We’re in a change or die moment across the industry, and even more established companies are having to rethink everything to make sure the numbers all add up. The rising c-market price, in particular, is throwing everyone for a loop, but there are other pressures that are forcing leaders to stay on their toes.

I asked Anne Djerai, CEO of Metropolis Coffee, to come on the podcast and talk about what it’s like to be what we end up calling a ‘wartime CEO’.

We talk about how to respond to changing conditions effectively. We talk about planning for a possible $5 green price, and how that affects their different business lines. What happens when your green coffee broker defaults, how to make hard choices as a business leader, and how the distinctions between commercial and specialty coffee are being chipped away over time.

If you’d like to learn what it’s like to lead your coffee business right through the storm effectively, this episode is a must listen. And if you like the podcast, make sure to hit subscribe wherever you’re listening.

Thanks to this season’s sponsor, SumUp, a modern point of sale system for cafes.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Change in Specialty Coffee03:00 The Journey to CEO: Challenges and Growth06:11 Market Dynamics: Specialty vs. Commodity Coffee08:47 Responding to Market Pressures and Price Adjustments12:01 Looking Ahead: Trends and Predictions for 202515:05 The Impact of Rising Costs on Business Models25:46 Navigating Coffee Pricing and Market Challenges28:02 Leadership in Wartime: The CEO Experience31:35 Building a Trusting Team During Tough Times33:10 Empathy as a Leadership Tool35:07 The Complexities of the CEO Title36:37 Understanding Broker Defaults and Their Impact39:46 The Role of AI in Coffee Supply Chain44:20 The Churchill Duck: A Symbol of Leadership47:31 Advice for Emerging Leaders

Where To Find Anne

Metropolis Coffee website

Anne Djerai on LinkedIn

Metropolis Coffee on Instagram

Metropolis Workshop (the co-packing arm of Metropolis Coffee)

Mentioned in the Episode

Gemini for Google Suite (the AI tool Anne uses for email management and organization)

EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) (a management framework by Geno Wickman)

Churchill Duck (the rubber duck)

The Coffee Think Tank podcast is a show about trends, ideas, and innovations in coffee by Fresh Cup, hosted by Garrett Oden. Subscribe to Fresh Cup for more industry insights at freshcup.com.