Hija Mia Coffee Roasters

Hija Mia — an old Antioquian term of endearment, roughly "my darling" — was opened by New Zealander Shaun, who decided that settling in one of the world's great coffee-growing regions and not roasting would be a waste. The result is one of Medellín's most personal coffee spaces.

The whole operation runs on a small North 3kg roaster squeezed inside the café, where a fresh batch of Colombian beans is roasted every week to keep up with cups poured and bags sold. The single-origin espresso programme draws serious praise from aficionados, and the flat white — served in teal ACME cups from New Zealand — is a neighbourhood benchmark.

The space has a laid-back Antipodean ease, with alfresco seating that suits Manila's quiet streets. Come for a cup roasted just metres from where you drink it, and you'll likely meet Shaun at the counter.