Michael Harris Conlin’s love affair with all things coffee began when he was just 12 years old, staying at his father’s house in Nova Scotia, Canada.
“My father had an espresso machine. He would teach me how to foam milk, how to pull my first espresso. He would experiment with different ingredients such as cardamom and vanilla. That’s my strongest memory of my experience with coffee as a young boy,” he said in an exclusive tete-a-tete with Manila Standard Cravings.
Several years later, in 2019, Conlin 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.
“When I became national champion in 2019, my father told me, ‘I was the one who taught you how to do that,’” he recalled.
This year, Conlin was again named as the 2025 Philippine National Barista Champion following his standout performance at the Philippine Barista Competition held recently at MAFBEX.
“This win isn’t just mine. 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,” Conlin said.
With the victory, he will represent the Philippines at the World Barista Championship to be held at HostMilano in Milan, Italy from October 17 to 21, 2025 – his second time competing on the world stage.
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.
“I wanted to compete again. I saw it as an unfinished business – to bring Philippine coffee to the world stage,” Conlin said.
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.
“We’ve always believed in the beauty and potential of Barako. This isn’t just about flavor; it’s about identity, resilience, and pride,” he said.
(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.)