Koffee Paradise is preparing to open a new location in Columbus, bringing Filipino-inspired specialty drinks, a community-focused atmosphere and plans for Filipino pastries to the city’s Short North area.
The coffee shop was founded by Filipino entrepreneur Fidas Timbuleng, who said the idea came from her husband, Eric, who encouraged her to explore opening a café. Wanting to create something different from other coffee shops in Ohio, she decided to build the concept around Filipino coffee culture.
“I can do a Filipino coffee shop because there’s no Filipino coffee shop here in Ohio,” Timbuleng said while speaking to WhatNow Columbus.
The new location is set to open at 1333 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43201, in the University District near The Ohio State University.
The name Koffee Paradise also has a connection to the couple’s backgrounds. The original idea was to call the business Coffee Island, inspired by the Philippines and Indonesia, where the couple are from. After discovering the name was already taken, they settled on Koffee Paradise.
The owner said the shop is designed to be more than a place to grab a cup of coffee.
“Koffee Paradise, like what I said, it’s not just a coffee shop,” she said. “It’s a place where community gather, and we wanted to introduce the Filipino culture, the Filipino coffee culture, and flavor to the community.”
The concept focuses on Filipino-inspired specialty coffee, with the owner saying the team aims to create a welcoming destination where customers can gather after work, after school and on weekends.
Among the shop’s signature offerings are its ube latte, ube dalgona, brown sugar latte, tiramisu latte and matcha with ube cloud. The owner said the ube cloud has gained popularity on TikTok.
Ube, a purple yam commonly used in Filipino desserts and drinks, is particularly important to the concept. The owner said the ube latte was one of the drinks that inspired her most because Filipino-style ube lattes remain relatively uncommon in Ohio.
For its coffee, Koffee Paradise currently sources its beans from Crimson Cup. Timbuleng said the business is also exploring ways to source coffee from the Philippines.
The new location will also eventually expand beyond beverages. Timbuleng said the location will include a kitchen serving Filipino pastries, doughnuts and gluten-free items.
The design of Koffee Paradise was inspired by cafés in the Philippines, where the owner said coffee shops are often designed to be visually appealing, welcoming and distinctive.
“We wanted everything that it looks like you’re in the island,” she said.
The Columbus location was chosen in part because of its proximity to students, particularly those attending The Ohio State University. The owner said customers from the university community have continued to support the business even when its original locations were farther away.
“We want Koffee Paradise to be the place where people gather and feel like they belong,” she added.
The business also plans to contribute to the community by creating local jobs and supporting charities. The owner said Koffee Paradise contributes to community causes but generally does not publicise its charitable efforts.
Koffee Paradise is targeting a soft opening soon, followed by a grand opening, according to the owner.
Ultimately, the owner hopes Koffee Paradise becomes known for its Filipino-inspired drinks and hospitality, while providing Columbus with a place to experience Filipino coffee culture.
