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 for this series is US-based industry veteran, Madeleine Longoria Garcia. Having returned from the SCA Expo in Chicago, this series is focused on exploring 'The Conversations We're Not Having in Coffee That We Should Be Having". In this episode of the series, Madeleine and Lee have a reflective conversation on the state of the coffee industry, sparked by observations from the recent Expo in Chicago. They discuss the noticeable excess and lavish spending within the industry, questioning the sustainability and message being conveyed to the outside world when equipment manufacturers are emboldened to create 24 ct gold espresso machines while the majority of the supply chain is in crisis. Madeleine shares her experiences and concerns as a veteran in the coffee world, touching upon topics like direct trade, the cyclical nature of new and exciting industry participants, and the need for actionable change beyond conversations. They also delve into the broader implications of the coffee crisis, the role of large corporations, and the impact of industry events like expos on new and existing business owners. The conversation calls for a reevaluation of priorities within the coffee community, focusing more on meaningful action and support for producers to ensure the industry's future sustainability. 00:00 Intro: Reflecting on the Excess of the Coffee Industry 00:55 Coffee Consultant Workshop 02:13 Diving Deep into Expo Experiences and Industry Realities 06:17 The Stark Contrast of Expo Parties and Industry Challenges 17:03 Exploring the Cyclical Nature of Coffee Industry Enthusiasm 21:17 Addressing the Crisis in the Coffee Industry 37:29 Concluding Thoughts and a Call to Action Connect with Madeleine Longoria Garcia here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleinelg/ https://www.instagram.com/madeleine.mlg/ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 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