As “laptop lounging” in cafes becomes increasingly difficult, new dedicated hubs in Metro Manila are offering students and freelancers a cheaper, quieter, and more reliable “third space.”
For years, coffee shops were the go-to “third space.” However, the tension between “laptop loungers” and café owners needing table turnover has pushed many toward coworking.
“A lot of cafés now promote staying as long as you buy food, so we based our rates and inclusions on that. With our monthly packages, customers actually save more compared to working as walk-ins in cafés,” claims Josh Cater, branch manager of The Mastermind Hub.
Coffee shop vs. Coworking space
| Feature | Coffee Shops | Coworking Spaces |
| Internet | Often limited/requires vouchers | High-speed, dedicated, and stable |
| Power | Limited sockets | Sockets at every desk |
| Noise | High (music, grinders, chatter) | Controlled/Quiet zones |
| Price | High (Cost of coffee + food) | Student-friendly hourly/daily rates |
At The Mastermind Hub, walk-in rates are kept student-friendly at around ₱70 per hour, capped at ₱100. Meanwhile, Co&Co Works offers a ₱300 full-day pass for students and a ₱600 pass for employees.
Their busiest periods coincide with university exam weeks, when student promos are also offered. Monthly subscribers receive a backdoor pass, allowing them to enter or leave at any hour, even outside regular operating schedules.
Co&Co Works, meanwhile, offers a clear set of packages on their website. Walk-in rates include a discounted ₱300 full-day pass for students and a standard ₱600 full-day pass for employees.
The lean business model
One reason for the rapid expansion of these hubs is the relatively low overhead. Unlike cafés, coworking spaces operate with minimal manpower. The primary investments are:
- Infrastructure: Durable furniture, ergonomic lighting, and ample power outlets.
- Connectivity: Multi-ISP setups to ensure zero downtime.
- Self-Service: Pantries and check-in systems that require only a small team for security and cleaning.
As hybrid work becomes a permanent fixture of the Philippine economy, coworking spaces are no longer just a “post-pandemic gap-filler.” They are the new infrastructure for a generation that prioritizes flexibility, well-being, and, above all, the space to get things done.
The transition to remote work revealed a simple truth: not all spaces are conducive to productivity. From the ₱70 student rates at The Mastermind Hub to the corporate-ready suites of Co&Co Works, coworking spaces are evolving from pandemic “gap-fillers” into the essential infrastructure of the modern Philippine economy.
READ:
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