Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 2025

Philippines Coffee & Cafés ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our coffee culture services.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you interact with our platform, we may collect:

• Coffee Guide Downloads: Name, email address, coffee interests, and location
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address and coffee preferences
• Café Reviews: Username, review content, ratings, and visit details
• Tour Bookings: Name, contact information, tour preferences, and group size
• Contact Forms: Name, email, message content, and inquiry type

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

We automatically collect certain information when you visit our website:

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages viewed, cafés browsed, time spent, and navigation patterns
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address
• Referral Information: Source website or search engine
• Cookies and Tracking: Browser fingerprinting for analytics and personalization

1.3 Third-Party Information

• Café Partners: Menu information, operating hours, and special offers from partner cafés
• Coffee Farms: Tour availability and farm information from partner producers
• Social Media: Public profile information if you connect via social platforms

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Primary Purposes

• Service Delivery: Providing coffee guides, café recommendations, and cultural information
• Communication: Sending newsletters, café updates, and coffee culture news
• Personalization: Tailoring café recommendations based on your preferences and location
• Tour Coordination: Facilitating coffee farm tours and café hopping experiences
• Analytics: Understanding user behavior to improve our content and recommendations

2.2 Marketing and Promotional Uses

• Sending emails about new cafés, coffee events, and roastery updates (with opt-out)
• Sharing coffee culture stories and brewing tips
• Partner promotions for specialty coffee and café equipment

2.3 Legal and Safety Purposes

• Complying with legal obligations under Philippines law
• Protecting against fraud and security threats
• Enforcing our Terms and Conditions
• Responding to law enforcement requests when legally required

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 We Share Information With:

• Café Partners: Contact information when you inquire about specific cafés (with consent)
• Tour Operators: Booking details for coffee farm tours and experiences
• Service Providers: Email marketing platforms, analytics services, hosting providers
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect legal rights

3.2 We Do NOT:

• Sell your personal information to third parties
• Share your email with unaffiliated marketers without consent
• Publicly display your personal contact information
• Use your data for purposes incompatible with this policy

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality and security
• Analytics Cookies: Understanding café browsing patterns and popular regions
• Preference Cookies: Remembering your coffee preferences and favorite cafés
• Fingerprinting: Browser fingerprinting for fraud prevention and analytics

Managing Cookies: You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures including:

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Secure server infrastructure and regular security audits
• Access controls limiting who can view personal information
• Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

6. Your Rights Under Philippines Law

Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal information we hold
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal obligations)
• Object: Object to processing for direct marketing purposes
• Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing at any time
• Lodge Complaint: File a complaint with the National Privacy Commission

To exercise these rights, contact us at: privacy@philippinescoffee.digital

7. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the Philippines, including:

• United States (cloud hosting and email services)
• European Union (analytics and CDN services)
• Singapore (backup and disaster recovery)

We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place through standard contractual clauses and compliance certifications.

8. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, contact us immediately for deletion.

9. Data Retention

We retain your information for:

• Newsletter Subscribers: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Guide Downloads: 3 years for analytics and improvement purposes
• Café Reviews: Indefinitely unless you request deletion
• Tour Bookings: 5 years for record-keeping and customer service
• Analytics Data: Aggregated data retained indefinitely; identifiable data for 26 months

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website contains links to cafés, roasteries, and other third-party services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before sharing information.

11. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Significant changes will be communicated via:

• Email notification to newsletter subscribers
• Prominent notice on our website
• Updated "Last Modified" date at the top of this policy

12. Contact Information

Data Protection Officer:
Philippines Coffee & Cafés
Email: privacy@philippinescoffee.digital
Response Time: Within 15 business days

National Privacy Commission (Philippines):
5th Floor, Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)
Vicente Sotto Street, Pasay City, Metro Manila 1300
Email: info@privacy.gov.ph
Website: www.privacy.gov.ph

13. Special Provisions for Coffee Services

13.1 Café Recommendations and Referrals

When you inquire about cafés through our platform, we may share your contact information with the café. You will receive communications directly from them subject to their privacy policies.

13.2 Coffee Farm Tours

Tour booking information is shared with farm operators and tour guides. They are required to protect your information and use it only for tour coordination.

13.3 User Reviews and Ratings

Café reviews you post may be publicly visible. Do not include sensitive personal information in your reviews. You can request removal of your reviews at any time.

13.4 Coffee Preference Data

We collect data about your coffee preferences (brewing methods, café types, flavor profiles) to personalize recommendations. This data is not shared with third parties except in aggregated, anonymized form.

14. Your Choices and Controls

• Email Preferences: Unsubscribe links in every marketing email
• Cookie Settings: Browser controls and our cookie preference center
• Account Deletion: Request complete account and data deletion via email
• Marketing Opt-Out: Opt out of promotional communications while keeping essential service emails
• Review Management: Edit or delete your café reviews at any time

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