to brew well is to listen.
according to Philippine brewers cup champion bene sanchez, that includes lending an ear to what unfolds in the spaces between each step of the ritual; the perfume of the bloom, the weight of water, the silent shifts that aren’t timed or measured. he approaches brewing as an act of presence: one that gathers observation, patience, and care into movement.
in this conversation, he speaks about learning to wait, to notice, and to trust that what begins as the ordinary can open into something remarkable when we offer attention.
? when you brew, what kinds of details ask for your attention — the ones that can’t be measured or timed, but tell you something if you listen closely?
bene: brewing is as much an art form as it is a science; and like any art form, it asks you to be present and look for sensory cues that tell you more about the beans. from bean size, observing bean surface, to smelling the coffee bed as I am brewing—these all help me make decisions by how the coffee is responding.
? are there qualities in coffee you’ve learned not to rush to correct — things that others might dismiss, but that taught you something valuable once you paid closer attention?
bene: sometimes, a coffee can surprise as it cools and flavors transition. what can initially seem quite light and gentle at first can unfold into a delightful cup over time.
? what has brewing taught you about patience, about staying present with what’s in front of you instead of chasing how you think it should taste?
bene: a lot of people want to get better at brewing and it definitely requires patience to learn the ins and outs of what different kinds of coffee need. over time, you collect impressions and are able to make better adjustments based on different sensory cues.
? can you recall a moment — in training or daily life — when paying close attention changed how you understood something ordinary?
bene: brewing coffee can seem mundane, but it can be an exploration of limitless possibilities every time you brew.
? if someone wanted to begin noticing more, in coffee or in life, what’s one simple way you’d invite them to start?
bene: taking a breath, watching the water fall through a coffee bed, and allowing ourselves to enjoy the moment. coffee is a gift, and it’s something to celebrate!
bene and his wife run eleven coffee in parañaque, manila — a home that opens seasonally as a café. each service, whether à la carte or guided, reflects the same attentiveness and exacting grace that mark bene's work on the competition stage.
bene leads a guided tasting with our midcanopy collection coffees on november 29, 2025. reservations via the link in their instagram bio, elevencoffee.ph
