Coffee & Friends Hangout at SM

Coffee isn’t just a drink anymore—it’s the spark behind great conversations and hangouts. This July, SM Supermalls brings you Coffee Fest: Coffee & Friends Hangout at SM, turning every mall into one big, vibrant café where every visit brews a new story and every cup makes moments with friends even better.

With 80% of Filipinos drinking 2.5 cups a day and the Philippines being the second-largest coffee consumer in Asia, Coffee Fest comes at the perfect time. Every corner of your fave SM mall will become your café of choice where coffee and connection go hand in hand!

Discover your brew with your crew

Whether you’re hunting for a specialty brew or pairing your coffee with a sweet bite, SM has so many options to choose from! Enjoy artisanal cafés and popular spots with your friends.

   

Choose from a variety of coffee selections such as Dunkin, Starbucks, JWU Coffee Bar and more at SM Center Pulilan. 

Relax at coffee hangout areas

Imagine sipping your coffee in a stylish lounge as acoustic music fills the air, or enjoying a cozy catch-up with friends under the soft glow of the sunset at the SM malls’ sky parks. During Coffee Fest, SM transforms its malls into the ultimate coffee hangout spots—featuring modern lounges, coffee booths, live performances, and interactive activities. From outdoor parks to common-area pods, these spaces are designed to help coffee lovers connect, unwind, and make every sip more special.

    

Join special events and make coffee moments unforgettable

Throughout Coffee & Friends Hangout at SM, coffee shops and designated hangout areas will host special activities designed to bring people together. Enjoy art classes, cup sleeve events, acoustic performances, and live DJ sets that turn ordinary coffee breaks into memorable shared experiences. Every event is a chance to celebrate community and creativity over a perfect cup of joe.

Make every coffee moment count at Coffee & Friends Hangout!

This July, SM Supermalls invites you to see coffee not just as a drink but as a way to connect and create lasting memories. With this year’s Coffee & Friends Hangout at SM, the entire mall becomes one big café—where stories are shared, friendships are strengthened, and life’s simple joys are savored one cup at a time. 

So, come, hang out with friends, and make your coffee moments unforgettable at SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag, and SM Center Pulilan! Visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls to know more about Coffee Fest. 

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.