WHAT’S HAPPENING GLOBALLY WITH COFFEE?
This week on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, Matthew Thornton, Founder of Arkena Coffee Market and long-time Ethiopia-based operator, joins us for a 5-part series on Responsible Direct Trade Coffee Relationships. From what “direct trade” really means to how risk, finance, and technology reshape buyer–producer partnerships, Matthew offers a grounded playbook for ethical, transparent sourcing.
Read MoreThis week on The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Purity Wangare (Customer Experience Manager), Sai On (Visual Storyteller), and Ran Gurung (Roaster) from RAW Coffee Company in Dubai join us to explore how a coffee career in the Middle East can change a life. From first jobs and culture shock to competitions and long-term growth, the series traces real pathways for baristas and emerging professionals across a multicultural industry.
Read MoreThis week on The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Alejandro Cadena - CEO and co-founder of Caravela Coffee, a leading specialty exporter in Latin America and importer into consuming regions - joins us to dissect how 2025 has become the most challenging year in a decade for coffee. From geopolitics and tariffs to financing lines, margin calls, and the squeeze on the middle market, Alejandro offers an operator’s view of what’s real, what’s noise, and how to plan for the next 18 months.
Read MoreThis week on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, Wayel Al Wohaibi, co-founder of Sulalat (Riyadh), joins us to unpack how Saudi specialty coffee started, how culture shapes flavor and service, and what it takes to build a respected coffee business in the Kingdom.
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The Industry: Regenerative Coffee Doesn’t Need Expensive Certifications
Podcast: Our guest on the podcast this week is Jonas Ferraresso, Coffee Agronomist, from Brazil
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The Industry: Why Are Coffee Futures Rising Above 415 Again?
Global Podcast: Our guests for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, are Agroecological scientists, Lucia Reid (Ireland), Gabriela Copello (Colombia), and Madeline Stuart (Canada).
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Nora Burkey from The Chain Collaborative in America.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is Nora Burkey from The Chain Collaborative in America.
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The Industry: Why Paying Attention Matters: Facing Coffee’s Realities Together
Global Podcast: Our guests for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, are Felipe Croce from FAF Coffees Brazil and Angela Barrero from Belco Colombia.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Brendan Adams from Semilla Coffee in Canada
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is Michael Sheridan from Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) in the United States.
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The Industry: Consolidation - The Next Phase of the Coffee Crisis
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Lee Safar from Map It Forward in the United Arab Emirates.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Michael Sheridan from Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) in the United States
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is Michael Sheridan from Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) in the United States.
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The Industry: Is Demand for Coffee Slowing Down?
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Reza Kosar from Slick Coffee Co in the Muscat, Oman.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Ian Fretheim from Cafe Imports in the USA.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is regenerative coffee farmer Angela Barrero from Bodega de la Finca in Colombia.
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The Industry: Why Is the C-Market Back Above 340?
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Ian Fretheim from Cafe Imports in the United States.
Middle East Podcast: Our guests on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week are Purity Wangare, Sai On, and Ran Gurung, 3 members of the RAW Coffee Company, in Dubai, UAE.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is regenerative coffee farmer Angela Barrero from Bodega de la Finca in Colombia.
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The Industry: When Coffee Becomes a Meme Coin
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Nora Burkey from The Chain Collaborative in the United States.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia, Owners of Kurasu Dubai, UAE.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guests on Map It Forward Japan this week are Felipe Croce from FAF Coffees and Angel Barrera from Belco Coffee in Colombia.
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The Industry: The Consolidation Wave & What It Means for Coffee
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Brendan Adams from Semilla Coffee in Canada.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Reza Kosar, CoFounder of Slick Coffee Co. in Muscat, Oman.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guests on Map It Forward Japan this week are Felipe Croce from FAF Coffees and Angel Barrera from Belco Coffee in Colombia.
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The Industry: 50% US tariffs on Brazilian coffee
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Kim Thompson and Matt Toogood from RAW Coffee Company in Dubai, UAE.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Saeed Al Blooshi, Founder of El Matador Coffee Trading and Lama Cafe in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is Thai Dang, Cofounder at 96B Cafe and Roastery in Vietnam.
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The Industry: Will Coffee Price Volatility Kill Specialty Coffee at Origin?
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Mark Dundon from 7 Seeds Coffee and Suburbia Bakery in Melbourne Australia.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Isabela Raposeiras, Founder of Coffee Lab in Brazil.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is Thai Dang, Cofounder at 96B Cafe and Roastery in Vietnam.
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The Industry: Is Diversification the Solution to the Coffee Crisis?
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Kelvin Ngow from Coffex Coffee and Mono Origine in Malaysia.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Yozo Otsuki, Founder of global brand Kurasu based in Kyoto, Japan.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is Alejandro Cadena, Green Coffee Exporter at Caravela Coffee based in Colombia.
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The Industry: The C Market goes below 290
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is George Howell from George Howell Coffee in the USA.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Angela Barrero, Colombian Coffee Farmer at Bodega de la Finca and Cafe Tiolita based in Quindio, Colombia.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest on Map It Forward Japan this week is Alejandro Cadena, Green Coffee Exporter at Caravela Coffee based in Colombia.
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The Industry: Why are Coffee Prices Sliding Again?
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Darrin Daniel from Cityful Press Coffee Consulting in the USA.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Wayel Al Wohaibi, co-founder of Sulalat Coffee based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Announcement: Click to find out about Map It Forward Japan
The Industry: How the current situation in the Middle East may impact coffee
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Isabela Raposeiras from Coffee Lab in Brazil.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Osamah Alawwam, co-founder of The Roasting House based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Map It Forward Japan: Our guest at Map It Forward Japan this week is Pete Licata, co-founder of Caffeine Control Coffee based in Melbourne, Australia.
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Announcement: Click to find out about Map It Forward Japan
The Industry: Challenging times are here
Global Podcast: Our guest for our five-part series on our global podcast, The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, is Yozo Otsuki from Kurasu.
Middle East Podcast: Our guest on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast this week is Mohamad Merhi, founder of Cypher Urban Roasters based in Dubai, UAE.
Read MoreGlobal 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.
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![[Week 25/2025 at Map It Forward] Yozo Otsuki from Kurasu and Mohamad Merhi from Cypher Urban Roasters](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a90b50cb98a781a570edff0/1750409524713-VIPVCYPOYZTISYBEQJH9/1375+Yozo+Otsuki+from+Kurasu+in+Kyoto+Japan+on+The+Daily+Coffee+Pro+Podcast+by+Map+It+Forward+with+Lee+Safar.png)
![[This Week At Map It Forward] Michael Sheridan (CQI) + Kim Thompson and Matt Toogood from RAW Coffee Company](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a90b50cb98a781a570edff0/1749813850298-XKYU16YRABVCGJ1SRVC4/1371+Michael+Sheridan+Coffee+Quality+Institute+CQI+The+Daily+Coffee+Pro+Podcast+by+Map+It+Forward+with+Lee+Safar.png)