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 on the podcast this week is George Howell founder of George Howell Coffee, Coffee Connection and co-founder of Cup of Excellence.

In this series, given George is a founder of the specialty coffee industry, we're exploring "The Coffee Industry According To George Howell" for a second year in a row. We traverse many different aspects of the industry in this series and try to explore how we got here, where we're at, and where we think it's going.

In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Lee and George dive deep into the history and evolution of the specialty coffee industry, discussing Howell's pioneering efforts with Coffee Connection in Harvard Square, the birth of the Frappuccino, and the current state of the coffee industry.

Howell shares his thoughts on whether the industry is in crisis and emphasizes the importance of education, storytelling, and quality in bridging the gap between farmers and consumers.

The episode also explores the challenges faced by coffee producers and offers insights into engaging the modern coffee consumer.

00:00 Introduction and Current State of the Coffee Industry

00:33 Sponsorship Message and Episode Introduction

01:12 Welcoming George Howell

01:54 George Howell's Background and Early Career

04:06 The Birth of Coffee Connection

07:50 Challenges and Innovations in Coffee Roasting

12:19 The Evolution of Coffee Pricing and Market Dynamics

17:32 The Impact of the Brazilian Frost on Coffee Supply

21:37 Challenges Faced by Coffee Producers

22:07 Disconnect Between Farmers and Their Product

25:19 The Impact of Frappuccino on Coffee Shops

27:32 The Importance of Black Coffee

29:42 Educating Consumers Through Cupping

32:21 Creating a Coffee Tasting Experience

35:08 Engaging Consumers in Specialty Coffee

41:44 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

Connect with George Howell and George Howell Coffee here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-howell-95646b2/

https://www.instagram.com/ghowellcoffee/

https://georgehowellcoffee.com/

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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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