Top baristas compete in national championship

MANILA, Philippines - The Newport Mall Atrium of Resorts World Manila hosted recently the final round of the 2016 Philippine National Barista Championship, pitting six of the country’s top-caliber baristas in an intense competition.

Silvester Dan Sibal Samonte of El Union Coffee in La Union (in photo) bagged the nation’s most prestigious barista title. All six contenders prepared and served 12 coffee drinks – four espresso, four milk beverages and four original espresso-based signature drinks of their own creation – to an exacting 15-minute time frame to a panel of judges composed of four sensory judges, two technical judges, and one head judge.

“To be a champion, a barista must demonstrate strong technical skills, craftsmanship, excellent communication as well as great customer service skills, and devotion for coffee,” said head judge Lauro Fioretti, the international representative from World Coffee Events, official organizers of the World Barista Championship.

“Samonte prepared and served high quality coffee beverages during the course of his performance and has exhibited professionalism, creativity, and passion,” noted Leo de Leon, president and general manager of Allegro Beverage Corp., official organizers of the 2016 Philippine National Barista Championship.

Samonte will officially represent the Philippines at the 2016 World Barista Championship – the preeminent international coffee competition, on June 22 to 25 in Dublin, Ireland.