A cup of coffee can be more than a quick pick-me-up. It can be a companion during a study session, a reason to catch up with friends, or simply a moment to pause amid a busy day.
Bringing that familiar café experience closer to the Wesleyan community, Wespresso Café and its Executive Lounge offer more than food and beverages. The space brings together learning, connection, and comfort—giving students a place to gain hands-on experience while providing the university community with a space to study, meet, work, and unwind.
From Idle Space to Learning Hub
The idea behind Wespresso grew from recognizing the café culture among students in Cabanatuan City and the opportunity to bring a similar experience closer to campus. According to Jelwin D. Bautista, Dean of the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA), the concept was partly inspired by seeing university students frequently spending time in coffee shops outside the university.
“Why don’t we have a competitive coffee shop like the coffee shops established outside the university? Why don’t we bring them here? So that the students won’t have to travel far. It will be much more convenient for them to be here,” Bautista said.
Beyond convenience and student safety, Wespresso was envisioned as a learning hub that provides real-life industry training. Students from the College of Hospitality, Tourism and Management (CHTM), CBA, and the College of Engineering and Computer Technology (CECT) contribute according to their respective fields, with CHTM handling hospitality and operations, CBA applying business management, accounting, inventory, and administrative skills, and CECT providing technological support for the café.
“Actually, this idea started with Sir Bong [referring to University President Irineo G. Alvaro, Jr.]. He saw that there are a lot of spaces in the University that we can still use. He saw the possibility of having our own cafe or restaurant inside. So, it will be an actual learning hub for the students,” Dulce Amor S. Padilla,
Dean of the CHTM.
Through actual café operations, students can apply classroom knowledge and develop skills that can help them transition into the industry.
A Space to Pause, Connect, and Belong
Beyond its role as a learning hub, the Executive Lounge is designed to provide the university community with a comfortable space to rest, work, study, or connect. Its more intimate setting is particularly intended for faculty and staff who need a place to take a break, enjoy coffee, or hold small meetings, while students may also use the space for studying and reviewing, subject to its policies.
“The ambience is very relaxing and comfortable,” Padilla said.
The lounge’s minimalist interior combines modern industrial elements with nature-inspired features to create a refreshing and balanced atmosphere. For Bautista, however, its value goes beyond its physical design, as the space is envisioned as a place where members of the university community can feel comfortable and valued.
“We want the Executive Lounge to become their second home,” Bautista said.
For University President Irineo G. Alvaro, Jr., Wespresso was also conceived from his personal appreciation for café spaces and the opportunities they create beyond simply having coffee. He emphasized that the facilities are intended to serve as a safe space where students and other members of the university community can talk, learn, exchange ideas, and engage with one another outside the classroom.
“Ito ay isang konsepto. Nagmula sa isang karanasan dahil ako ay isang KAPE-talista (pun for a coffee lover). These facilities, hindi lang ito mumunting espasyo. This is your space. This is also the space for your students. This is our safe space,” Alvaro said.
He further underscored the importance of creating spaces where learning can happen beyond traditional classroom settings, noting that Wespresso brings together learning, resources, collaboration, and innovation.
“Ang school ay hindi lang sa loob ng classroom. Mas madaling matuto minsan sa labas ng classroom,” Alvaro said. According to Alvaro, the shared efforts behind Wespresso reflected the University’s commitment to creating spaces that support both learning and community. He said that by working together and supporting one another, the University could create an environment where learning extends beyond academics and encourages meaningful interaction.
“If we work together and we support each other, again, hindi lang learning ang naroon, there will be no room for failures,” Alvaro added.
Opening the Wesleyan Experience to Guests
Although primarily intended for the university community, Wespresso also welcomes visitors, guests, and families of faculty and staff. Openness allows people from outside the University to experience the café and the hospitality associated with the Wesleyan community.
“For the outsiders, yes, we’re open to the outsiders so that they can experience the real service of Wesleyan,” Bautista noted.
While the Executive Lounge has limited capacity, the University is also developing the al fresco area as a more spacious setting for students, faculty, staff, guests, and families. Bautista emphasized that both areas are being developed to provide a welcoming environment for everyone who visits the WUP.
“We’re also making al fresco beautiful to be conducive to everyone—not only for students, but also for all the people, the visitors, the guests, the families,”
Bautista said.
Brewing a Bigger Vision
Wespresso’s vision extends beyond its current location, with plans to explore bringing the concept to the WUP’s other campuses in Tarlac and Aurora. The goal is to develop Wespresso into a brand that carries the University’s values while maintaining its identity as a collaborative project.
Bautista also highlighted the potential for broader collaboration among the University’s academic units, emphasizing that the café can serve as a venue where different colleges contribute to a common endeavor.
“It is going to be a center of collaboration among the colleges,” Bautista mentioned.
At its core, however, Wespresso remains anchored in the people it was created to serve.
For students, it offers a place where classroom lessons can be translated into actual experience. For faculty and staff, it provides a space to pause amid a demanding workday. For visitors, it offers an opportunity to experience the University’s hospitality.
Wespresso, therefore, is not simply about putting a coffee shop inside a University. It is about creating a space where learning, service, collaboration, and community can come together—one cup, one conversation, and one experience at a time.
Article by Emily G. Agumbay (PIO)
Poster by John Carlo S. Dauz (PIO)