Philstar.com
November 5, 2025 | 5:00pm
MANILA, Philippines — Passion is a deep, multi-layered human emotion. It is more than just enthusiasm or joy, but a driving force that can provide a sense of fulfillment that intersects the self, the soul and the heart.
Interestingly, passion can manifest in various forms and expressions. For PJ Icogo, founder of GizGuide, he expresses this by being a collector.
“I like the experience of using my gadgets to make my workflow easier in different situations and trying new things. I also collect kitchen appliances and kitchenware simply because I like doing things, especially my food and drinks, to my liking.”
Vanessa Caceres, who bagged the title as the first Filipina Barista Champion in 2008, resonates with the same sentiment. Her love for the craft of coffee started out of her desire to understand the art of it.
She shares, “What kept me, and what truly ignited my passion, was the realization that coffee is a deeply technical and sensory craft. It’s not just pouring a shot.”
The unifying thread: An appreciation for quality
While passion may come in different expressions, there is one unifying factor that threads all shades of it together—quality.
For PJ, price isn’t always the priority, but quality is non-negotiable for a collector like him. “I want to experience the best that money can buy, and I choose items that look sharp, outperform their cost and offer smart, innovative features that simplify my life,” he says.
Vanessa pitches in her own perspective from someone who needs the right tools to shape her passion.
“A master painter needs quality brushes and paints. The same goes for the art of coffee-making. Good beans can only shine through if the tools allow for precise control over the variables of extraction. Without the right equipment, your whole practice can be inconsistent in quality.”
The Craft Collection
PJ and Vanessa, while in different areas of expertise, both have a shared love and appreciation for coffee. Thankfully, in a time when coffee remains a beloved culture in the country, brands like Breville Philippines continue providing tools that can resonate with passionate individuals like them.
Most recently, the leading premium home lifestyle brand launched a Craft Collection, a line of premium espresso accessories designed to elevate the home coffee experience. The collection, which includes the Distribution Duo, Force Gauge Tamper, Naked Portafilter and Pro Control Jug, is made with responsibly sourced rich brown walnut, providing a sophisticated look that pairs well with the control and performance the collection provides.
Quality-wise, PJ has this to say about this newest release from Breville.
“I recently got the Pro Control Jug because it looks good and is very affordable compared to other handle-less milk jugs from other brands. It works as advertised and is easier to control than my other milk jugs when doing latte art, and it helped me measure milk easier.”
“I’m also intrigued to try the Force Gauge Tamper because it looks unique compared to what the competition offers. It might help home baristas and coffee enthusiasts improve their puck prep game. For the record, I have the Breville Barista Pro and the Bambino Plus and I use both to create cafe-quality espresso and milk drinks, even if I have no coffee barista experience.”
Vanessa particularly agrees with the latter sentiment of PJ.
“Breville’s Espresso Machines have successfully bridged the gap between amateur and professional-level equipment. The Barista Express makes professional-level variables like grinding, dosing, and temperature control accessible to the home user so that even home enthusiasts can pull off high-quality shots without needing a commercial set-up or level of experience.”
“The new Craft Collection seems to be an excellent extension of that philosophy,” she continued.
“The focus on aesthetic and ritual is smart. By integrating beautiful design with professional functionality, they encourage the user to slow down and truly enjoy the process of making coffee, which is a key part of the barista experience. It shows that Breville is committed not just to the quality of the drink, but to the entire coffee-making experience at home.”
Breville’s commitment to passionate coffee drinkers
True expression of passion is expressed by bridging craft and personal experience. For Breville, this continues to be a mission that they continue to enable by bringing quality tools to coffee lovers who have a deep love and appreciation for coffee.
As Vanessa says, “Coffee is always evolving, and there’s always a new technique or bean to explore. At the end of the day though, it is about the connection—between the craft and its master.”
For more information about the Breville Craft Collection, visit the website or follow Breville’s official Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. You can also purchase the collection at Lazada.
Editor’s Note: This press release is sponsored by Breville. It is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.
