Monogram's Director of Coffee, Jill Hoff, is officially Canada's 2026 National Barista Champion! 🇨🇦

The competition took place June 12-14th in Calgary, Alberta, where Jill earned the national title with a thoughtful, deeply personal, and technically accomplished performance. This marks Jill's second Canadian National Barista Championship, having first won in 2020 when she became the first Canadian woman ever to earn the title. We're incredibly proud to see Jill once again represent Monogram and Canada on the national stage!

Making this victory even more meaningful, Monogram had the honour of hosting this year's Canadian National Barista Championship alongside the Specialty Coffee Association of Canada at Schoolhouse Roastery. Welcoming Canada's best baristas into our own space and celebrating Jill's victory with our community made for an unforgettable weekend.

Jill's routine explored the idea of DNA: both the genetics that shape coffee and the personal journey that led her to discover coffee as part of her own identity. Through the themes of discovery, narrative, and adventure, she showcased two remarkable coffees whose unique genetics helped tell that story.

For her espresso course, Jill presented a blend of an anaerobic natural Chakira from Las Brujas, one of Kotowa's farms in Panama, and an anaerobic natural Liberica from Reza Nurullah in Temanggung, Java, Indonesia. Her milk beverage featured the Liberica on its own, paired with freeze-distilled milk to highlight its sweetness while exploring the remarkable potential of this resilient coffee species. For her signature beverage, Jill returned to the Chakira, combining chilled shots of espresso with vanilla, orange peel, and star anise to reflect the botanical sweetness and character found within Liberica, bringing the story of her routine full circle.

Behind these coffees are producers whose work continues to shape the future of specialty coffee. Ricardo Koyner and the Kotowa team continue to push coffee forward through experimentation with new varieties, processing techniques, and agricultural practices across their farms in Panama. Meanwhile, Reza Nurullah has become globally recognized for transforming how the specialty coffee industry views Liberica through his pioneering work with fermentation and processing in Indonesia. Jill's routine celebrated not only remarkable coffees, but also the producers whose curiosity and dedication made them possible.

Jill's performance was supported by Monogram co-founder and seven-time Canadian National Barista Champion Ben Put, who coached her throughout the competition. Their partnership reflects years of collaboration, mentorship, and a shared commitment to continually raising the bar for specialty coffee in Canada.

The Canadian National Barista Championship is a high-pressure competition where baristas have 15 minutes to serve 12 drinks — four espressos, four milk-based drinks, and four signature beverages — while presenting a compelling story that connects their coffee to a broader idea. It's a celebration of skill, creativity, and the vibrant community behind specialty coffee.

This October, Jill will represent Canada at the World Barista Championship in Panama, competing alongside national champions from more than 50 countries. We couldn't be more excited to cheer her on as she shares her story, her coffees, and Canada's incredible coffee community on the world stage.