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 Industry00:14 Sponsored Segment: Becoming a Coffee Consultant00:53 Introducing the Series and Special Guest Kat Melheim01:16 Kat Melheim's Journey in Coffee Education06:57 The Role of Ego in Coffee Competitions and Business08:54 Navigating the Tightrope of Ego and Marketing15:19 The Impact of Competitions on Personal Growth and Community19:50 Building Alternatives to Competitions in the Coffee Industry22:06 The Challenges of Creating Impactful Projects Without Ego23:42 Teaser for the Next Episode: Gatekeeping and TransparencyConnect with Kat here:https://www.instagram.com/roasterkat https://www.youtube.com/@roasterkat •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 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 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••?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 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••? Looking for a consultant for your coffee business? Contact us here: https://mapitforward.coffee/consulting ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••? Want to become a coffee consultant? Start your learning journey here: https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••? Check out the audio version of our podcast here:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3LgSXio Spotify: https://spoti.fi/34ILPus Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/34mzcVV Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3J2sOSg ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••? Watch the podcast on Youtube: https://bit.ly/3ouyFYW ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with us:? email: support @ mapitforward.org? Website https://mapitforward.coffee/contact ? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ ? Join our mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••