Global Podcast: Our highly anticipated five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, featuring Michael Sheridan, Executive Director of the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) has been released to the general public.
Middle East Podcast: Our guests on the podcast this week on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast are Kim Thompson and Matt Toogood, co-founders of RAW Coffee Company in Dubai.
Read MoreThis week, host Lee Safar is joined by Shireen Muhaisen and James Lynes, co-founders of Bunni Coffee in Amman, Jordan. Together, they explore the nuances of building values-driven coffee businesses in the birthplace of roasted and brewed coffee.
Also, Next week, our highly anticipated five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, featuring Michael Sheridan, Executive Director of the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) will be released to the general public.
Today, we launched the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast, now available on all major podcast platforms and YouTube. This region-specific show features the same 5-part series format as The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward but focuses on doing business in the MENA region.
And, 1 week to go till our live online biochar workshop in Spanish and English
Read MoreOur guest this week is Mark Bartlett, founder of Bon Accord Products in New Zealand. In this five-part series, Mark and Lee examine how the idea of “quality” has been diluted in cafés and restaurants, and what can be done to bring it back.
Also, over the next 12 months, Map It Forward will be expanding into new regions to better serve the global coffee industry. Our goal is to connect with new audiences and offer context-specific education, insights, and conversations that matter.
On June 2nd, the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast will be separating from the global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, for the first time since 2022.
And, this week, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast will host Michael Sheridan, the Executive Director of the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). The conversation will focus on the recent announcement regarding the sale of the Q to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA).
The lack of transparency around this transition has left the specialty coffee industry reeling. What questions would you most like Michael to answer about this situation? e-mail us here support@mapitforward.org
Read MoreThe coffee market is experiencing extreme volatility, yet everything appears calm on the surface. Trade shows are vibrant, social feeds are full of new launches, champions are being crowned, cafes are crowded, and non-profits are celebrating deals as though it’s 1999 in coffee, not 2025. But behind the scenes, conversations are very different.
Importers are hesitating, roasters are quiet, debt is mounting, warehouses are emptying, retailers are holding pricing (or not increasing them enough to cover their costs), producers are stretched (or don’t have any coffee), yet somehow, the vibe in the industry isn’t reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
Why?
Because in our industry, performative gestures often replace transparency. The system rewards confidence, not caution. Optimism keeps the gears turning. Meanwhile, those paying close attention start to wonder if we’re the only ones seeing it.
You’re not alone.
Read MoreOur guest on the podcast this week features César Magaña, Partner at Faegre Drinker and trade compliance specialist based in Chicago.
In this series, Mollie and Lee Safar explore the implications of Trump-era tariffs on the global coffee supply chain.
Also, As of May 12, 2025, the United States and China have agreed to a 90-day reduction in tariffs, aiming to ease escalating trade tensions. Under this agreement, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports have been reduced from 145% to 30%, while China's tariffs on U.S. goods have decreased from 125% to 10%.
And, Arabica Prices: Recent Declines Amid Supply Optimism
After reaching record highs earlier this year, Arabica coffee prices have recently declined. As of May 13, 2025, prices fell to approximately 368 per pound, influenced by a stronger U.S. dollar and improved supply forecasts from major producers like Brazil and Vietnam
Read MoreOur guest on the podcast this week features Mollie Sitkowski, Partner at Faegre Drinker and trade compliance specialist based in Chicago.
In this series, Mollie and Lee Safar explore the implications of Trump-era tariffs on the global coffee supply chain.
Read MoreThis week, our guest on the podcast is Vinicius (Vini) Estrela, Executive Director of the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA), for a grounded look at where Brazil fits in all of this.
Also, Coffee prices on Monday, April 28th, soared above 420 and maintained those highs throughout most of Tuesday for Arabica on the C-Market (a 2.5-month high). This was mostly due to reports that Brazil's 2025/26 Arabica crop could fall to 38.1 million bags, down 13.6% from last year.
Finally, I think there has been a fundamental misalignment that has been overlooked, and we need to gain some clarity on it fast. The mistake is ours, not the SCA’s—and recognizing this misalignment could shift the discussion forward.
Read MoreThis week on the podcast we’re joined on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward by everyones favourite over the years, Carley Garner, founder and broker at DeCarley Trading, to explain what’s really behind the volatility and uncertainty in the coffee market as well as how these tariffs will impact trading with the United States.
Also, in the past week, coffee futures have continued to bounce (volatility without direction) despite no meaningful change in supply fundamentals. Tariffs on coffee remain in place across key producing countries, and on China, which supplies much of the equipment, packaging, and merchandise used throughout American coffee businesses.
Finally, SCA Expo is this week. It’s a wonderful time to catch up with friends, feel part of the community, and enjoy the warmth and energy of an industry we love. Joy and connection are vital, personally and professionally. Trade shows can be a beautiful opportunity for that, and it’s important to recognize the value of gathering. BUT…
Read MoreOur guest on the podcast in this series is Paul Stewart, Global Coffee Director at TechnoServe.
Also, the combination of uncertainty and price instability is causing widespread hesitation across the supply chain. Businesses are struggling to make informed decisions, unsure whether to buy, sell, or hold, while watching for further policy shifts from the White House and ongoing fluctuations in the futures market.
The lack of clarity is not only disrupting logistics and pricing, it’s stalling the entire system. If this continues, this could accelerate the coffee crisis the industry was already experiencing. This means more business closures and dysfunction in 2025, with the fallout potentially carrying into 2026 and beyond.
Read MoreOur guest on the podcast in this series is Angela Barrero, coffee farmer and Regenerative Ag expert, talking about biochar.
Two critical shifts are happening in coffee right now:
Tariffs on imported coffee into the U.S. – Announced under President Trump’s trade policy, these are effectively taxes initially paid by importers but passed on to consumers, contributing to inflation. The tariffs apply to all origin countries except Mexico, which is currently exempt.
Volatility in the coffee futures market – Despite no meaningful change in the fundamentals of coffee supply, prices have dropped sharply. This signals that speculators are betting on a recession, anticipating a reduction in consumer demand and discretionary spending. We have no way of knowing whether this will eventuate or not at this stage.
Our guest on the podcast in this series is Nick Brown, Editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine.
Also, coffee businesses across the value chain are starting to feel the pressure as the Arabica C-market continues to hover between 380 and 400. With Arabica prices doubling in the last 12 months, retail prices are expected to rise by up to 25% globally, but that may not be enough to save many businesses.
Read MoreOur guest on the podcast in this series is Nawar Adra, founder of global coffee brand Stitch Coffee.
Also, As the C-market climbs above 400 again, we're entering a critical phase of this global coffee crisis. Many small- and medium-sized roasters are running low on inventory. Some are still holding out, hoping prices will drop. But from what we’re hearing on the ground, the reasons behind these high prices—climate impacts, low production, theft, and systemic instability—are only getting worse.
Read MoreOur guest on the podcast in this series is Emma Haines from Algrano. Emma is a long-time coffee industry educator with a passion for facilitating information about green coffee trading and coffee supply chains. Emma is currently the UK and Europe Sales Manager at Algrano.
Read MoreThis week on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast, we dive into Vietnam’s evolving specialty coffee scene with Thai Dang from 96B Cafe and Roastery in Ho Chi Minh City.
As volatility in the coffee futures market continues, the supply chain is facing escalating challenges—some of which can’t be spoken about openly.
Read MoreThis week on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast, we sit down with Pete Licata, 2013 World Barista Champion and co-founder of Caffeine Control Coffee, a brand that’s redefining roasted coffee in 2025.
Read MoreThis week on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast, we dive into the complex world of getting coffee brands into grocery stores with Allison Ball, founder of Retail Ready™.
📢 Why this matters:
Selling coffee in grocery stores sounds like a dream, but it comes with challenges. In this series, Allison (ex-grocery buyer turned brand coach) breaks down what it takes to get on shelves and succeed once you're there.
The coffee market is making history, and we’re witnessing unprecedented volatility across the supply chain. Record prices, Trump’s on-again off-again tariffs, cuts to USAID, weather issues in coffee-growing regions, and currency gymnastics are all playing an important role in market volatility this week!
This week on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast, we dive into Pakistan’s specialty coffee scene with Faisal Khan, founder of Nomad Coffee Studio, Pakistan’s market leader in specialty coffee.
Read MoreThe coffee market is making history, and we’re witnessing unprecedented volatility across the supply chain. Record prices, Trump’s on-again off-again tariffs, cuts to USAID, weather issues in coffee-growing regions, and currency gymnastics are all playing an important role in market volatility this week!
This week on the podcast, Felipe Croce and Angel Barrera take us masterfully through the situation we’re facing in coffee right now.
Read MoreThis week, we welcome Carol Salloum, co-owner of Three Tomatoes Cafe in Sydney, Australia. Carol has built a thriving neighborhood cafe, and in this series, we explore what it takes to run a successful coffee shop in 2025.
Read MoreWe are back for 2025 and we’re starting with a bang!
This week on the podcast we welcome Alejandro Cadena, CEO of Caravela Coffee back to the podcast for the first time in many years. Caravela Coffee is a globally recognized green coffee exporter out of Latin America and an importer into consuming regions around the world.
In this discussion, Alejandro and Lee discuss the definitive nature of the year ahead, 2025. This series explores what we should expect, how we got here, and why this is a year that is unlike any other in the history of the coffee industry.
Read More
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