AirTalk Food: Cyclops Coffee and The Burger Ghoul

The vendors:

Last week, AirTalk Friday host Austin Cross talked to two folks involved with Ubefest — which takes place Saturday and Sunday in Cerritos — about their work in highlighting Filipino food culture. This week, two more vendors that you'll find at the food festival joined Austin — Cyclops Coffee, which has a shop in Long Beach, and The Burger Ghoul, a smash burger pop-up.

Steven Than, Cyclops Coffee owner, and Geoffrey Manila, owner of The Burger Ghoul, discussed the drinks and food inspired by their heritage.

Than started in graphic design, but he then segued his interest in coffee through another company — Steelhead Coffee.

“They helped me build Cyclops Coffee,” Than said.

Manila pointed to L.A.'s influential burger scene during the conversation.

"I wanted to be a part of that,” he said.

The food:

Cyclops Coffee's specialty drinks for Ubefest, their piña colada ube latte (left) and cookies & cream ube latte (right).

(

Courtesy Steven Than

)

From Cyclops, we tried the cookies & cream ube latte and piña colada ube latte.

The Burger Ghoul's ube-bun smash burger, a specialty item that will be available at this weekend's Ubefest.

(

Courtesy Geoffrey Manila

)

From The Burger Ghoul, we tried the ube-bun smash burger.

You can find both at Ubefest.

The verdict:

“I love the flavor of coconut … and this one delivers exactly what I want out of it,” Austin said about the piña colada ube latte

About the burger, Austin said, “The ube definitely kicks it up a notch, with the crispy pork on the edges.”

Listen to the full conversation here: