Last month at the 2025 World Barista Championship in Milan, Filipino barista champion Michael Harris topped the leaderboard in the espresso category on day one, allowing him to finish third in that round and advance to the semifinals. So what was his secret? Some sporadic coffee that has been experimentally processed? This is it, derived from an anaerobically fermented blend of Philippine Liberica and Colombian Eugenioides.
But everyone at this stage of the competition has some incredible coffee. Harris had what no one else had A better ship. Created in part by Harris, The Better Vessel is a recent barista tool that removes foam from shots of espresso and is now available for pre-order.
While crema is significant to a shot, especially during competition, it can make it bitter. So removing it would allow the sweetness to dominate more, improving the espresso drinking experience. Designed in collaboration with his trainer, the eminent Federico Bolanos Alchemia Coffeeand Bolanos’ son, The Better Vessel, debuted on the World Barista stage this year to much fanfare.
It acts as an intermediate vessel between drawing the shot and administering it. Espresso is poured directly into a better vessel, which is then placed on top of a platter. From the spout at the bottom, the espresso flows from the Better Vessel into the cup, leaving behind a froth.
During an espresso course during his WBC appearanceHarris said The Better Vessel “will aid revolutionize the way espresso is served and consumed around the world.”
It’s more than just removing foam. According to Harris, because there is no foam, The Better Vessel allows both coffee shops and home users to make longer, higher extraction shots that would otherwise have an unpleasant taste due to the added roughness of the foam.
Currently on pre-order for 3,880 yen ($66) on the site Henry & Sons websiteBetter Vessel is still a 3D printed prototype, but made of food-safe materials, “fully functional and tested in professional conditions.” Once the injection molded versions go into production, early adopters who purchased the 3D printed Better will receive the updated version for free. Deliveries of prototypes are scheduled to begin early next year.
You may never get the chance to eat that super fancy coffee that all the World Barista Championship competitors apply, but at least now you can prepare your shots the same way. You can also just scoop the foam with a spoon (bonus points if it’s a chilly freezer spoon to lock in the volatile flavors like the characters do), but where’s the fun in that?
More information can be found on the Henry & Sons website official website.
