FEATURE: Sip, Slow Down, Repeat: Local Coffee Awaits at QRS Farms, Tabuk City

Before the day fully stirs in Tabuk City, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee already lingers among the trees of Barangay Bantay.

At QRS Farms, mornings are unhurried, conversations are warm, and every cup of coffee carries the story of the land where it was grown.

Located in Barangay Bantay, Tabuk City, the farm is owned and managed by Engineer Sunshine Genevive Sacki-Molintas, an agricultural and biosystems engineer who left her government post and returned to her family’s land to focus on farming.

Since taking over its management, Sunshine has transformed the property into a productive Robusta coffee plantation and a welcoming space where visitors can relax and experience coffee—from seed to cup.

At QRS Farms, Robusta coffee is the main crop, carefully grown and harvested. Sunshine shared that coffee cherries are selectively handpicked to maintain quality and ensure the beans produce the best flavor. While the work is labor-intensive, she believes that proper care—from planting to processing—makes all the difference in the final taste.

To experience quality coffee straight from the farm, vis

itors can simply drop by and enjoy freshly brewed or iced coffee in a variety of flavors.

“Nag-training din ako sa paggawa ng coffee drinks, sa pagiging barista, at iyong mga natutunan ko, kahit konti, iyon ang ina-apply ko ngayon,” Sunshine shared as she prepared coffee drinks for the Guru Press Cordillera team during their visit to the farm on January 27, 2026.

Apart from coffee, QRS Farms also offers a calm and refreshing atmosphere, surrounded by coffee trees and various fruit-bearing plants that add to the charm of the place.

Beyond coffee

QRS Farms is not only about producing and selling coffee products. It also plays a significant role in supporting farmers and entrepreneurs in the province by serving as a hub for training and demonstration.

In December last year, the Coffee Entrepreneurial Development, Assessment, and Learning Center was established at the farm through the support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Kalinga. At the center, local farmers and small business owners learn how to grow coffee and how Sunshine processes beans into various coffee products.

Complementing this initiative is the Kape-Aralan Training Institute, Incorporated, where Sunshine serves as a TESDA-accredited trainer. The institute equips learners with practical, up-to-date skills and technology in coffee production and processing.

Through her dedication, Sunshine has earned numerous recognitions for her contributions to agriculture. Among her most recent honors is the 2025 National Gawad Saka Award, personally conferred by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on June 30, 2025, in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

In an earlier interview with Guru Press, Sunshine explained that coffee farming was not something she merely returned to—it was something that had always been part of her life.

“I grew up in a community where coffee was not just a crop—it was a way of life. Our family farm, surrounded by coffee and fruit-bearing trees, was a familiar and nurturing environment. My mother was into coffee farming as one of our sources of income, and I saw firsthand how this humble crop could sustain a family, provide livelihood, and connect people with the land,” she shared.

For both visitors and locals, QRS Farms offers the chance to taste locally produced coffee, enjoy a simple and relaxed atmosphere, and witness firsthand how coffee is grown and processed.