Kabni Kafe is one coffee destination in Cabatuan, Iloilo. It is a small black cabin house by the roadside entering the next town, Maasin. What is fascinating about this cafe is how a young couple started it from a plain scratch of an idea. Here are a few conversations with them on how is their journey as family and business owners today.
Rex and Sarah Delgado are a young couple who ventured into the coffee industry as a cafe not so far from the metro city of Iloilo. They have lovely children who visit the cafe which makes it more human and lovable. Family life is their core and has “never been better,” Sarah exclaimed with enthusiasm. Rex who I knew since college had only one word to describe their family: great!
Each family has its own dynamics and best moments to remember. For Sarah, she treasures every time they go out or travel as a family, especially when they see the kids are having fun. “It is important to us that they have wonderful childhood memories to remember,” Rex noted.
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The Kabin Kafe started from an intimate idea as a couple. “Our discipleship group experience has a great influence on why we choose to start a coffee shop business,” Sarah shared. The young couple loves the feeling of connecting and sharing their hearts with others. They want to create that kind of space wherein people can just have a great cup of coffee, enjoy themselves, and essentially build relationships. “We saw great potential in the place and that really adds up to the coffee shop that we are imagining,” said Rex.
“When we think about cabin homes, we associate it with warmth and the general feeling of being at home. That is something we want to share with our customers,” Sarah continued. With picturesque interior overlooking the road, the cafe is a haven for people to relax and have some personal moments. The greenery behind Kabin Kafe also adds value to the ambiance of the whole experience. “Also, using the letter “K” instead of “C” is an idea that came from the story of the Krispy Kreme name itself. They changed the letter “C” to “K” to be typographically more catchy. Hence, “Cabin” to “Kabin” with a “K”,” Rex explained.
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The design inspiration is minimalist with an eccentric touch. “We are both fans of minimal designs and we love things that are simple and timeless,” Said Sarah. The color scheme is mainly neutral colors so it can blend well with any decors that they will add later on. “We want a design approach that values a life lived rather than a lifestyle. We want our customers to feel at home and not be too intimidated by the interior design of a coffee shop,” Rex expounded on their idea of simplicity.
Just like other businesses, Kabin Kafe also had its hurdles along the way. For Sarah, it was more on business technicalities. “We did not have a business background so we have to learn everything from scratch. It was a huge help reaching out to the right people that taught us the fundamentals of business,” she recalled. Marketing and branding are something they are still learning and developing further. “In this social media age, customer recognition and building business identity is a must in a growing business,” she continued.
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For Rex who basically serves customers and handles Kabin Kafe staff, it was people management. “We have encountered some issues when it comes to managing employees and most of them are behavioral issues,” Rex shared. For them, dealing with people should always begin and end with dignity and grace. As a person, they practice psychological safety and promote continuous improvement not only in their work but ultimately in their personal life. “Our core belief is centered on building good and lasting relationships and that includes our employees. We want to pass on the spirit of excellence to them as their employer and leader,” he explained.
Growing a family and starting a business, both at the same time is already a huge feat. It was not easy but it was doable for the couple. “Even before it all started, Rex and I already discussed and agreed that “Family First”. We already knew what was on the top of our priorities,” Sarah pointed out. The couple makes sure they draw the line between family and business. “When we have a business meeting, we try our best to have it in a different venue and not in our home. This helps us avoid distractions and just focus on business matters. The same goes for our family time. We dedicate exclusive time just for our kids without any business errands,” Rex further explained.
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Rex and Sarah have a lot of goals for Kabin Kafe, but to summarize them all, “we would love to see our business still growing and innovating and importantly creating a significant impact in the community,” they pictured out. Rex is very much passionate to provide prime quality coffee in Cabatuan area, hopefully in the whole province of Iloilo. “To be a center for creative activities of local artists. Most importantly, to be a place where Christ will be known to other people especially the locals,” said Rex.
Kabin Kafe is located at Brgy. Bacan, Cabatuan, Iloilo. You can also find this using a Google map search. If you’re commuting, you can take the Maasin jeepney (at Pavia terminal) and it will pass by Brgy. Bacan where Kabin Cafe is located. For convenience, you may use Google Maps. The best seller combo is our Iced Latte and Classic chocolate chip walnut cookie.
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Here are some tips Rex and Sarah want to share on how to manage time in taking care of the family and building the business.
If you are married, take care of your marriage. This is a big must for couples who are also your business partners. Always make sure your spouse is loved and well taken care of. A healthy marriage is a key element in assuring you perform better and effectively in work or business.
Delegate tasks accordingly. Know the tasks that should be under your umbrella, since the scope of responsibility will change according to your role. This will save you a lot of energy and time.
Lastly, Rex and Sarah highly recommend the Time Blocking method. Time management is a discipline itself and time blocking is one way you can effectively manage your time and help you keep everything in check. Remember: If you do not control your schedule, it will control you.
I hope this conversation was helpful to you. May it inspire you to have a great day ahead! Remember, visit Kabin Kafe in Brgy. Caban, Cabatuan, Iloilo.
