SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA — Long shopping hauls and weekend mall crawls just found their ultimate companion.
Crafting the Perfect Coffee & Tea Escape
Founded in Southern California in 1963, CBTL has earned a loyal global following for its uncompromising sourcing standards—selecting only the top 1% of Arabica beans and hand-plucking the finest whole tea leaves from high-altitude estates . The new in-store café serves the brand's full lineup of beloved mainstays, including The Original Ice Blended drinks in rich flavors like The Ultimate Mocha and classic Vanilla, handcrafted espresso standards such as smooth lattes and velvety flat whites, and fragrant whole-leaf teas ranging from earthy green teas to signature African Sunrise herbal blends . Freshly baked pastries are also available, featuring multi-layered cakes, flaky croissants, and savory cookies designed to pair flawlessly with any beverage choice . "Your favorite coffee and tea fix is now closer than ever! Whether it's your go-to coffee or a refreshing tea, there's always a reason to take a little break," SM City Pampanga announced in its official statement.
Strategic Placement for Maximum Convenience
By setting up shop directly inside The SM Store, CBTL provides an immediate, peaceful oasis away from the main mall hallways, featuring comfortable lounge seating and dedicated charging areas ideal for remote workers, families taking a midday breather, or friends catching up during a weekend shopping spree. This strategic shop-in-shop integration aligns perfectly with the mall's ongoing "Gala to the Max" lifestyle campaign, which positions SM Supermalls as multi-purpose destinations where consumers can shift seamlessly between shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences . The initiative is part of a broader nationwide rollout, with SM Investments Corporation and CBTL embarking on an ambitious plan to complete the installation of in-store cafes across all 78 branches of SM Store by 2026 . This expansion reflects SM's broader strategy of turning its properties into lifestyle ecosystems rather than purely transactional retail spaces, reinforcing repeat visitation and longer dwell times among shoppers .
