Inside Unir: The Kyoto Coffee Brand Bringing Japanese Precision to BGC

MANILA — In the growing coffee scene of Bonifacio Global City, one café is taking a distinctly Japanese approach to specialty coffee — one built on precision, careful sourcing and nearly two decades of experience.

Located on the lower level of Mitsukoshi Mall in BGC, Unir brings the philosophy of its Kyoto roots to the Philippines, offering specialty coffee alongside pastries and sandwiches in a setting that puts as much emphasis on the preparation process as the drink itself.

Behind the Philippine outpost are married founders Hisashi and Tomoko Yamamoto, whose shared passion for coffee has grown into an international specialty-coffee business.

From Kyoto to BGC

Unir was founded in Kyoto after Hisashi discovered specialty coffee during a trip to Tokyo in 2002.

At the time, he was still working as a salaryman. A memorable cup of coffee served at the end of a restaurant meal convinced him that there was something different about coffee that could be explored further. He and Tomoko eventually turned that interest into a business.

The name Unir is also deliberately international.

Rather than taking its name from Kyoto or another Japanese reference, the couple chose the Spanish word “unir,” meaning “to unite.” For Hisashi, the name reflects his goal of bringing coffee drinkers and farmers together through the bean-to-cup experience.

That philosophy remains central to the brand today.

A coffee experience built on precision

At Unir, making coffee is treated almost like a technical discipline.

The team carefully measures the coffee, controls its preparation and uses precise pouring techniques to influence the final flavour. During a recent coffee showcase at Mitsukoshi, Hisashi and Tomoko demonstrated their distinctive swirling method while preparing filter coffee.

The attention to detail extends from the café counter all the way back to the farms.

Hisashi is responsible for sourcing and roasting the beans, while Tomoko focuses heavily on brewing and service. Together, they oversee a process that seeks to maintain quality from the origin of the coffee through to the customer's cup.

Tomoko Yamamoto brings competition-level expertise

Tomoko's background adds another layer to Unir's emphasis on technique.

She serves as the company's head barista and general manager of its stores and won the Japan Barista Championship in 2018. She has also participated in numerous coffee competitions, building a reputation for highly controlled and efficient preparation.

Her approach is evident behind the counter.

Every movement has a purpose, from measuring and pouring to the way the coffee is extracted.

That discipline is part of what Unir hopes to introduce to Philippine coffee drinkers: not simply a different cup of coffee, but a deeper appreciation for how much work goes into producing it.

The beans tell their own story

During the BGC showcase, Unir served two specialty coffees made from beans sourced from El Diviso farm in Colombia.

One featured fruity flavours reminiscent of mango, cantaloupe and orange, while another offered a sweeter profile accompanied by warm spice notes.

The selection demonstrated how dramatically coffee can differ depending on its origin, processing and preparation.

Unir also went beyond conventional coffee service by presenting cocktails incorporating its specialty coffee, showing how the beans can be used in formats outside the traditional hot or iced cup.

Training is part of the Unir philosophy

For Unir, quality is not supposed to depend solely on the founders.

The company places considerable emphasis on training staff, from baristas to managers. Some employees are even brought to Kyoto as part of their exposure to the brand's culture and coffee practices.

That investment reflects the founders' belief that specialty coffee requires knowledge at every stage.

A well-sourced bean can still produce a disappointing drink if it is poorly stored, brewed or served.

Unir's approach is therefore built around consistency — ensuring that the experience does not depend entirely on who happens to be behind the counter.

Bringing Japanese craftsmanship to the Philippines

Unir's Philippine presence is part of the wider portfolio of MODO Food & Living Japan, which has been introducing Japanese food, craftsmanship and lifestyle brands to Filipino consumers.

MODO has operated at Mitsukoshi Mall since 2025, presenting a curated selection that includes Japanese food, coffee, matcha and home-and-kitchen brands. Unir is part of that effort to make specialised Japanese concepts more accessible in the Philippines.

The partnership also gives Filipino coffee enthusiasts an opportunity to experience a Kyoto-based specialty brand without travelling to Japan.

More than just a café

Unir's story is ultimately about relationships — between coffee farmers and drinkers, between technique and flavour, and between Japanese craftsmanship and a new audience in the Philippines.

Hisashi describes his work as managing the process “from farm to cup,” reflecting the company's close relationships with coffee producers around the world.

For Tomoko, the emphasis is on bringing those carefully selected beans to life through technique.

Together, the couple have built a brand around the belief that great coffee is not produced by a single step. It is the result of countless decisions made before the drink ever reaches the table.

A new destination for specialty-coffee lovers

For BGC's increasingly sophisticated coffee crowd, Unir offers something different from a typical neighbourhood café.

The appeal is not simply the coffee itself, but the story behind it — from Colombian farms and Kyoto-based roasting expertise to competition-level brewing and Japanese hospitality.

And perhaps that is what makes the Mitsukoshi location particularly interesting.

In a city where coffee shops are increasingly competing through design, menus and social-media appeal, Unir is betting on something more enduring: the belief that precision, provenance and genuine craft can make a cup memorable.

For anyone willing to slow down and pay attention, the coffee at Unir offers more than caffeine.

It offers a glimpse into the Japanese philosophy of doing something simple exceptionally well.

WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D