The Giving Café Barista Wins National Latte Art Championship

The Giving Café, a company dedicated to cultivating world-class barista talent, celebrates another major win as its barista, Jay Ar Mañago, emerged as champion of the recent Latte Art Throwdown. Beating out seasoned baristas from across the country, Mañago took home the top prize of Php120,000, adding another significant victory to his impressive career.

The competition featured the nation’s most skilled coffee artisans. In a series of high-pressure elimination rounds, Mañago stood out with exceptional technique, creativity, and precision — a testament to the rigorous training and values instilled at The Giving Café by Henry & Sons. This win adds to the growing list of baristas from The Giving Café who continue to set new benchmarks in the coffee industry.

Mañago's success strongly reflects The Giving Café's continuous support and dedication to cultivating excellence, nurturing homegrown talent, and empowering its baristas to become leaders in the Philippine coffee industry.

"Jay Ar's success is more than just a personal victory. It  is a source of immense pride that reflects the culture of excellence and heart that we nurture at The Giving Café," said Michael Harris Conlin of Henry & Sons. 

"We are more than just a café; we are a training ground for champions. We believe in empowering our people with the skills and confidence to rise, compete, and shine on national and global stages, and Jay Ar's achievements are a testament to that commitment. This achievement adds to our growing list of baristas who have gone on to set new benchmarks in the Philippine coffee industry.”

Jay Ar Mañago's recent championship is the latest achievement in a proven track record as a top-tier coffee artisan, highlighting his mastery of technique and precision. His impressive list of wins includes multiple first-place finishes in 2019 alone, where he took top honors at the Breville, Rancilio, and MAFBEX Latte Art Competitions, as well as the 6th Allegro Beverage Philippine Grand Latte Art Throwdown. This string of victories follows a strong fifth-place showing at the same competition in 2018, demonstrating a consistent and growing skill set that culminated in his most recent win.

For inquiries, collaborations, or more information about our barista programs, please visit thevault.ph.

Michael Harris Conlin Wins 2025 Philippine Barista Championship, Paving the Way for Philippine Coffee on the World Stage

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.

For more details about the Michael Harris Conlin and his bid at the World Barista Championship stage, please visit thevault.ph.