Our Story
A warm, roasted ritual that goes beyond coffee
Inafi was created for people who love the ritual of coffee but want a different kind of cup.
Founder Charles Liban started developing Inafi after being advised to stop drinking coffee because it was making his acid reflux worse. For someone who genuinely enjoyed the aroma, taste, and daily routine of coffee, stepping away from it was not a small change.
He began looking for alternatives, hoping to find something that could still deliver a familiar brewed experience. But most of what he found did not quite satisfy what he was looking for. Some did not brew in a familiar way, and many did not have the roasted, coffee-like character he missed.
The search for something better
That search led Charles to learn more about roasted rice and grain-based drinks, including traditions found in the Philippines, Japan, and other parts of Asia.
The idea stayed with him, and he began experimenting on his own. He tested different ways of roasting rice again and again, adjusting the process many times in search of a flavour that felt rich, roasted, and worth returning to.
Shaped by real feedback
As the product started to take shape, Charles asked friends to try it. The response was encouraging. Most of them liked it, even though he understood from the beginning that it would not be for everyone.
That was never the goal.
The goal was to create something genuinely enjoyable for people who love the ritual of coffee but are looking for another option for personal reasons, including sensitivity to caffeine, acidity, or simply wanting a different kind of cup.
Why the name Inafi
The name Inafi comes from the Itawes and Ibanag word for cooked rice, a meaningful connection to Charles’s Filipino heritage from Cagayan Valley in the Philippines.
Rice is more than an ingredient. It carries a sense of daily life, familiarity, and home. That made the name feel grounded and true to the kind of brand Inafi was meant to become.
What Inafi is today
Today, Inafi is a roasted jasmine rice coffee alternative designed to feel familiar in the way it brews, satisfying in the way it drinks, and distinct enough to stand on its own.
The current lineup includes:
- Original
- Hazelnut
- Maple
- Vanilla
Each one is built on the same roasted jasmine rice base, with flavour variations that add their own aroma and character to the cup.
A different kind of ritual
Inafi is not trying to be coffee for everyone.
It is for people who still want the ritual, the aroma, and the pleasure of a brewed cup, but with a different base.