Brewed by masters
For a country that does not grow any coffee and traditionally drinks tea, so much so it even has an elaborate ceremony for serving the brew, Japan has achieved quite a feat.
UCC Group is the only Japanese coffee company ranked among the world’s Top 10.
Founded in 1933 in Kobe, Japan, by Tadao Ueshima, who thought of coffee as “a rich aromatic mysterious beverage”, the company now has a presence in 20 countries and regions in Europe and Asia, including the Philippines.
Through UCC Ueshima Coffee Philippines, Inc., a local venture of the Japan-based Ueshima Coffee Company Group, the coffee brand has opened coffee shops and brought its products to a broader market by making them available in leading supermarkets in the Philippines.
Recently, the brand made a strategic move to further expand and strengthen its market presence locally by introducing more products for retail establishments.
Hubert Young, CEO of UCC Ueshima Coffee Philippines, Inc., says the new UCC Roast Master line “is the pinnacle of our coffee-making journey.”
He says each blend in the Roast Master line has been meticulously crafted to offer a unique and sophisticated flavor profile. “This collection is the result of years of dedication, a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation,” he notes.
UCC Philippines general manager Naoya Fujimoto says the UCC company, which has gone into joint ventures, is involved in the entire coffee process to ensure quality and sustainability.
To symbolize brand commitment to quality, artistry and the perfect cup of coffee, the launch of the new UCC line at the UCC Mentore Coffee+Bar at Shangri-La Plaza Mall was attended by masters in a different field.
National Artist for Literature Dr. Gemino Abad and renowned Filipino writer and literary critic Jose “Butch” Dalisay, Jr., with his wife Beng, were among those who enjoyed a first sip of the different Roast Master blends.
“Their works (literary luminaries) have not only enriched our culture but have also inspired countless individuals to pursue their own creative endeavors,” Young describes the esteemed guests.
Abad confesses he is a “reformed” coffee addict and has even contemplated writing a poem about the popular beverage. The Dalisays, on the other hand, are regular customers of UCC coffee shops.
Fujimoto and UCC business development director Emmanuel Torrejon gave a brief account of UCC history from its founding in Kobe to its expansion to different regions across the globe.
More than just a beverage
The new UCC Roast Master is in line with the coffee group’s commitment to continue to innovate to enhance its customers’ coffee experience. As Young says, coffee is more than just a beverage; it is an experience and a bridge to make new connections.
The UCC Roast Master product line consists of three blends of whole coffee beans and ground coffee along with five drip coffee varieties skillfully crafted by UCC’s master roasters through leading production techniques.
The whole beans and ground products include the Cafe Arabica Premium Coffee, medium-bodied coffee with lychee notes and a smooth finish; Italian Roast Premium Coffee, medium dark roast with milk chocolate notes and a caramel finish; and Sumiyaki Premium Coffee, extra dark roast with dark chocolate notes and spicy, smoky finish.
The UCC Roast Master drip coffee line consists of the Special Blend, medium roast with guava acidity and brown sugar after-taste; Cafe Arabica, medium dark roast with milder acidity than the Special Blend and with brown sugar after-taste; Italian Roast, medium dark roast with a milk chocolate note and caramel finish; Sumiyaki, extra dark roast with dark cocoa notes and spicy, smoky finish; and Decaf, dark roast with a well-balanced acidity and bitter sweet finish.
