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 1030 Part 5 of 5 | Can Technology Help Producers Find Their Voice? (Patreon Discussion Group) | Map It Forward

    7 hr ago

    EP 1030 Part 5 of 5 | Can Technology Help Producers Find Their Voice? (Patreon Discussion Group) | 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 from a Patreon Discussion Group hosted by Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing the role technology and data could play in solving some of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry. This conversation was never intended to become a podcast. It originally took place as part of one of Map It Forward's monthly Patreon Discussion Groups, where coffee professionals from across the value chain gather to explore important industry topics. The conversation was so insightful that everyone involved agreed it should be shared publicly. In this final episode, Lee Safar is joined by Oscar Montoya (Data Scientist and Coffee Farm Owner), Luci Reid (Agroecologist), Matthew Thornton (Founder of Arkena Coffee Marketplace), Samo Smrke (Coffee Scientist), and Liam O'Connell (Business Analyst). After spending the previous four episodes discussing technology, data collection, pricing, and adoption, the conversation takes a step back and explores a different perspective. What if technology's most important role isn't collecting more data or creating more sophisticated tools? What if its greatest value is helping people build relationships? The discussion explores how countries like Panama have used technology, marketing, and storytelling to shape perceptions of quality and influence pricing. From social media and CRM systems to mailing lists and direct communication, the group examines how producers are increasingly using technology to connect directly with buyers and tell their own stories. Luci Reid shares examples of how social media and direct communication are helping producers build stronger relationships with buyers, while Lee discusses how governments and producer groups are using technology and diplomacy to create new opportunities in emerging markets such as the Middle East. The conversation also examines the balance between technology and human connection, with participants arguing that technology should support decision-making rather than replace it. Matthew Thornton shares his long-term vision for Arkena Coffee Marketplace, where technology enables relationships, transparency, and transactions while allowing producers and buyers to negotiate directly with each other. As the discussion concludes, the group arrives at a powerful idea: the most important role technology can play in coffee today may not be pricing, data collection, or automation. It may simply be helping people see each other more clearly and build stronger relationships across the supply chain. To join our monthly discussion groups on Patreon, head to https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward and signup to our "Roasted Coffee Tier" for $20 per month. 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
  2. EP 1029 Part 4 of 5 | Why Farmers Struggle To Name Their Price (Patreon Discussion Group) | Map It Forward

    1 day ago

    EP 1029 Part 4 of 5 | Why Farmers Struggle To Name Their Price (Patreon Discussion Group) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorIf you find value in what we do at Map It Forward and would like to work with us or support the business, here are a few ways to get involved: • Work with us as your business advisors — support@mapitforward.org • Advertise on the podcast — support@mapitforward.org • Join our Patreon community — https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward • Subscribe to our YouTube channel — https://www.youtube.com/mapitforward • Or share this episode with someone who would benefit from it Episode Description This is episode 4 of a 5-part series from a Patreon Discussion Group hosted by Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing the role technology and data could play in solving some of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry. This conversation was never intended to become a podcast. It originally took place as part of one of Map It Forward's monthly Patreon Discussion Groups, where coffee professionals from across the value chain gather to explore important industry topics. The conversation was so insightful that everyone involved agreed it should be shared publicly. In this episode, Lee Safar is joined by Oscar Montoya (Data Scientist and Coffee Farm Owner), Luci Reid (Agroecologist), Matthew Thornton (Founder of Arkena Coffee Marketplace), Samo Smrke (Coffee Scientist), and Liam O'Connell (Business Analyst). The conversation turns directly to one of the most persistent challenges in coffee: pricing. If producers consistently say that pricing is one of their biggest problems, why is it so difficult to simply ask them what they want to be paid? Luci Reid explores the historical, cultural, and post-colonial realities that have shaped generations of coffee producers into price takers rather than price setters. The discussion examines how financial insecurity, limited market visibility, political instability, and unequal access to information all influence a producer's ability to confidently establish pricing for their coffee. Matthew Thornton shares insights from building Arkena Coffee Marketplace and explains how increased market visibility is beginning to change producer behaviour. As farmers gain more access to information, pricing data, and alternative buyers, some are becoming more confident in negotiating and rejecting offers that don't meet their expectations. The group also explores whether technology can genuinely improve price discovery, how confidence influences decision-making, and why helping producers develop pricing autonomy may require much more than simply building better tools. This episode asks a question that sits at the heart of coffee's pricing debate: if producers have spent generations being told what their coffee is worth, how long will it take to build the confidence required to tell the market what they want to be paid? To join our monthly discussion groups on Patreon, head to https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward and signup to our "Roasted Coffee Tier" for $20 per month. 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

    20 min
  3. EP 1028 Part 3 of 5 | The Data Trust Problem In Coffee (Patreon Discussion Group) | Map It Forward

    2 days ago

    EP 1028 Part 3 of 5 | The Data Trust Problem In Coffee (Patreon Discussion Group) | 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 to the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry. Episode Description This is episode 3 of a 5-part series from a Patreon Discussion Group hosted by Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing the role technology and data could play in solving some of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry. This conversation was never intended to become a podcast. It originally took place as part of one of Map It Forward's monthly Patreon Discussion Groups, where coffee professionals from across the value chain gather to explore important industry topics. The conversation was so insightful that everyone involved agreed it should be shared publicly. In this episode, Lee Safar is joined by Oscar Montoya (Data Scientist and Coffee Farm Owner), Luci Reid (Agroecologist), Matthew Thornton (Founder of Arkena Coffee Marketplace), Samo Smrke (Coffee Scientist), and Liam O'Connell (Business Analyst). The conversation moves into one of the most complex challenges in coffee technology: trust. As more technology tools rely on collecting information from producers, the group asks an increasingly important question: who owns the data being gathered throughout the coffee supply chain? Luci Reid explores how certification requirements, biodiversity reporting, and technology platforms can unintentionally become extractive when farmers are required to provide more and more information without receiving enough value in return. Oscar Montoya expands the discussion by examining how data is monetized, why people often give away information without understanding its value, and what that means for producers being asked to trust new technologies. The discussion then shifts into pricing. Matthew Thornton shares the realities of building Arkena Coffee Marketplace and explains why creating pricing transparency at origin is far more complicated than many people assume. From cost-of-production tools and data accuracy to trust, financial literacy, and market information flows, the group explores why technology alone cannot solve pricing challenges without addressing the human systems that sit underneath them. This episode asks a critical question for the future of coffee: if data is becoming one of the industry's most valuable assets, how do we build the trust required for people to share it? To join our monthly discussion groups on Patreon, head to https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward and signup to our "Roasted Coffee Tier" for $20 per month. 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
  4. EP 1027 Part 2 of 5 | Why Coffee Technology Doesn't Get Adopted (Patreon Discussion Group) | Map It Forward

    3 days ago

    EP 1027 Part 2 of 5 | Why Coffee Technology Doesn't Get Adopted (Patreon Discussion Group) | 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.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523 Episode Description This is episode 2 of a 5-part series from a Patreon Discussion Group hosted by Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing the role technology and data could play in solving some of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry. This conversation was never intended to become a podcast. It originally took place as part of one of Map It Forward's monthly Patreon Discussion Groups, where coffee professionals from across the value chain gather to explore important industry topics. The conversation was so insightful that everyone involved agreed it should be shared publicly. In this episode, Lee Safar is joined by Oscar Montoya (Data Scientist and Coffee Farm Owner), Luci Reid (Agroecologist), Matthew Thornton (Founder of Arkena Coffee Marketplace), Samo Smrke (Coffee Scientist), and Liam O'Connell (Business Analyst). The discussion shifts from technology itself to one of the industry's biggest challenges: adoption. Why do some technologies gain traction while others disappear? Why do so many tools designed to help producers struggle to gain trust and long-term use? Luci Reid introduces the idea that farmers are increasingly becoming data providers, but not necessarily data users. The group explores whether coffee producers are receiving enough value in exchange for the information they are being asked to provide and whether many technologies are unintentionally becoming extractive rather than empowering. The conversation also examines digital literacy, infrastructure limitations, trust, internet access, certification requirements, and the importance of designing tools that solve real problems for producers rather than simply collecting more information from them. This episode asks a difficult question: if technology is supposed to help farmers, are we designing it around their needs or our own? To join our monthly discussion groups on Patreon, head to https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward and signup to our "Roasted Coffee Tier" for $20 per month. 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
  5. EP 1026 Part 1 of 5 | Technology Is Not The Solution. It's A Tool (Patreon Discussion Group) | Map It Forward

    4 days ago

    EP 1026 Part 1 of 5 | Technology Is Not The Solution. It's A Tool (Patreon Discussion Group) | 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 1 of a 5-part series from a Patreon Discussion Group hosted by Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing the role technology and data could play in solving some of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry. This conversation was never intended to become a podcast. It originally took place as part of one of Map It Forward's monthly Patreon Discussion Groups, where coffee professionals from across the value chain gather to explore important industry topics. The conversation was so insightful that everyone involved agreed it should be shared publicly. In this episode, Lee Safar is joined by Oscar Montoya (Data Scientist and Coffee Farm Owner), Luci Reid (Agroecologist), Matthew Thornton (Founder of Arkena Coffee Marketplace), Samo Smrke (Coffee Scientist), and Liam O'Connell (Business Analyst). The discussion begins with a framework presented by Oscar Montoya that places people and processes ahead of technology. Together, the group explores why so many technology projects fail despite good intentions, why adoption remains one of the biggest challenges in coffee innovation, and whether the industry is spending enough time identifying the problems that actually need solving. The conversation also examines the difference between technology adoption in equipment manufacturing versus adoption at origin, the role of data as an asset, and why farmer-centred design may be critical to creating meaningful change in coffee. This episode lays the foundation for the rest of the series by asking a simple but important question: Are we focusing on technology, or are we focusing on solving problems? To join our monthly discussion groups on Patreon, head to https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward and signup to our "Roasted Coffee Tier" for $20 per month. 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
  6. EP 1025 Part 5 of 5 | How Coffee Business Models Are Changing (Nawar Adra) | Map It Forward

    29 May

    EP 1025 Part 5 of 5 | How Coffee Business Models Are Changing (Nawar Adra) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorNeed help with your business? Email us: support@mapitforward.org to learn more. Episode Description This is episode 5 of a 5-part series with Stitch Coffee founder, Nawar Adra, and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we’re discussing what it takes to expand a coffee business in this economy, and in this final episode we zoom out to look at how the coffee business model itself is changing. Nawar explains how the work of running a coffee business has shifted from making coffee and cleaning to managing prep, systems, operating procedures, communication platforms, menu engineering, and a much more demanding operational environment. He argues that consumer behavior is changing too, and that understanding human behavior is now just as important as understanding extraction. Lee and Nawar also explore why Gen Z customers may still come back to espresso and flat whites, why creativity has to be balanced by profitable staples, what venture capital means for the industry, and what China reveals about speed, experimentation, and event culture. The episode closes the series by asking not just how to survive change, but how to build a business that can keep evolving with it. Connect with Nawar Adra and Stitch Coffee here: - https://www.instagram.com/stitch.coffee/ - https://stitch.coffee/ - https://www.instagram.com/nawar.adra/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nawar-adra-12909516a/ 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

    26 min
  7. EP 1024 Part 4 of 5 | Is This Economy Built for Risk-Takers? (Nawar Adra) | Map It Forward

    28 May

    EP 1024 Part 4 of 5 | Is This Economy Built for Risk-Takers? (Nawar Adra) | Map It Forward

    Advertising SponsorIf you find value in what we do at Map It Forward and would like to work with us or support the business, here are a few ways to get involved: • Work with us as your business advisors — support@mapitforward.org • Advertise on the podcast — support@mapitforward.org • Join our Patreon community — https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward • Subscribe to our YouTube channel — https://www.youtube.com/mapitforward • Or share this episode with someone who would benefit from it Episode Description This is episode 4 of a 5-part series with Stitch Coffee founder, Nawar Adra, and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we’re discussing what it takes to expand a coffee business in this economy, and in this episode we focus directly on what “this economy” actually means. Lee and Nawar compare the current market to the era when many coffee businesses were built by copying what seemed to work around them. That world is gone. In its place is a tougher environment where brand clarity, innovation, operational discipline, and multiple revenue streams matter far more than just opening another cafe that looks like everyone else. The conversation covers why generic coffee businesses are now a dangerous bet, why e-commerce is harder than many operators want to admit, how government policy affects risk appetite in Australia, and why businesses that built patiently over time may now be the best positioned. This episode is direct, practical, and especially relevant for anyone still assuming old coffee playbooks will work in the market we have now. Connect with Nawar Adra and Stitch Coffee here: - https://www.instagram.com/stitch.coffee/ - https://stitch.coffee/ - https://www.instagram.com/nawar.adra/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nawar-adra-12909516a/ 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

    21 min
  8. EP 1023 Part 3 of 5 | The Real Risk in Growing a Coffee Brand (Nawar Adra) | Map It Forward

    27 May

    EP 1023 Part 3 of 5 | The Real Risk in Growing a Coffee Brand (Nawar Adra) | 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 to the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry. Episode Description This is episode 3 of a 5-part series with Stitch Coffee founder, Nawar Adra, and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we’re discussing what it takes to expand a coffee business in this economy, and this episode goes straight to the heart of growth: risk. Nawar explains that he doesn’t see risk as a spreadsheet exercise alone. He sees it through hospitality, human interaction, and what a brand can make people feel. That perspective shapes how he thinks about expansion into China, how he handles difficult customer interactions, and why engagement often matters more than trying to impress people with coffee jargon. Lee and Nawar also talk about generosity as a growth tool, saying no to deals that look good too quickly, investing in technology as a strategic barrier, and why branding can be an even bigger risk than people. This is a candid conversation about instinct, discipline, founder ego, and what it really means to build something bigger than yourself. Connect with Nawar Adra and Stitch Coffee here: - https://www.instagram.com/stitch.coffee/ - https://stitch.coffee/ - https://www.instagram.com/nawar.adra/ - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nawar-adra-12909516a/ 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

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

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