This is the 3rd 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 podcast series, Kat and Lee discuss the complex dynamic between coffee roasters and producers.
They emphasize the importance of not imposing roasting methodologies onto producers, especially given the producers' extensive experience and experimentation with processing methods.
The episode highlights the detrimental effects of roasters dictating practices without understanding local contexts or the potential harm to the environment, using the example of introducing Koji in Colombia.
Furthermore, it advocates for respectful, curious engagement with producers, urging industry professionals to visit origins to better appreciate the coffee cultivation process and foster meaningful connections.
The conversation also criticizes certain social media behaviors that distract from the crucial issues facing coffee producers.
Overall, the episode stresses the benefits of learning and partnership over imposition in the coffee industry.
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