MAP IT FORWARD Middle East

MAP IT FORWARD
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The Map It Forward Middle East Podcast explores the business of coffee across the Middle East, featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, producers, and professionals building the future of the region’s coffee industry. Hosted by Dubai-based Map It Forward founder Lee Safar, each five-episode series highlights one guest's journey, offering practical insights, regional context, and candid discussions that reflect the evolving global coffee landscape. Episodes are released daily at 6 am local UAE time. The video version of the podcast can be found on our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/mapitforward Our website https://www.mapitforward.coffee/middleeastpodcast

  1. EP 1049 Part 4 of 5 | The Global Events That Could Change Your Coffee Business (Lee Safar) | Map It Forward

    10 hr ago

    EP 1049 Part 4 of 5 | The Global Events That Could Change Your Coffee Business (Lee Safar) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorMIF Coffee Business Plan Review Service: AI can write a business plan. We'll help you determine whether it will work in the real world. Email support@mapitforward.org or DM @mapitforward.coffee to get started. Episode Description This is Part 4 of a 5-part solo series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, with founder and host, Lee Safar. For many years, the coffee industry has treated geopolitics as somebody else's problem. Wars, elections, shipping disruptions, sovereign debt and currency movements were seen as issues for governments, economists and financial markets. Today, they are becoming business issues for every participant in the coffee supply chain. In this episode, Lee explores why understanding geopolitics has become essential for coffee businesses. From the Strait of Hormuz and global energy markets to fertilizer prices, shipping costs, currencies and political uncertainty in producing countries, she explains how events taking place thousands of kilometres away can directly influence the cost of producing, moving and buying coffee. Rather than focusing on headlines, this episode examines the mechanisms that connect global events to everyday business decisions. Lee discusses why markets and economics are often telling very different stories, why rising production costs may not be reflected in coffee prices, and how uncertainty creates new risks for producers, exporters, importers, roasters and cafés alike. This episode encourages coffee professionals to broaden their perspective beyond the coffee industry itself. Because building a resilient coffee business today requires understanding not only what's happening in coffee, but what's happening in the world around it. Connect with Lee Safar and Map It Forward here: - https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee - https://www.instagram.com/leesafar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leesafar - https://mapitforward.coffee If you found this episode valuable, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and follow along for the rest of this 5-part series. In the next episode, we explore how global geopolitics is impacting food supply chains. *************************************** About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain. Website: https://mapitforward.coffee Mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Contact: support@mapitforward.org

    23 min
  2. EP 1048 Part 3 of 5 | Technology Is Shifting Power in Coffee | Map It Forward (Lee Safar) | Map It Forward

    1 day ago

    EP 1048 Part 3 of 5 | Technology Is Shifting Power in Coffee | Map It Forward (Lee Safar) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorWant to join our Map It Forward Monthly Community Discussion Group? Head to https://patreon.com/mapitforward to join the community by signing up for the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry. This community is open to all stakeholders in the coffee industry Episode Description This is Part 3 of a 5-part solo series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, with founder and host, Lee Safar. Artificial intelligence has dominated conversations about technology over the past year, but the biggest transformation taking place in coffee isn't AI itself. It's the way technology is changing access to information, lowering barriers to entry, and redistributing power across the coffee value chain. In this episode, Lee explores how producers are finding new ways to connect directly with customers, how language barriers are disappearing, and why traditional advantages built on access to information are becoming less valuable than they once were. She also examines how technology is changing the way coffee businesses build relationships, make decisions, and compete in an increasingly connected world. Rather than asking whether technology will replace jobs, this conversation asks a more important question: what happens when technology changes who holds the power? From independent producers and small businesses to multinational corporations, every participant in the coffee industry is being challenged to rethink where they create value. This episode builds on the discussions around liquidity and changing consumer behaviour by exploring one of the biggest accelerators of change in coffee today. Technology isn't simply creating new tools. It's changing the structure of the industry itself. Connect with Lee Safar and Map It Forward here: - https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee - https://www.instagram.com/leesafar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leesafar - https://mapitforward.coffee If you found this episode valuable, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and follow along for the rest of this 5-part series. In the next episode, we explore how global geopolitics is impacting food supply chains. *************************************** About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain. Website: https://mapitforward.coffee Mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Contact: support@mapitforward.org

    24 min
  3. EP 1047 Part 2 of 5 | The Future of Coffee Depends on More Than Coffee (Lee Safar) | Map It Forward

    2 days ago

    EP 1047 Part 2 of 5 | The Future of Coffee Depends on More Than Coffee (Lee Safar) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorMIF Coffee Business Plan Review Service: AI can write a business plan. We'll help you determine whether it will work in the real world. Email support@mapitforward.org or DM @mapitforward.coffee to get started. Episode Description This is Part 2 of a 5-part solo series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, with founder and host Lee Safar. Consumer behaviour is changing. Not just because people have less disposable income, but because they're becoming more intentional about where they spend their money, who they buy from, and the values they expect businesses to represent. At the same time, producing countries are becoming consuming countries, technology is changing how people discover coffee, and traditional assumptions about demand are beginning to shift. In this episode, Lee explores why coffee businesses need to stop looking at consumer behaviour through yesterday's lens. The specialty coffee industry has spent years educating consumers about producers, transparency and value. Now those consumers are acting on that information in ways many businesses didn't anticipate. Drawing on observations from across the global coffee supply chain, Lee explains why growing coffee is no longer enough, why cafés are becoming beverage businesses, and why producers, exporters, roasters and cafés all need to rethink the value they create if they want to remain competitive over the coming years. This episode builds on the discussion around liquidity from Part 1 by examining another critical force shaping the future of coffee businesses: changing customer behaviour. Because understanding where demand is heading may prove just as important as understanding where coffee prices are heading. Connect with Lee Safar and Map It Forward here: - https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee - https://www.instagram.com/leesafar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leesafar - https://mapitforward.coffee If you found this episode valuable, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and follow along for the rest of this 5-part series. In the next episode, we explore how global geopolitics is impacting food supply chains. *************************************** About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain. Website: https://mapitforward.coffee Mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Contact: support@mapitforward.org

    19 min
  4. EP 1046 Part 1 of 5 | The Biggest Risk to Your Coffee Business Isn't Coffee Prices (Lee Safar) | Map It Forward

    3 days ago

    EP 1046 Part 1 of 5 | The Biggest Risk to Your Coffee Business Isn't Coffee Prices (Lee Safar) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Arcadia Green Coffee, Colombian coffee exporters taking fresh green coffee from Colombia to the world, farm to roastery, direct. New office now open in the UK.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 Episode Description This is Part 1 of a 5-part solo series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, with founder and host Lee Safar. Every day, coffee professionals are bombarded with headlines about the C Market. Prices rise. Prices fall. Analysts speculate about Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam and the next weather event that could move the market. But while the industry is watching coffee prices, many businesses are overlooking the issue that is far more likely to determine whether they survive the next 12 months: liquidity. In this opening episode, Lee challenges one of the most common assumptions in coffee, that coffee prices are the biggest threat to your business. Instead, she argues that businesses rarely fail because the market moves. They fail because they run out of cash. Drawing on her experience working with coffee businesses around the world, Lee explores why markets and economics are not the same thing, why businesses that appear busy can still be financially vulnerable, and why understanding your working capital, cash flow and access to capital has become essential in today's coffee industry. This episode lays the foundation for the rest of the series by encouraging coffee business owners to stop reacting to headlines and start paying attention to the underlying financial health of their business. Because if you're making decisions based only on coffee prices, you may already be solving the wrong problem. Connect with Lee Safar and Map It Forward here: - https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee - https://www.instagram.com/leesafar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leesafar - https://mapitforward.coffee If you found this episode valuable, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and follow along for the rest of this 5-part series. In the next episode, we explore how global geopolitics is impacting food supply chains. *************************************** About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain. Website: https://mapitforward.coffee Mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Contact: support@mapitforward.org

    22 min
  5. EP 1045 Part 5 of 5 | Coffee's Next 12 Months (Augusto Amaya) | Map It Forward

    6 days ago

    EP 1045 Part 5 of 5 | Coffee's Next 12 Months (Augusto Amaya) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Map It Forward Podcast Advertising. Interested in advertising on this podcast? Email support@mapitforward.org to learn more. Episode Description This is episode 5 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company working directly with coffee producers throughout Colombia while building long-term relationships with coffee roasters across Europe. Few topics have dominated coffee industry conversations over the past several years more than price volatility. Producers, traders, exporters, importers, roasters, and consumers have all experienced the effects of dramatic shifts in the coffee market. In this final episode of the series, Augusto shares his perspective on the factors that may influence coffee prices over the next twelve months and why the industry should prepare for continued uncertainty rather than expecting stability. The discussion explores the relationship between market cycles, production forecasts, weather events, global demand, and producer economics. Lee and Augusto also examine what recent price movements may be signalling and why the challenges facing coffee producers extend far beyond the numbers displayed on a commodity exchange. One of the central themes of this conversation is the growing importance of relationships. As supply chains face increasing pressure from climate events, changing production patterns, and economic uncertainty, businesses that have invested in long-term partnerships may find themselves in a stronger position than those relying solely on market opportunities. Whether coffee prices rise, fall, or remain volatile, the questions explored in this episode reach beyond forecasting. They invite us to consider what kind of coffee industry we are building and who will be best positioned to navigate whatever comes next. Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green Coffee Website: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/ WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 If you found this episode valuable, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and follow along for the rest of this 5-part series. In the next episode, we explore how global geopolitics is impacting food supply chains. *************************************** About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain. Website: https://mapitforward.coffee Mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Contact: support@mapitforward.org

    32 min
  6. EP 1044 Part 4 of 5 | Why The Market Ignores Colombia (Augusto Amaya) | Map It Forward

    25 Jun

    EP 1044 Part 4 of 5 | Why The Market Ignores Colombia (Augusto Amaya) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorWant to join our Map It Forward Monthly Community Discussion Group? Head to https://patreon.com/mapitforward to join the community by signing up for the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry. This community is open to all stakeholders in the coffee industry Episode Description This is episode 4 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company working directly with coffee producers throughout Colombia while building long-term relationships with coffee roasters across Europe. Brazil plays an enormous role in global coffee production, and when developments occur there, markets tend to react quickly. Colombia, despite being one of the world's most important producers of Arabica coffee, rarely receives the same attention. In this episode, Lee and Augusto explore why that disconnect exists and whether the coffee industry may be overlooking important information as a result. The conversation examines how commodity markets respond to production news, why some origins carry greater influence than others, and what happens when market attention becomes concentrated on only a handful of indicators. Augusto draws on his experience working directly with producers and roasters to explain why conditions in Colombia deserve far more attention than they currently receive. Throughout the discussion, they explore the difference between market perception and physical supply realities, highlighting how information flows through the coffee industry and why waiting for market reactions may not always be the most effective way to understand risk. For coffee businesses looking to make better sourcing, purchasing, and planning decisions, understanding what is happening beyond the headlines may become an increasingly valuable advantage. Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green Coffee Website: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/ WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 If you found this episode valuable, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and follow along for the rest of this 5-part series. In the next episode, we explore how global geopolitics is impacting food supply chains. *************************************** About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain. Website: https://mapitforward.coffee Mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Contact: support@mapitforward.org

    25 min
  7. EP 1043 Part 3 of 5 | Super El Niño & Coffee Risk (Augusto Amaya) | Map It Forward

    24 Jun

    EP 1043 Part 3 of 5 | Super El Niño & Coffee Risk (Augusto Amaya) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Map It Forward Podcast Advertising. Interested in advertising on this podcast? Email support@mapitforward.org to learn more. Episode Description This is episode 3 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company working directly with coffee producers throughout Colombia while building long-term relationships with coffee roasters across Europe. Climate has always influenced coffee production. What is changing is the scale, frequency, and severity of weather-related challenges facing coffee producers around the world. In this episode, Lee and Augusto explore growing concerns surrounding the recently declared Super El Niño and what it may mean for Colombia's coffee harvests in the months ahead. While weather forecasts can never predict outcomes with certainty, producers across several regions are already experiencing conditions that are raising questions about future yields and production volumes. The conversation examines how weather events influence coffee production at origin, why harvest forecasts matter throughout the supply chain, and how climate-related disruptions can create ripple effects for producers, exporters, importers, and roasters alike. Rather than focusing solely on worst-case scenarios, Augusto shares observations from conversations taking place throughout Colombia and explains how producers are preparing for increasing uncertainty. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding risk before it appears in market reports or reaches consuming countries. As climate volatility continues to reshape agricultural systems around the world, coffee professionals may need to become more comfortable understanding weather events not simply as environmental issues, but as business realities with far-reaching consequences. Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green Coffee Website: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/ WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 If you found this episode valuable, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and follow along for the rest of this 5-part series. In the next episode, we explore how global geopolitics is impacting food supply chains. *************************************** About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain. Website: https://mapitforward.coffee Mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Contact: support@mapitforward.org

    23 min
  8. EP 1042 Part 2 of 5 | Coffee, Politics & Colombia (Augusto Amaya) | Map It Forward

    23 Jun

    EP 1042 Part 2 of 5 | Coffee, Politics & Colombia (Augusto Amaya) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Arcadia Green Coffee, Colombian coffee exporters taking fresh green coffee from Colombia to the world, farm to roastery, direct. New office now open in the UK.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 Episode Description This is episode 2 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company working directly with coffee producers throughout Colombia while building long-term relationships with coffee roasters across Europe. Coffee is often discussed through the lens of weather, quality, logistics, and price. What receives far less attention is the role politics plays in shaping the conditions under which coffee producers operate. In this episode, Augusto shares his perspective on the political realities currently affecting coffee-growing regions in Colombia. From government policy and institutional relationships to security concerns and confidence within rural communities, political decisions often have consequences that extend well beyond election cycles. For coffee producers, political uncertainty can influence investment decisions, access to resources, and long-term planning. For exporters, importers, and roasters, these same factors can affect supply, stability, and the future of coffee-producing communities. Throughout the conversation, Lee and Augusto explore how political developments are being experienced on the ground, what coffee professionals outside Colombia may be overlooking, and why understanding these realities is becoming increasingly important for anyone seeking to build stronger supply chain relationships. While market reports may focus on prices and production figures, the human realities behind those numbers are often shaped by political decisions made far from the farm. This episode offers valuable insight into how those decisions are affecting coffee today and what they may mean for the future. Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green Coffee Website: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/ WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 If you found this episode valuable, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast and follow along for the rest of this 5-part series. In the next episode, we explore how global geopolitics is impacting food supply chains. *************************************** About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain. Website: https://mapitforward.coffee Mailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Contact: support@mapitforward.org

    27 min
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About

The Map It Forward Middle East Podcast explores the business of coffee across the Middle East, featuring conversations with entrepreneurs, producers, and professionals building the future of the region’s coffee industry. Hosted by Dubai-based Map It Forward founder Lee Safar, each five-episode series highlights one guest's journey, offering practical insights, regional context, and candid discussions that reflect the evolving global coffee landscape. Episodes are released daily at 6 am local UAE time. The video version of the podcast can be found on our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/mapitforward Our website https://www.mapitforward.coffee/middleeastpodcast

Information

  • Creator
    MAP IT FORWARD
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    301
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 MAP IT FORWARD | All Rights Reserved 512477
  • Show Website
    MAP IT FORWARD Middle East