In Sigay, Robusta is the drink that fuels everyone. It's a cultural cornerstone, something you offer any guest who walks through the door. For years, Sigay's Robusta was just a local secret, nothing special in the eyes of the outside world, because the tech to share it wasn't there.

Things changed when the town gained access to the internet and social media and the rest of the country started to take notice. Uncle Mabini Ubuan joined and competed in the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) and he won. That victory lit a fire under everyone, including Krystal Anne Llames.

This story isn't just about coffee; it's about legacy. It starts with a young Krystal Anne Llames, who loved harvesting cherries, racing her siblings to get the sweetest ones. She watched her lolo and father invest blood and sweat to farm on the rocky, cold highlands, because that's where the land was. This coffee is an inheritance, a reminder of their relentless hard work.
For Krystal Anne Llames, coffee is a symbol of success. It might start bitter, but that's where the real flavor is, getting stronger with every sip, just like the courage to keep going. She knows the struggles firsthand—the endless rain, the late nights cleaning beans with his lolas and titas, the moments he wanted to give up. But he also saw the unyielding spirit of his companions and just kept pushing.

She joined the PCQC with zero expectations, fueled by a desire to get her family's hard work the recognition it deserved. When she won, it was a mix of disbelief and vindication. This isn't just a trophy; it's the taste of success earned through sacrifice. This is Sigay Robusta, and it's a testament to family, grit, and the belief that every effort has a reward.

This is Krystal Anne Llames's story, and it's about so much more than coffee. When she joined the 2025 PCQC, she didn't expect to win. It was a grind from the start, with nearly two straight months of rain making it a nightmare to dry the beans. Everything was a rush, and she was on her own, except for her grandmothers and aunts who stepped up to help.
The night before warehousing, she was ready to call it quits. But then she saw her companions, all of them pushing through the fatigue, eye strain, and back pain. That's when she found her own courage.

The win was a mix of disbelief and vindication. It was the reward for every sacrifice, a testament to her family's resilience and her own unyielding spirit. This is what it takes. This is the story behind the cup.

COUNTRY: PHILIPPINES
PROCESS: Natural
VARIETY: Robusta
PROFILE: Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, Berries
ROAST LEVEL: Medium Dark
PRODUCTION AREA: Sigay, Ilocos Sur