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

    11H AGO

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

    1D AGO

    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
  3. EP 953 – Part 3 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Harvest - Who Wins If It Goes Well? - Matthew Thornton

    2D AGO

    EP 953 – Part 3 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Harvest - Who Wins If It Goes Well? - Matthew Thornton

    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 3 of a five-part series, The 2026 Ethiopian Coffee Harvest, with Matthew Thornton, founder of Arkena Coffee Market. In this episode, we examine what happens across the supply chain if the 2026 harvest performs well. Farmers supplying cherry in the east have already benefited from record prices. Those drying cherry and holding inventory may need to move quickly if demand slows. Exporters are operating in what Matthew describes as a survival season, where quality management and disciplined purchasing matter more than aggressive buying. In western Ethiopia, bumper production could help offset eastern shortages, particularly in commercial grades. Buyers may shift volume westward to balance books, while specialty lots from the southeast may remain tight. We also explore a deeper question: are farmers truly gaining market power, or are they simply benefiting from competitive exporter behavior this season? And what happens if expectations rise for 2027 pricing? This episode maps the winners, the survivors, and the risks beneath a “good” 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

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

    3D 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
  5. EP 951 – Part 1 of 5: Ethiopia’s 2026 Coffee Harvest - Matthew Thornton

    4D 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
  6. EP 950 – Part 5 of 5: Coffee Farms in 10 Years — Prosperity or Survival - Pedro Manga

    FEB 13

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

    FEB 12

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

    FEB 11

    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
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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