Massimo Hakim is the Founder and CEO of Mikah, an Italian Coffee Brand. Mikah has been providing premium coffee since 1984. They provide unique coffee with different blends finding roots of origin in the coffee in Arab countries. The company also has social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Proving coffee is not only work for Mr. Massimo Hakim. Instead, it’s a passion for him and Mikah team. Together, they select coffee from the best farms having the best origins. They use sophisticated roasting methods and exceptional blending methods that provide a deliciously excellent coffee as a result. Not only that, but Massimo Hakim with his team also focuses on providing coffee that even beginners can make. They ensure that everyone can enjoy the coffee they provide.
We loved the initiatives of Mr. Massimo Hakim and his business ways. You can also learn more about Mikah and how Massimo Hakim provides the services through our interview with him below.
What are your goals?
Mikah has been an Italian coffee brand with roasting facilities since 1984. Our all-time primary goal is to share the culture of coffee worldwide, particularly Italian espresso, the country where Mikah was born. Our traditional fundamentals are based on Quality. Therefore our goals are to offer excellence in the cup and beyond continually.
What do you think is the greatest strength in yourself / your company right now?
The love and passion for what we do, determination and thinking globally.
Along with that, Mikah team is passionate and professional, following our values, supporting all our Mikah friends around the world. These are the primary key to our success.
We have been traveling the world since we were born, and it is fascinating always to know new cultures, flavors, and traditions. Each of them always leaves us something, and it is amazing how these values get transmitted in what we do. From all this, for example, all the Specialty coffee, or our Turkish coffee and its variants with cardamom and Chios mastic, and the Specialty Coffee in Hanging Ear – single portions.
What was the path you / your company took to get to where you are today?
The coffee world is so fascinating. We always learn and apply what we learn in our roastery. In addition, we have started from a small roaster of only 5Kg.
Today our coffee and our entire range of products are present in more than 46 countries worldwide.
Why did you start (or want to be the head of) this company?
When you have a dream, and you strongly believe in that dream, you become unstoppable until the dream becomes true. Therefore, on the 11th of December in 1984, I gave myself an early Christmas present, a small roasting machine with a 5 kg capacity, and this was a new beginning.
What have been the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome?
2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Furthermore, it was challenging for almost all industries. However, despite this, we spent that time constantly trying to improve our production techniques and create new products and blends. As a result, we defined and expanded the entire line of products dedicated to bartending during the lockdown, which was then launched in 2021.
Give us a word that best describes you.
Resilience.
What makes you excited about Mondays?
The first coffee on Monday morning is a special occasion to organize the whole week together with the Mikah team.
What do you value most about your culture and vision?
Italian coffee culture is very well recognized worldwide. We have chosen to be citizens of the world, not only Italian. Now, we have round knowledge about the international coffee market and different ways of roasting, brewing, and enjoying each cup of coffee.
Our goal is to see a smile on our customers’ faces. It means we are doing something good.
Tell us about a project that forced you to be innovative and creative.
Last year we launched the Specialty Coffee line to be prepared with the Hanging Ear filter. We prepare single-serving sachets with fine Specialty single-origin coffee from some of the most important crops globally, such as Ethiopia, Panama, and Indonesia. We have chosen this method to simplify preparation as much as possible. In addition, it allows even less experienced people to enjoy a cup of specialty coffee. Hook the sachet to the cup, pour hot water over it, and it’s ready to enjoy.
What are your company's strategies and how do they stand unique from your competitors?
Mikah is not just gourmet coffee but an experience. From the beginning, we wanted to have a full range of products for our clients and to offer them a one-stop-shop.
The differentiation of products allows us to cover an essential slice of the HORECA sector. Cafes, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and lounge bars can express all their creativity thanks to a complete range of products ranging from traditional Gourmet coffee to powdered chocolate, over 35 flavors of premium syrups to premium fruit purees, up to the delicious topping sauces.
What are the key values that helped you overcome the roadblocks / challenges in your career?
Passion, optimism, and team choice. Surrounded by good people and fully understanding Mikah’s vision was undoubtedly an important factor in tackling every obstacle with determination. Together, over a good cup of coffee helps to accomplish every challenge easily.
Tell us something about your memorable incident in your leadership?
When you are dealing with a lot of people, it is not always possible to understand the true nature of an individual. This can lead to mistakes in choosing your team, people you can trust.
How do you see the company changing in two years and how do you see yourself creating that change?
We have many projects and many ideas in mind, and probably two years is a short time to realize them all. Not being able to anticipate anything, I can only say that we will further enrich our presence in the Middle East during 2022. Stay tuned!
Where is your leadership going? What benefits do your customers get from your company in this competitive world?
We always want to live up to our customers, so we constantly adapt to their needs. This allows us to grow and expand our range of coffee products and other SKUs from Mikah’s range of products. I would say that we do it better!
What services / solutions or products does your company offer in line with current industry standards? Tell us something about your upcoming products or services?
We will continue to spread the specialty coffee culture with new packaging and formats to strengthen our presence in the bartending and mixology sector. We will do it with new and exclusive proposals such as our date purees, yuzu, pink grapefruit, or the new flavors of butterfly pea and rosemary syrups. Our range of accessories is also being updated, new and colorful collections in true Mikah style will be available soon!
