Michael Harris Conlin, a long-time advocate for Philippine coffee and social entrepreneurship, has been named the 2025 Philippine National Barista Champion. Conlin will represent the Philippines at the World Barista Championship to be held at HostMilano in Milan, Italy from October 17 to 21, 2025.<\/p>\n
Michael Harris Conlin, a long-time advocate for Philippine coffee and social entrepreneurship, has been named the\u00a02025 Philippine National Barista Champion<\/b>, following his standout performance at the\u00a0Philippine Barista Competition held recently at MAFBEX<\/b>. His victory not only marks a personal milestone, but also reaffirms his mission:\u00a0to build a beautiful coffee future by elevating Philippine coffee \u2014\u00a0\u00a0through connection, unity, and bold innovation.<\/i><\/p>\n
With this win, Conlin will represent the Philippines at the\u00a0World Barista Championship<\/b>, to be held at\u00a0HostMilano in Milan, Italy from October 17 to 21, 2025<\/b>.<\/p>\n
This will be Conlin\u2019s second time competing on the world stage. In\u00a02019<\/b>, he made history as the\u00a0first Filipino barista to reach the semi-finals<\/b>\u00a0of the\u00a0World Barista Championship in Boston, USA<\/b>, placing\u00a015th in the world<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 a groundbreaking achievement that broke the glass wall and opened the path for more Filipino baristas to follow.<\/p>\n
This year, his goal is even higher:\u00a0to reach the global top 6<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 and to bring home the\u00a0World Barista Championship title<\/b>\u00a0to the Philippines for the first time.<\/p>\n
Known for his deep commitment to uplifting Filipino coffee farmers and creating sustainable, community-driven impact through his ventures, Conlin\u2019s championship routine centered on the theme of\u00a0\u201cconnection.\u201d<\/b>\u00a0It was a compelling message woven through coffee, community, and co-creation \u2014 demonstrating that truly exceptional coffee is not a solo achievement, but a collective triumph across the value chain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis win isn\u2019t just mine,\u201d Conlin shared. \u201cIt belongs to the farmers, the roasters, the scientists, the baristas, and the dreamers who all worked together to create something extraordinary. Coffee is about co-creation \u2014 and that\u2019s what we\u2019re celebrating.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the heart of his presentation was a championship blend of\u00a0Philippine Liberica (Barako)<\/b>\u00a0from Laguna and\u00a0Colombian Mokka<\/b>, developed through months of experimentation and collaboration with world-renowned Colombian producer\u00a0Wilton Benitez<\/b>. This bold fusion symbolized the potential of cross-cultural partnerships to transform local coffee into world-class experiences \u2014 while proudly showcasing Liberica\u2019s unique qualities to a global audience.<\/p>\n
Beyond the competition stage, Conlin is the founder of\u00a0Henry & Sons<\/b>,\u00a0The Giving Caf\u00e9<\/b>, and the\u00a0Institute for\u00a0\u00a0Coffee Excellence<\/b>, through which he has built long-term relationships with coffee farming communities across the Philippines. From advocating for fair trade and post-harvest innovation to investing in farmer education and product development, his work champions a common goal: to\u00a0create a beautiful coffee future \u2014 one rooted in dignity, collaboration, and global recognition for Philippine coffee.\u00a0<\/b>\u201cWe\u2019ve always believed in the beauty and potential of Barako,\u201d he said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about flavor; it\u2019s about identity, resilience, and pride. When we unite as an industry \u2014 farmers, processors, scientists, and baristas \u2014 we don\u2019t just compete. We\u00a0resonate<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he prepares to return to the world stage, Conlin\u2019s message is clear:\u00a0this is more than a competition \u2014 it\u2019s a movement.<\/b>\u00a0A movement to connect, to uplift, and to bring the spotlight to the richness of Philippine coffee. With passion, unity, and purpose, his dream is within reach \u2014\u00a0to bring the WBC Championship title home to the Philippines.<\/b><\/p>\n
Michael\u2019s\u00a0competition coffees<\/b>, including the\u00a0Philippine Liberica\u00a0\u00a0Colombian Mokka coffees<\/b>, are now available for coffee lovers to experience at\u00a0The Giving Caf\u00e9<\/b>, and online through\u00a0Henry & Sons\u2019 official stores on Shopee, Lazada, and TheVault.ph<\/b>.<\/p>\n
For more details about the Michael Harris Conlin and his bid at the World Barista Championship stage, please visit\u00a0thevault.ph.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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