Michael
Harris Conlin, a long-time advocate for Philippine coffee and social
entrepreneurship, has been named the 2025
Philippine National Barista Champion, following his standout performance at
the Philippine Barista Competition held recently
at MAFBEX. His victory not only marks a personal milestone, but also
reaffirms his mission: to build a
beautiful coffee future by elevating Philippine coffee — through connection, unity, and bold
innovation.
With
this win, Conlin will represent the Philippines at the World Barista Championship, to be held at HostMilano in Milan, Italy from October 17 to 21, 2025.
This
will be Conlin’s second time competing on the world stage. In 2019, he made history as the first Filipino barista to reach the
semi-finals of the World Barista
Championship in Boston, USA, placing 15th
in the world — a groundbreaking achievement that broke the glass wall and
opened the path for more Filipino baristas to follow.
This
year, his goal is even higher: to reach
the global top 6 — and to bring home the World Barista Championship title to the Philippines for the first
time.
Known
for his deep commitment to uplifting Filipino coffee farmers and creating
sustainable, community-driven impact through his ventures, Conlin’s
championship routine centered on the theme of “connection.” It was a compelling message woven through coffee,
community, and co-creation — demonstrating that truly exceptional coffee is not
a solo achievement, but a collective triumph across the value chain.
“This
win isn’t just mine,” Conlin shared. “It 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 — and that’s what
we’re celebrating.”
At
the heart of his presentation was a championship blend of Philippine Liberica (Barako) from Laguna and Colombian Mokka, developed through months of experimentation and
collaboration with world-renowned Colombian producer Wilton Benitez. This bold fusion symbolized the potential of
cross-cultural partnerships to transform local coffee into world-class
experiences — while proudly showcasing Liberica’s unique qualities to a global
audience.
Beyond
the competition stage, Conlin is the founder of Henry & Sons, The Giving
Café, and the Institute for Coffee Excellence, 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 create a beautiful
coffee future — one rooted in dignity, collaboration, and global recognition
for Philippine coffee. “We’ve always believed in the beauty and potential
of Barako,” he said. “This isn’t just about flavor; it’s about identity, resilience,
and pride. When we unite as an industry — farmers, processors, scientists, and
baristas — we don’t just compete. We resonate.”
As
he prepares to return to the world stage, Conlin’s message is clear: this is more than a competition — it’s a
movement. A 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 — to bring the WBC
Championship title home to the Philippines.
Michael’s
competition coffees, including the Philippine Liberica Colombian Mokka coffees, are now
available for coffee lovers to experience at The Giving Café, and online through Henry & Sons’ official stores on Shopee, Lazada, and TheVault.ph.
