[This Week On The Podcast] The Bastardisation of Quality with Mark Bartlett from Bon Accord

Our 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

BlogLee Safar27 May 2025tariffs, coffee price crisis, Mark Bartlett, Bon AccordComment

[This Week On The Podcast] The CVA, SCA, CQI, and SCI with Tim Heinze from Sustainable Coffee Institute (SCI)

The 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.

BlogLee Safar19 May 2025tariffs, coffee price crisis, Tim Heinze, Sustainable Coffee Institute (SCI)Comment

[This Week On The Podcast] Markets, Tariffs, and The Volatility in Cacao with César Magaña from Belco

Our 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

BlogLee Safar13 May 2025tariffs, coffee price crisis, Mollie Sitkowski, Faegre Drinker, César Magaña, BelcoComment

[This Week On The Podcast] The Impact of Tariffs on The Coffee Industry with Mollie Sitkowski from Faegre Drinker

Our 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.

BlogLee Safar6 May 2025tariffs, coffee price crisis, Mollie Sitkowski, Faegre DrinkerComment

[This Week On The Podcast] The CVA, SCA, Coffee Prices, Markets, and Vinicius Estrela from BSCA - Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association

This 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.

BlogLee Safar30 April 2025tariffs, coffee price crisis, vinicius vini estrelaComment

[This Week On The Podcast] Tariff's, Pricing, and Coffee Supply with Carley Garner from DeCarley Trading

This 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…

BlogLee Safar22 April 2025tariffs, carley garner, coffee price crisisComment

[This Week On The Podcast] Tariff's, Coffee NGO's, and Lifting Farmer Our of Poverty with Paul Stewart from TechnoServe

Our 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.

BlogLee Safar14 April 2025Paul Stewart, technoserve, ngo, tariffsComment

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