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 961 - Part 1 of 5 | Surviving 2025 as a Café Owner: Values-Driven Hospitality (Carol Salloum)

    17 HR AGO

    EP 961 - Part 1 of 5 | Surviving 2025 as a Café Owner: Values-Driven Hospitality (Carol Salloum)

    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.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 Episode Description This is Part 1 of a five-part series with Carol Salloum, cofounder of 3Tomatoes and Almond Bar in Sydney, Australia. In Surviving 2025 and 2026 as a Café Owner, we explore what navigating one of the most volatile years in hospitality actually looked like inside a functioning, community-driven café business. Carol shares how 2025 unfolded beyond rising coffee prices. Electricity, gas, ingredients, wages, staffing challenges, and emotional pressure from customers all compounded at once. We discuss how café owners were forced to make difficult pricing decisions, how pop-up dinners were used to stabilize revenue, and why simply raising menu prices rarely covers the full increase in operating costs. We also explore how the Australian coffee industry is shifting, why profitability is becoming harder even for experienced operators, and how Gen Z staffing dynamics require more emotional leadership and energy from business owners than ever before. This episode sets the foundation for the series by grounding the conversation in lived experience rather than theory. If you are a café owner, hospitality operator, or industry professional trying to understand what survival actually required in 2025, this conversation will resonate. Connect with Carol Salloum and 3Tomatoes here:https://www.instagram.com/3tomatoesau/https://www.3tomatoescafe.com/ *************************************** 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
  2. EP 960 – Part 5 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Volatility — Is There a Future? - Ana Donneys

    3 DAYS AGO

    EP 960 – Part 5 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Volatility — Is There a Future? - Ana Donneys

    Advertising SponsorJoin the Map It Forward Patreon Monthly Live Discussion Group and network with other like-minded coffee professionals and business owners from around the world and across the value chain https://patreon.com/mapitforward Episode Description This is the final episode of our five-part series with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo. We examine the short-term, medium-term, and long-term outlook for smallholder producers if volatility continues. Ana explains that while the C market price is falling, farm-level costs, climate instability, and currency fluctuations remain. She discusses the need for producers to detach their pricing from corporate commodity structures and to assert pricing based on their real cost of production. We also explore acquisition strategies, the shrinking number of hectares dedicated to coffee, and the misconception that supply will suddenly flood the market. Finally, Ana speaks about hope. Technology, AI tools at farm level, knowledge-sharing between producers, transparency, and collaboration across the value chain are the forces that may define the next decade of coffee. Volatility is not ending. The future depends on whether the industry chooses to respond collectively. Guest links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/ Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/ *************************************** 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
  3. EP 959 – Part 4 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Volatility — Redistributing Risk - Ana Donneys

    4 DAYS AGO

    EP 959 – Part 4 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Volatility — Redistributing Risk - Ana Donneys

    Advertising SponsorLooking to advertise your business on a Map It Forward podcast? Email us at support@mapitforward.org or DM us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/ Episode Description This is Part 4 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo in Colombia. In this episode, we move from diagnosis to responsibility. After examining yield loss, currency shifts, financial market instability, and the lived experience of volatility, we now ask what it will take to move forward together as value chain partners. Ana emphasizes that redistribution of risk will only come through real conversations across the value chain. Producers must understand the pressures faced by roasters and buyers, but buyers must also understand that smallholders are carrying climate, currency, and market risk simultaneously. She also speaks directly to producers. This is a moment where smallholder farmers must see themselves not as “the poor part” of the supply chain, but as business owners. That means improving efficiency, understanding cost structures, adopting regenerative practices, using data, and leveraging new tools including AI to forecast production and manage risk more intelligently. We also discuss generational transition. If the next generation of producers does not see a viable value proposition in coffee, they will leave. And if producers decide not to sell when conditions are unfair, the industry must be prepared for that reality. This episode challenges every stakeholder. Producers must grow into their power. Roasters must understand they operate in a commodity business, not just hospitality. Consumers must be educated about what cheap coffee truly costs at origin. Moving forward requires courage, transparency, innovation, and shared responsibility. Guest links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/ Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/ *************************************** 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

    26 min
  4. EP 958 – Part 3 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and “High Prices” — Barely Breaking Even - Ana Donneys

    5 DAYS AGO

    EP 958 – Part 3 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and “High Prices” — Barely Breaking Even - Ana Donneys

    Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by The Honduran Coffee Alliance, connecting Honduran coffee producers with global buyers in a fair, sustainable, and commercially viable way.WhatsApp: https://wa.me/50487350786Email: sean@hondurancoffeealliance.com Episode Description This is Part 3 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo in Colombia. In this episode, we examine what “high prices” actually mean at farm level. After experiencing yield reduction, rising input costs, currency devaluation, and increasing financial pressure, Ana explains that recent price levels have not translated into meaningful profitability. For many producers, these prices have barely covered cost of production. We explore the role of currency exchange in shaping margins, including how contracts signed in US dollars interact with expenses paid in Colombian pesos. We also discuss the hidden costs of marketing, trade shows, and relationship-building — investments producers must make to sustain direct trade relationships. The conversation widens into financial market mechanics. Coffee futures pricing is influenced not only by supply and demand fundamentals, but also by hedge fund positioning, margin calls, currency trades, and macroeconomic forces unrelated to farm production. These second-order financial effects can push prices down even when physical coffee remains scarce. For smallholder farmers, these shifts are not abstract. They create uncertainty in planning, cash flow pressure, and concern about long-term viability. Ana closes this episode by stating clearly: these are not high prices. They are prices that barely cover cost. If we do not separate financial market volatility from farm-level economics, we risk misunderstanding what sustainability truly requires. Guest links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/ Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/ *************************************** 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
  5. EP 957 – Part 2 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Direct Trade — The Real Cost of “Direct” - Ana Donneys

    6 DAYS AGO

    EP 957 – Part 2 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Direct Trade — The Real Cost of “Direct” - Ana Donneys

    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.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 Episode Description This is Part 2 of our five-part series with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo. Direct trade is often framed as the solution to structural imbalance in coffee. In this episode, we unpack what it actually requires from a smallholder producer. Ana explains that direct trade takes years to build. It requires aligned values, transparent communication, and strong relationships. It also requires significant capital. Producers must sustain operations for months while waiting for contracts to be fulfilled and payments to clear. Unlike traditional cooperative sales, which may provide faster liquidity, direct trade can amplify short-term financial stress, particularly during volatile periods. We also explore how climate volatility compounds this stress. Rising unpredictability in rainfall patterns, yield instability, and multi-year climate disruption create structural fragility that direct trade alone cannot solve. This episode offers a grounded perspective on how direct trade functions in practice — and who carries the burden when volatility increases. Guest links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/ Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/ *************************************** 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
  6. EP 956 – Part 1 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Volatility — What “High Prices” Really Mean - Ana Donneys

    23 FEB

    EP 956 – Part 1 of 5: Smallholder Coffee Farmers and Volatility — What “High Prices” Really Mean - Ana Donneys

    Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Arkena Coffee Marketplace, connecting you to the next coffee harvest in Ethiopia through direct trade.https://arkenacoffee.com/https://www.instagram.com/arkenacoffee/Email: hello@arkenacoffee.com Episode Description This is Part 1 of a five-part series, The Reality of Being a Smallholder Coffee Farmer in Volatility, with Ana Donneys from Cafe Primitivo. In this opening conversation, we unpack what volatility truly means for smallholder producers. Volatility is often discussed in relation to the C market, futures prices, or export trends. For smallholder farmers, however, volatility is lived through yield loss caused by climate shifts, rising fertiliser and labour costs, unpredictable exchange rate movements, and limited access to financial risk management tools. Ana shares a real example of signing a direct trade contract at what appeared to be a strong exchange rate, only to experience a significant drop in yield and a peso devaluation that altered her cost structure dramatically. When production volume drops, cost per pound increases immediately. When currency shifts, the value of revenue changes in local terms. When labour and inputs rise, margins tighten further. In this context, high global coffee prices do not automatically translate into stability or profitability. The conversation also addresses the structural gap between corporate farms, which may have access to hedging instruments or financial advisors, and smallholder producers who cannot afford the capital required to participate in those tools. This episode reframes “high prices” by grounding them in the layered financial realities of farm-level economics. Guest links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/ Website: https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/ *************************************** 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
  7. EP 955 – Part 5 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Harvest — Buying Strategy & Dollar Risk - Matthew Thornton

    20 FEB

    EP 955 – Part 5 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Harvest — Buying Strategy & Dollar Risk - Matthew Thornton

    Advertising Sponsor: Looking to join an interesting monthly live coffee industry online meetup? Exclusively for “Roasted Coffee” Patreon backers. https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward Episode Description This is Part 5 of a five-part series, The 2026 Ethiopian Coffee Harvest, with Matthew Thornton, founder of Arkena Coffee Market. After examining harvest outlook, pricing structures, stakeholder dynamics, and exporter fragility, this final episode turns to strategy. If you are sourcing Ethiopian coffee in 2026, preparation matters more than optimism. Matthew explains why specialty prices may feel uncomfortable this year and why buyers should be prepared for sticker shock. We discuss how regional shifts in production affect purchasing decisions, how western volumes may offset eastern tightness, and how quality management risk changes in a bumper crop year. The conversation also widens to currency exposure. A weakening US dollar, foreign exchange controls, and Ethiopia’s pricing architecture create structural complexity for international buyers. We explore how macroeconomic forces, including speculation in commodity markets, could add volatility to coffee pricing this year. This episode closes the series by connecting origin realities to global financial dynamics. If you buy, trade, import, or roast Ethiopian coffee, this discussion is about positioning yourself intelligently for 2026. Guest LinksArkena Coffee Market: https://arkenacoffee.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkenacoffee/ *************************************** 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

    28 min
  8. EP 954 – Part 4 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Harvest — Trade, Currency & Survival Risk - Matthew Thornton

    19 FEB

    EP 954 – Part 4 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Harvest — Trade, Currency & Survival Risk - Matthew Thornton

    Advertising Sponsor: This 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.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 Episode Description This is Part 4 of a five-part series, The 2026 Ethiopian Coffee Harvest, with Matthew Thornton, founder of Arkena Coffee Market. In this episode, we examine the downside scenario: what happens if the harvest does not perform as expected, or if exporters miscalculate demand and pricing. Matthew explains that while many farmers have already benefited from high cherry prices this season, exporters, especially specialty-focused unions and cooperatives, are operating in what he calls a survival year Those who purchased aggressively without secured markets may be forced into secondary mills, accepting thinner margins or losses. Meanwhile, larger exporters with import businesses can absorb coffee losses because Ethiopia’s export system allows them to retain foreign currency, which can be leveraged in other import-based ventures The conversation also turns to a deeper structural issue: the specialty industry often views itself through a quality lens, while much of origin trade operates through commodity and currency logic. When prices surge, farmers may deprioritize specialty differentiation. When prices fall, liquidity becomes the dominant concern. This episode is about trade mechanics, currency incentives, and what truly determines survival in Ethiopia’s 2026 harvest. Guest LinksArkena Coffee Market: https://arkenacoffee.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkenacoffee/ *************************************** 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

    29 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
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 MAP IT FORWARD | All Rights Reserved 512477
  • Show Website
    MAP IT FORWARD Middle East