Baguio City– In the heart of the busy Upper Bokawkan Road, Edgar Z. Kawig Jr. is proving that the secret to a world-class cup of coffee isn’t just in the beans, it is in the tools and the heart behind the roast.

Kuya Edgar, the man behind The Red Soil Coffee Mfg., faced the same uphill battle as many local micro-entrepreneurs for many years. The pandemic affected his small coffee roastery, which struggled with tight cash flow. Most of Red Soil Coffee’s earnings had to be reinvested in buying raw green coffee beans, which, in most cases, became more expensive every year.

This left very little room to fix or upgrade the outdated machinery that made it hard to keep every batch of coffee tasting exactly the same.

The turning point for Edgar came not from a lucky break, but from hard work that was finally noticed. The Red Soil Coffee Mfg. won the Productivity Olympics held by the RTWPB. It was subsequently recommended for a special boost through the DOLE-Adjustment Measures Program (AMP).

While many small business owners find government paperwork frustrating, Edgar says the team at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-CAR) walked him through every step, helping him see a path where his business could finally grow. This was enough motivation for Kuya Edgar to further support the local farmers and workers who rely on him.

Through the program, the Red Soil Coffee was able to trade in its old methods for professional-grade equipment. Kuya Edgar’s workspace now features a new color meter to ensure every roast is the perfect shade, a destoner to make sure the coffee is clean and safe, and specialized grinders that make every grain the same size for a better-tasting cup.

He even received a dedicated laptop to run software that tracks the heat and timing of every roast with scientific precision. These are not just fancy gadgets; they are the tools that have allowed Edgar to produce more coffee in less time, with a level of quality that can compete with the best in the market.

Today, the atmosphere at The Red Soil Coffee is one of renewed energy and pride. The upgrades have not only made the work more efficient but have also raised the professional standards of the entire team. For Kuya Edgar, the assistance was the missing piece of the puzzle that turned a daily struggle for survival into a thriving craft.

As he watches the new machines at work, he knows that every bag of coffee leaving his shop now carries the promise of consistency and the story of a local business that was given the chance to brew its best. (Albert Palma)