Tea) and Ovaltine. Joecar also sells pastries like Ensaymada and some cookies, which he bakes himself.
Looking forward, he would love to have a proper café where people can sit, relax and enjoy his delicious food and pastries.
On Migrating and Starting a Business in the midst of a pandemic
According to Joecar, one should consider three (3) things before migrating to another country. the Will to Survive; Competition; and Managing your earnings.
“Working abroad is not that easy. You have a lot of challenges to face. Loneliness, rejection, racism, no one to look after you when you are sick, are just a few to mention.” he then added, “manage your money well” pointing out the importance of saving money for the future and avoid indulging to unnecessary material things.
Joecar also mentioned that starting a business during the pandemic is risky. So his advice “plan, plan, plan.. and make sure you do something that you love and is familiar to you, otherwise you will have a hard time running it. Engage in a business that is sustainable, not seasonal, not short lived, or just a trend.”