EP 704 Anne Djerai - The Myths Around Larger Specialty Coffee Businesses - The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward

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Welcome to the 4th episode of a five-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro by the Map It Forward Podcast, hosted by Lee Safar.

Our guest in this series is Anne Djerai, the CEO of Metropolis Coffee Company, based in Chicago. Anne was invited to the podcast after a recent LinkedIn post describing the impact of market volatility on a company like Metropolis Coffee Company which has been around for 20+ years.

The 5 episodes in this series are:

1. 2024 Has Been Different For Coffee CEOs - https://youtu.be/cA-tqPCzqoA

2. The Role Change Is Playing in 2024 in Coffee - https://youtu.be/OxJ2_LVAL0A

3. The Impact of Chaos On A Larger Coffee Company - https://youtu.be/PqQAZwMwFz0

4. The Myths Around Larger Specialty Coffee Businesses - https://youtu.be/ZUaK-5nixIU

5. The Reality of The Next 10 Years In Coffee - https://youtu.be/ICc19e7xRC4

In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Lee and Anne explore complex themes around the coffee industry, such as the challenges and misconceptions associated with selling to big retailers like Costco.

Ann explains the rigorous operational and pricing standards required to penetrate Costco's market and defends the decision against accusations of 'selling out.' The discussion also tackles the inherent conflict between grocery retail and specialty coffee, largely fueled by the industry's self-imposed myths regarding coffee quality and freshness.

Additionally, Ann shares insightful strategies on how Metropolis has adapted through innovation, such as producing compostable Nespresso capsules, and emphasizes the importance of strong partnerships in the supply chain.

With references to past episodes and other influential figures in the industry, this engaging conversation is a deep dive into the evolving landscape and future of specialty coffee.

00:00 Introduction to the Costco Dilemma

01:27 Mastermind Groups Announcement

02:45 Series Introduction and Industry Confusion

04:27 Debunking Myths in Specialty Coffee

08:12 Innovations and Adaptations in Coffee

15:56 Supplier Relationships and Business Ethics

20:39 Character and Leadership in Business

23:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Anne and Metropolis Coffee Company here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-djerai-8b4a63b1/

https://www.metropoliscoffee.com/

https://www.instagram.com/metropoliscoffeeco/

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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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