This is the first episode of a five-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward Podcast, hosted by Map It Forward founder, Lee Safar.

Our guest in this series is well-known coffee educator and roaster, Kat Melheim also known on social media as @roasterkat. The theme of this series is "The Ego In Coffee".

In this episode of the series, Kat and Lee discuss the pervasive issue of ego within the coffee industry. The conversation delves into how competitions and the desire for success can be both a positive drive and a potential trap for ego inflation.

They also explore the impact of social media platforms and the importance of using them responsibly to educate and empower rather than perpetuate gatekeeping.

Kat shares her journey from starting as a roaster's apprentice to becoming a recognized coffee educator and founder of the Coffee People Zine, highlighting the challenges of finding credible roasting information and the importance of making learning accessible to everyone.

Additionally, the discussion touches on the benefits of competitions in producing countries and the need to create platforms that foster community and learning without the downsides of competition.

The episode also addresses the fine line between striving for success and succumbing to ego-driven motives, underscoring the complexities of personal motives and community impact in the coffee industry.

00:00 Exploring the Ego in the Coffee Industry

00:14 Sponsored Segment: Becoming a Coffee Consultant

00:53 Introducing the Series and Special Guest Kat Melheim

01:16 Kat Melheim's Journey in Coffee Education

06:57 The Role of Ego in Coffee Competitions and Business

08:54 Navigating the Tightrope of Ego and Marketing

15:19 The Impact of Competitions on Personal Growth and Community

19:50 Building Alternatives to Competitions in the Coffee Industry

22:06 The Challenges of Creating Impactful Projects Without Ego

23:42 Teaser for the Next Episode: Gatekeeping and Transparency

Connect with Kat here:

https://www.instagram.com/roasterkat

https://www.youtube.com/@roasterkat

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The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward Podcast Host: Lee Safar

https://www.mapitforward.coffee

https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee

https://www.instagram.com/leesafar

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🤑 This episode is brought to you by Map It Forward's revised on-demand online workshop "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" available now on our website with additional new bonus material including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops

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💡Support this podcast, watch this episode without sponsor messages by becoming a paid member of this YouTube channel or joining our community on our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward

For more information about MAP IT FORWARD go to https://www.mapitforward.coffee or https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/