EP 1132 George Howell - The Coffee Industry According To George Howell - The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward

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/ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Support this podcast on Patreon for a few dollars a month here: https://bit.ly/MIFPatreon 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 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 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