(L-R) Ms. Myrna Pablo - Regional Director DTI-CAR Regional Office, Mr. Michael Harris Lim, 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion, and the first Filipino to make it to the semi-finals of the World Barista Championship in Boston, USA, and Ms. Venus Tan Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer (TPB - COO) during the grand launch of Institute for Coffee Excellence in Mandaluyong City last May 3, 2019

Philippine Barista Champion Builds a Coffee School for the Filipinos

Michael Harris Lim, the 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion and the first Filipino to make it to the semi-finals of the World Barista Championship in Boston, USA, opens the Institute for Coffee Excellence, an educational institution committed to developing a variety of educational initiatives that focuses on instilling positive values that will help grow and excel as coffee professionals.
Mr. Michael Harris Lim
2019 Philippine National Barista Champion, and the first Filipino to make it to the semi-finals of the World Barista Championship in Boston, USA
Harris envisions the institute as an instrument in fostering a community that works together for total sustainability to achieve the ultimate goal of having an increasingly steady food and coffee security for the Philippines and for the future generations to come. 
Mr. Michael Harris Lim at the Grand Launch of Institute for Coffee Excellence
“The transformation of a community begins with education. In the case of our coffee community, I believe we would have to start by empowering our farmers and baristas with the knowledge, values, and passion to work towards a beautiful coffee future" 
Ms. Venus Tan Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer (TPB - COO)
Ms. Myrna Pablo - Regional Director DTI-CAR Regional Office
Guests were able to explore the Institute and experiences to taste the flavor of Benguet coffee products.
On this photo, Barista shows how to prepare Itogon Coffee  in three ways:
1. Itogon Coffee CO2 Flushed
2. Itogon Coffee Natural Process, and
3. Itogon  Nitro Flushed with Champagne Yeast

Itogon Coffee Nitro Flush Flavor Passon Fruit, Rice Tea, Brown Sugar.  The Natural process comes with flavors of Caramel, Peanuts, Pineapple, Peach. And, The CO2 Flushed Flavor comes with Herbs, Oolong Tea, and Lime.
We're so happy to be the first to taste these three flavors and they're all taste good with distinction when it comes to their flavors.
Mr. Michael Harris Lim and the Barista of the Institute for Coffee Excellence


Ms. Venus Tan Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer (TPB - COO)
Prior to his participation in the national and world competitions, Harris makes vigorous effort in extending a helping hand to the thriving coffee industry as a social entrepreneur. While he actively supports coffee-producing communities in Benguet through the platforms he built such as the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE) and The Giving Café, his eagerness to create greater initiatives that will benefit the local industry never ceased. 
Mr. Michael Harris Lim and Ms. Myrna Pablo, together with community/farmers from the province of Benguet
Driving his inspiration from the members of the coffee community, he's also aiming to make the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence as the country’s National Body licensed by World Coffee Events to hold the next competitions in 2020. 

To know more about the Institute for Coffee Excellence, visit, coffeeexcellence.org.

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