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 952 – Part 2 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Harvest - The New Pricing System - Matthew Thornton

    16H AGO

    EP 952 – Part 2 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Harvest - The New Pricing System - Matthew Thornton

    Advertising Sponsor: This 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 2 of a five-part series, The 2026 Ethiopian Coffee Harvest, with Matthew Thornton, founder of Arkena Coffee Market. In this episode, we explore what makes Ethiopia unique as a coffee trading origin. Unlike most producing countries, Ethiopia operates under a government-mandated export pricing system. Each week, the Coffee and Tea Authority publishes a minimum export price list by grade, region, and processing method. Exporters are not permitted to sign contracts below those thresholds. The system was introduced to prevent underpricing, protect foreign currency inflows, and reduce capital leakage through sister companies abroad. The result is a market where pricing trends upward until it temporarily moves out of alignment with buyers, followed by periodic corrections. We discuss how this structure changes power dynamics, why it reduces dependence on pure C-market pricing, and what buyers should expect from Ethiopia’s 2026 harvest. If you source Ethiopian coffee, this episode provides critical context. 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

    25 min
  2. EP 951 – Part 1 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Coffee Harvest - Matthew Thornton

    1D AGO

    EP 951 – Part 1 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Coffee Harvest - Matthew Thornton

    Advertising Sponsor: This 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 1 of a five-part series, The 2026 Ethiopian Coffee Harvest, with Matthew Thornton, founder of Arkena Coffee Market. In this episode, the conversation focuses on the structural overview of the 2026 harvest. Eastern regions are experiencing reduced volumes, western regions are seeing stronger yields, quality is generally positive, and pricing has surged due to currency shifts, liquidity constraints, and increased competition in the cherry market. 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

    24 min
  3. EP 950 – Part 5 of 5: Coffee Farms in 10 Years — Prosperity or Survival - Pedro Manga

    4D AGO

    EP 950 – Part 5 of 5: Coffee Farms in 10 Years — Prosperity or Survival - Pedro Manga

    Advertising Sponsor: Interested in advertising on a Map It Forward podcast?Email: support@mapitforward.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee Episode Description: This is Part 5 of a five-part series, Coffee Farms in a Decade from Now, with Pedro Manga from Caravela Coffee. In this concluding episode, the focus shifts to long-term futures for coffee farming. Pedro and Lee discuss prosperity versus survival, why most producers are locked into short-term decision-making, and how climate change, genetics, migration, and succession are reshaping coffee landscapes. The episode closes with a clear message: coffee’s future depends on whether producers are given the ability to dream, invest, and plan beyond today. Guest linksPedro Manga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-manga-5802b8170/Caravela Coffee: https://www.caravela.coffee/enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caravelacoffee/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pedroplanta_/ *************************************** 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
  4. EP 949 – Part 4 of 5: The Myths of Direct Trade and Transparency in Coffee - Pedro Manga

    5D AGO

    EP 949 – Part 4 of 5: The Myths of Direct Trade and Transparency in Coffee - Pedro Manga

    Advertising Sponsor: This 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 4 of a five-part series, Coffee Farms in a Decade from Now, with Pedro Manga from Caravela Coffee. In this episode, the conversation focuses on direct trade, traceability, and transparency. Pedro explains why the number of intermediaries is not the issue — evidence is. From farm gate pricing to data integrity, the episode challenges the industry to move beyond marketing claims and into accountable, traceable sourcing relationships. The video referenced in this episode can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHcN8_F-BZI Guest linksPedro Manga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-manga-5802b8170/Caravela Coffee: https://www.caravela.coffee/enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caravelacoffee/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pedroplanta_/ *************************************** 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
  5. EP 948 – Part 3 of 5: Biochar, Carbon Credits, and Coffee Resilience - Pedro Manga

    6D AGO

    EP 948 – Part 3 of 5: Biochar, Carbon Credits, and Coffee Resilience - Pedro Manga

    Advertising Sponsor:This 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, Coffee Farms in a Decade from Now, with Pedro Manga from Caravela Coffee. In this episode, the conversation focuses on biochar and carbon credits as tools for resilience — and the risks that emerge when they are rushed into practice. Pedro explains why biochar is not a silver bullet, how carbon markets can become extractive, and why poorly implemented biochar can harm soil biology and farm economics. The episode reinforces the need to centre farmer wellbeing, not financial incentives, in climate solutions. Guest linksPedro Manga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-manga-5802b8170/Caravela Coffee: https://www.caravela.coffee/enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caravelacoffee/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pedroplanta_/ *************************************** 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
  6. EP 947 – Part 2 of 5: Deforestation, EUDR, and Coffee Supply Chains - Pedro Manga

    FEB 10

    EP 947 – Part 2 of 5: Deforestation, EUDR, and Coffee Supply Chains - Pedro Manga

    Advertising Sponsor:Future-Proofing Your Coffee Business: Planning for 2026 and BeyondA Map It Forward live workshop for coffee businesses.https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops Episode Description: This is Part 2 of a five-part series, Coffee Farms in a Decade from Now, with Pedro Manga from Caravela Coffee. In this episode, the conversation focuses on deforestation and the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and what it has revealed about the coffee industry. Pedro explains why producers are more likely to lose market access due to supply chain opacity than deforestation itself, and why traceability failures shift unfair responsibility upstream. The discussion also explores accountability, cost, greenwashing, and why responsible production must be paired with responsible consumption if forests are truly to be protected. Guest linksPedro Manga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-manga-5802b8170/Caravela Coffee: https://www.caravela.coffee/enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caravelacoffee/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pedroplanta_/ *************************************** 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
  7. EP 946 – Part 1 of 5: The Reality and Uncertainty of Coffee Farming in 2026 - Pedro Manga

    FEB 9

    EP 946 – Part 1 of 5: The Reality and Uncertainty of Coffee Farming in 2026 - Pedro Manga

    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 1 of a five-part series, Coffee Farms in a Decade from Now, with Pedro Manga from Caravela Coffee. In this episode, the conversation focuses on the reality of coffee farming in 2026: volatile prices, undervalued labour, climate shocks, and the deeper risk created when uncertainty is pushed upstream to producers. Pedro introduces Caravela’s definition of prosperity, the ability for farmers to plan, save, and invest in the future, and explains why recent price movements have shifted power dynamics for smallholder farmers. The LinkedIn articles referenced in this episode can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pedro-manga-5802b8170_carbonpositive-regenerativecoffee-biochar-activity-7350844046442958848-FmkFhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/alejandro-c-74241a_at-the-world-economic-forum-in-davos-this-activity-7421809360605118465-RwU5 Guest linksPedro Manga: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-manga-5802b8170/Caravela Coffee: https://www.caravela.coffee/enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caravelacoffee/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pedroplanta_/ *************************************** 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
  8. EP 945 – Part 5 of 5: The Work Ahead to Survive the Coffee Crisis - Augusto Amaya

    FEB 6

    EP 945 – Part 5 of 5: The Work Ahead to Survive the Coffee Crisis - Augusto Amaya

    Advertising sponsorFuture-Proofing Your Coffee Business: Planning for 2026 and Beyond A Map It Forward live workshop for coffee businesses. https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops *************************************** This is Part 5 of a five-part series with Augusto Amaya from Arcadia Green Coffee, exploring how green coffee sourcing is diversifying as the industry evolves. In this closing conversation, Augusto shares practical guidance for roasters and sourcing professionals navigating an unstable market: understand your supplier’s system, identify what happens inside the “black box,” follow geopolitics and market fundamentals, and build community resilience, because the calm market is not returning soon. Guest linksConnect with Augusto Amaya and Arcadia Green Coffee: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/ WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 *************************************** 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
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

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