Podcasts about 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 DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar.Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company working directly with coffee producers throughout Colombia while building long-term relationships with coffee roasters across Europe.Climate has always influenced coffee production. What is changing is the scale, frequency, and severity of weather-related challenges facing coffee producers around the world.In this episode, Lee and Augusto explore growing concerns surrounding the recently declared Super El Niño and what it may mean for Colombia's coffee harvests in the months ahead. While weather forecasts can never predict outcomes with certainty, producers across several regions are already experiencing conditions that are raising questions about future yields and production volumes.The conversation examines how weather events influence coffee production at origin, why harvest forecasts matter throughout the supply chain, and how climate-related disruptions can create ripple effects for producers, exporters, importers, and roasters alike.Rather than focusing solely on worst-case scenarios, Augusto shares observations from conversations taking place throughout Colombia and explains how producers are preparing for increasing uncertainty. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding risk before it appears in market reports or reaches consuming countries.As climate volatility continues to reshape agricultural systems around the world, coffee professionals may need to become more comfortable understanding weather events not simply as environmental issues, but as business realities with far-reaching consequences.Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green CoffeeWebsite: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523If 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar.Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company working directly with coffee producers throughout Colombia while building long-term relationships with coffee roasters across Europe.Climate has always influenced coffee production. What is changing is the scale, frequency, and severity of weather-related challenges facing coffee producers around the world.In this episode, Lee and Augusto explore growing concerns surrounding the recently declared Super El Niño and what it may mean for Colombia's coffee harvests in the months ahead. While weather forecasts can never predict outcomes with certainty, producers across several regions are already experiencing conditions that are raising questions about future yields and production volumes.The conversation examines how weather events influence coffee production at origin, why harvest forecasts matter throughout the supply chain, and how climate-related disruptions can create ripple effects for producers, exporters, importers, and roasters alike.Rather than focusing solely on worst-case scenarios, Augusto shares observations from conversations taking place throughout Colombia and explains how producers are preparing for increasing uncertainty. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding risk before it appears in market reports or reaches consuming countries.As climate volatility continues to reshape agricultural systems around the world, coffee professionals may need to become more comfortable understanding weather events not simply as environmental issues, but as business realities with far-reaching consequences.Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green CoffeeWebsite: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523If 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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. New office now open in the UK.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is episode 2 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar.Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company working directly with coffee producers throughout Colombia while building long-term relationships with coffee roasters across Europe.Coffee is often discussed through the lens of weather, quality, logistics, and price. What receives far less attention is the role politics plays in shaping the conditions under which coffee producers operate.In this episode, Augusto shares his perspective on the political realities currently affecting coffee-growing regions in Colombia. From government policy and institutional relationships to security concerns and confidence within rural communities, political decisions often have consequences that extend well beyond election cycles.For coffee producers, political uncertainty can influence investment decisions, access to resources, and long-term planning. For exporters, importers, and roasters, these same factors can affect supply, stability, and the future of coffee-producing communities.Throughout the conversation, Lee and Augusto explore how political developments are being experienced on the ground, what coffee professionals outside Colombia may be overlooking, and why understanding these realities is becoming increasingly important for anyone seeking to build stronger supply chain relationships.While market reports may focus on prices and production figures, the human realities behind those numbers are often shaped by political decisions made far from the farm. This episode offers valuable insight into how those decisions are affecting coffee today and what they may mean for the future.Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green CoffeeWebsite: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523If 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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. New office now open in the UK.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is episode 2 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar.Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company working directly with coffee producers throughout Colombia while building long-term relationships with coffee roasters across Europe.Coffee is often discussed through the lens of weather, quality, logistics, and price. What receives far less attention is the role politics plays in shaping the conditions under which coffee producers operate.In this episode, Augusto shares his perspective on the political realities currently affecting coffee-growing regions in Colombia. From government policy and institutional relationships to security concerns and confidence within rural communities, political decisions often have consequences that extend well beyond election cycles.For coffee producers, political uncertainty can influence investment decisions, access to resources, and long-term planning. For exporters, importers, and roasters, these same factors can affect supply, stability, and the future of coffee-producing communities.Throughout the conversation, Lee and Augusto explore how political developments are being experienced on the ground, what coffee professionals outside Colombia may be overlooking, and why understanding these realities is becoming increasingly important for anyone seeking to build stronger supply chain relationships.While market reports may focus on prices and production figures, the human realities behind those numbers are often shaped by political decisions made far from the farm. This episode offers valuable insight into how those decisions are affecting coffee today and what they may mean for the future.Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green CoffeeWebsite: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523If 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 for the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry. This community is open to all stakeholders in the coffee industryEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 1 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward hosted by Lee Safar.Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company focused on building direct relationships between coffee producers in Colombia and coffee roasters throughout Ireland, the UK, and Europe.When people talk about Colombian coffee production, most of the attention is given to the main harvest. Much less attention is paid to the Mitaca crop, often referred to as the fly crop. Yet for producers, exporters, importers, and coffee buyers, this smaller harvest can provide important signals about what may be ahead.In this episode, Augusto explains why he believes more coffee professionals should be paying attention to Colombia right now and why the Mitaca harvest deserves far more attention than it typically receives. Drawing on conversations with producers throughout Colombia, he shares what farmers are currently experiencing, what early production data may be telling us, and how changing conditions are affecting coffee-growing communities.As climate volatility, production uncertainty, and supply chain pressures continue to increase, understanding what is happening at origin becomes increasingly important. This conversation explores why looking beyond headline market reports and paying attention to developments on the ground may help coffee businesses better prepare for what comes next.Whether you are a producer, green coffee buyer, roaster, trader, consultant, or simply someone interested in understanding how coffee moves through the supply chain, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the most overlooked parts of Colombia's coffee production cycle.Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green CoffeeWebsite: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523If 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 for the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry. This community is open to all stakeholders in the coffee industryEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 1 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward hosted by Lee Safar.Our guest is Augusto Amaya, Co-Founder of Arcadia Green Coffee, a company focused on building direct relationships between coffee producers in Colombia and coffee roasters throughout Ireland, the UK, and Europe.When people talk about Colombian coffee production, most of the attention is given to the main harvest. Much less attention is paid to the Mitaca crop, often referred to as the fly crop. Yet for producers, exporters, importers, and coffee buyers, this smaller harvest can provide important signals about what may be ahead.In this episode, Augusto explains why he believes more coffee professionals should be paying attention to Colombia right now and why the Mitaca harvest deserves far more attention than it typically receives. Drawing on conversations with producers throughout Colombia, he shares what farmers are currently experiencing, what early production data may be telling us, and how changing conditions are affecting coffee-growing communities.As climate volatility, production uncertainty, and supply chain pressures continue to increase, understanding what is happening at origin becomes increasingly important. This conversation explores why looking beyond headline market reports and paying attention to developments on the ground may help coffee businesses better prepare for what comes next.Whether you are a producer, green coffee buyer, roaster, trader, consultant, or simply someone interested in understanding how coffee moves through the supply chain, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the most overlooked parts of Colombia's coffee production cycle.Connect with Augusto Amaya & Arcadia Green CoffeeWebsite: https://arcadiacoffee.ie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augusto-amaya-irecol/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523If 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 5 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.The coffee industry faces enormous challenges, but it also presents opportunities for innovation. If producers, importers, exporters, roasters, financial institutions, and educators are willing to think differently, new financing models may help strengthen the entire value chain.In this final episode of the series, Freddy shares examples of innovative financing approaches that are already being tested. These include microfinance platforms such as Kiva, university-backed impact funds, relationship-based lending, producer prepayment programs, and alternative ways of improving liquidity throughout the coffee supply chain.Lee and Freddy discuss how access to capital remains one of the greatest barriers facing coffee producers and small coffee businesses. They explore why interest rates matter, how financing costs affect every participant in the supply chain, and why access to affordable capital is often unevenly distributed throughout the industry.The conversation also examines the role that universities, investors, entrepreneurs, and coffee businesses can play in creating new pathways for financing coffee. Freddy shares practical examples from his own work and discusses how curiosity, experimentation, and relationship-building can help unlock solutions that benefit everyone involved in coffee.In this episode, we referenced https://www.kiva.org/Why this mattersThe future of coffee will require more than higher prices and better quality. It will require new ways of thinking about risk, capital, and prosperity. Businesses that understand financing and actively participate in strengthening their supply chains will be better positioned to navigate the challenges ahead.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 5 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.The coffee industry faces enormous challenges, but it also presents opportunities for innovation. If producers, importers, exporters, roasters, financial institutions, and educators are willing to think differently, new financing models may help strengthen the entire value chain.In this final episode of the series, Freddy shares examples of innovative financing approaches that are already being tested. These include microfinance platforms such as Kiva, university-backed impact funds, relationship-based lending, producer prepayment programs, and alternative ways of improving liquidity throughout the coffee supply chain.Lee and Freddy discuss how access to capital remains one of the greatest barriers facing coffee producers and small coffee businesses. They explore why interest rates matter, how financing costs affect every participant in the supply chain, and why access to affordable capital is often unevenly distributed throughout the industry.The conversation also examines the role that universities, investors, entrepreneurs, and coffee businesses can play in creating new pathways for financing coffee. Freddy shares practical examples from his own work and discusses how curiosity, experimentation, and relationship-building can help unlock solutions that benefit everyone involved in coffee.In this episode, we referenced https://www.kiva.org/Why this mattersThe future of coffee will require more than higher prices and better quality. It will require new ways of thinking about risk, capital, and prosperity. Businesses that understand financing and actively participate in strengthening their supply chains will be better positioned to navigate the challenges ahead.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 for the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry. This community is open to all stakeholders in the coffee industryEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 4 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.When coffee professionals talk about improving the future of coffee, the conversation often focuses on sustainability, quality, or pricing. Much less attention is given to one of the most powerful tools available to strengthen coffee communities: prepayment financing.In this episode, Freddy shares a real-world example from Honduras that demonstrates how relatively small amounts of working capital can have a transformative impact on coffee producers and their communities. Through a conversation with producer Filander Nades, Freddy discovered that approximately USD $20,000 in pre-harvest financing could enable the hiring of dozens of workers, improve farm operations, reduce financial stress, and strengthen an entire local economy.Together, Lee and Freddy explore how prepayments can help producers secure labor, purchase inputs, avoid predatory lending, improve quality, and make better long-term decisions. They discuss the difference between investment and prepayment, why access to liquidity matters most when producers are under pressure, and how thoughtful financing structures can create prosperity rather than simply helping farmers survive.The conversation also examines how current financing systems often trap producers in cycles of debt and why many coffee businesses underestimate the positive impact that prepayment programs can have throughout the supply chain.Why this mattersCoffee producers face some of the highest levels of risk in the industry while often having the least access to affordable financing. Understanding how prepayments work, and how they can be implemented responsibly, may be one of the most practical ways for coffee businesses to contribute to a healthier and more resilient supply chain.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 for the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry. This community is open to all stakeholders in the coffee industryEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 4 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.When coffee professionals talk about improving the future of coffee, the conversation often focuses on sustainability, quality, or pricing. Much less attention is given to one of the most powerful tools available to strengthen coffee communities: prepayment financing.In this episode, Freddy shares a real-world example from Honduras that demonstrates how relatively small amounts of working capital can have a transformative impact on coffee producers and their communities. Through a conversation with producer Filander Nades, Freddy discovered that approximately USD $20,000 in pre-harvest financing could enable the hiring of dozens of workers, improve farm operations, reduce financial stress, and strengthen an entire local economy.Together, Lee and Freddy explore how prepayments can help producers secure labor, purchase inputs, avoid predatory lending, improve quality, and make better long-term decisions. They discuss the difference between investment and prepayment, why access to liquidity matters most when producers are under pressure, and how thoughtful financing structures can create prosperity rather than simply helping farmers survive.The conversation also examines how current financing systems often trap producers in cycles of debt and why many coffee businesses underestimate the positive impact that prepayment programs can have throughout the supply chain.Why this mattersCoffee producers face some of the highest levels of risk in the industry while often having the least access to affordable financing. Understanding how prepayments work, and how they can be implemented responsibly, may be one of the most practical ways for coffee businesses to contribute to a healthier and more resilient supply chain.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.One of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry is that risk is often poorly understood. Producers, exporters, importers, roasters, and financial institutions all see different parts of the supply chain, but very few people see the entire picture. As a result, decisions are often made with incomplete information.In this episode, Freddy Rivard explains why de-risking coffee finance starts with reducing information asymmetry throughout the supply chain. Drawing on his experience in agriculture, finance, importing, and roasting, Freddy explores how climate risk, production risk, market volatility, labor shortages, pests, disease pressure, and financing challenges all combine to create uncertainty for coffee producers.The conversation examines why traditional financial institutions often hesitate to finance small coffee producers and how relationship-based business models can help overcome some of these barriers. Freddy discusses the importance of long-term partnerships between producers, importers, and roasters, and explains why trust and transparency can become powerful financial tools.Lee and Freddy also explore how businesses like Honduran Coffee Alliance are working to build supply chains that prioritize long-term sustainability, resilience, and shared success rather than short-term transactional thinking.Why this mattersEvery participant in the coffee supply chain carries risk. The question is not whether risk exists, but how it is shared and managed. Businesses that invest in relationships, transparency, and long-term partnerships are often better positioned to navigate uncertainty and build more resilient supply chains.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.One of the biggest challenges facing the coffee industry is that risk is often poorly understood. Producers, exporters, importers, roasters, and financial institutions all see different parts of the supply chain, but very few people see the entire picture. As a result, decisions are often made with incomplete information.In this episode, Freddy Rivard explains why de-risking coffee finance starts with reducing information asymmetry throughout the supply chain. Drawing on his experience in agriculture, finance, importing, and roasting, Freddy explores how climate risk, production risk, market volatility, labor shortages, pests, disease pressure, and financing challenges all combine to create uncertainty for coffee producers.The conversation examines why traditional financial institutions often hesitate to finance small coffee producers and how relationship-based business models can help overcome some of these barriers. Freddy discusses the importance of long-term partnerships between producers, importers, and roasters, and explains why trust and transparency can become powerful financial tools.Lee and Freddy also explore how businesses like Honduran Coffee Alliance are working to build supply chains that prioritize long-term sustainability, resilience, and shared success rather than short-term transactional thinking.Why this mattersEvery participant in the coffee supply chain carries risk. The question is not whether risk exists, but how it is shared and managed. Businesses that invest in relationships, transparency, and long-term partnerships are often better positioned to navigate uncertainty and build more resilient supply chains.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 for the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry.Episode DescriptionThis is episode 2 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.If financing coffee were as simple as borrowing money and buying coffee, the industry would face far fewer challenges. The reality is that coffee financing sits at the intersection of agriculture, logistics, international trade, commodity markets, currencies, risk management, and business operations.In this episode, Lee and Freddy unpack why financing coffee is far more complicated than most people realize. They explore the multiple layers of risk that exist throughout the coffee value chain and discuss why producers, exporters, importers, and roasters all experience risk differently.The conversation examines how coffee moves through global markets, why financing decisions often involve navigating uncertainty months before coffee is delivered, and how changing market conditions can dramatically impact businesses throughout the supply chain. Freddy also explains how different financing structures evolve as coffee moves from producers to consumers and why understanding those structures is essential for making informed business decisions.Together, they challenge the assumption that coffee financing is simply a back-office function and instead present it as a critical part of building resilient coffee businesses.Why this mattersCoffee businesses are operating in an increasingly volatile environment. Rising costs, climate pressures, changing consumer behavior, and supply chain disruptions all increase the importance of understanding risk. The more coffee professionals understand the financial systems that support coffee trade, the better equipped they will be to make strategic decisions that protect their businesses and their supply chains.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 for the "Roasted Coffee" tier for 20 USD per month. Find other like-minded people in the coffee industry.Episode DescriptionThis is episode 2 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.If financing coffee were as simple as borrowing money and buying coffee, the industry would face far fewer challenges. The reality is that coffee financing sits at the intersection of agriculture, logistics, international trade, commodity markets, currencies, risk management, and business operations.In this episode, Lee and Freddy unpack why financing coffee is far more complicated than most people realize. They explore the multiple layers of risk that exist throughout the coffee value chain and discuss why producers, exporters, importers, and roasters all experience risk differently.The conversation examines how coffee moves through global markets, why financing decisions often involve navigating uncertainty months before coffee is delivered, and how changing market conditions can dramatically impact businesses throughout the supply chain. Freddy also explains how different financing structures evolve as coffee moves from producers to consumers and why understanding those structures is essential for making informed business decisions.Together, they challenge the assumption that coffee financing is simply a back-office function and instead present it as a critical part of building resilient coffee businesses.Why this mattersCoffee businesses are operating in an increasingly volatile environment. Rising costs, climate pressures, changing consumer behavior, and supply chain disruptions all increase the importance of understanding risk. The more coffee professionals understand the financial systems that support coffee trade, the better equipped they will be to make strategic decisions that protect their businesses and their supply chains.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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. New office now open in the UK.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is episode 1 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.Most coffee professionals understand coffee production, roasting, brewing, and sales. Far fewer understand the financial systems that make coffee trade possible. Yet every bag of coffee that moves from a farm to a roastery requires money to move before coffee can move.In this episode, Freddy Rivard breaks down the fundamentals of coffee financing and explains why financing is not simply about getting a loan from a bank. Together, Lee and Freddy explore how liquidity enables coffee to move across time, geography, and form, from coffee cherries on a farm to roasted coffee in a café.Freddy shares insights from his background in agriculture, microfinance, financial engineering, commodities trading, and coffee importing to explain the different actors involved in financing coffee. The conversation explores how producers, cooperatives, exporters, importers, financial institutions, and roasters all play a role in keeping coffee flowing through the supply chain.They also discuss why liquidity is often described as the lifeblood of commodity markets, how specialty coffee differs from commodity coffee in terms of liquidity, and why understanding the flow of money is becoming increasingly important during today's coffee crisis.Why this mattersMany coffee businesses focus exclusively on product, quality, and sales. However, the businesses that understand how money moves through the coffee supply chain are often better positioned to manage risk, build stronger partnerships, and navigate market volatility. This episode provides a practical foundation for understanding one of the most important, but least discussed, topics in coffee.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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. New office now open in the UK.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcadiagreencoffee/WhatsApp: https://wa.me/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is episode 1 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest in this series is Freddy Rivard, Co-Founder of Honduran Coffee Alliance and Insula Coffee. Throughout this series, we explore how financing works in coffee and why understanding liquidity, risk, and value chain relationships is critical to building a more resilient coffee industry.Most coffee professionals understand coffee production, roasting, brewing, and sales. Far fewer understand the financial systems that make coffee trade possible. Yet every bag of coffee that moves from a farm to a roastery requires money to move before coffee can move.In this episode, Freddy Rivard breaks down the fundamentals of coffee financing and explains why financing is not simply about getting a loan from a bank. Together, Lee and Freddy explore how liquidity enables coffee to move across time, geography, and form, from coffee cherries on a farm to roasted coffee in a café.Freddy shares insights from his background in agriculture, microfinance, financial engineering, commodities trading, and coffee importing to explain the different actors involved in financing coffee. The conversation explores how producers, cooperatives, exporters, importers, financial institutions, and roasters all play a role in keeping coffee flowing through the supply chain.They also discuss why liquidity is often described as the lifeblood of commodity markets, how specialty coffee differs from commodity coffee in terms of liquidity, and why understanding the flow of money is becoming increasingly important during today's coffee crisis.Why this mattersMany coffee businesses focus exclusively on product, quality, and sales. However, the businesses that understand how money moves through the coffee supply chain are often better positioned to manage risk, build stronger partnerships, and navigate market volatility. This episode provides a practical foundation for understanding one of the most important, but least discussed, topics in coffee.Connect with Freddy Rivard and his businesses here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericrivard/https://www.instagram.com/hondurancoffeealliance/https://www.hondurancoffeealliance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/insulacafe/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 5 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this final episode of the series, Lee and Ciro discuss how technology can help farmers better forecast and prepare for changing climate conditions.Ciro explains why macro climate data is not enough. Coffee farms often operate across complex terrain, where microclimates can vary significantly even within a small area. WSeeds is developing IoT sensors to help measure farm-level conditions such as humidity and temperature so farmers can better understand risks related to berry borer, leaf rust, soil conditions, inputs, and yield.Lee and Ciro also discuss the role of AI. Forecasting is only useful if farmers know what to do with the information, and AI may help farmers connect their own farm data with possible decisions, lower-cost experiments, and more precise preparation.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 5 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this final episode of the series, Lee and Ciro discuss how technology can help farmers better forecast and prepare for changing climate conditions.Ciro explains why macro climate data is not enough. Coffee farms often operate across complex terrain, where microclimates can vary significantly even within a small area. WSeeds is developing IoT sensors to help measure farm-level conditions such as humidity and temperature so farmers can better understand risks related to berry borer, leaf rust, soil conditions, inputs, and yield.Lee and Ciro also discuss the role of AI. Forecasting is only useful if farmers know what to do with the information, and AI may help farmers connect their own farm data with possible decisions, lower-cost experiments, and more precise preparation.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 4 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this episode, Lee and Ciro discuss the gap technology can fill in helping farmers assess and understand cost of production.Lee frames the issue through ongoing Map It Forward Patreon discussion group conversations about coffee pricing, the C market, and the industry's dependence on a futures price that is often shaped by actors far removed from coffee production. Ciro explains that many small farmers do not know their true cost of production per kilogram, per lot, per hectare, or per tree.The conversation gets into why this matters for price negotiation. A farmer who understands real-time cost of production can ask for a price based on current conditions rather than last year's assumptions.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 4 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this episode, Lee and Ciro discuss the gap technology can fill in helping farmers assess and understand cost of production.Lee frames the issue through ongoing Map It Forward Patreon discussion group conversations about coffee pricing, the C market, and the industry's dependence on a futures price that is often shaped by actors far removed from coffee production. Ciro explains that many small farmers do not know their true cost of production per kilogram, per lot, per hectare, or per tree.The conversation gets into why this matters for price negotiation. A farmer who understands real-time cost of production can ask for a price based on current conditions rather than last year's assumptions.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this episode, Lee and Ciro examine how technology can help trace coffee quality as it moves through the supply chain, and where the limits of that traceability begin.Ciro explains that quality consistency starts long before coffee leaves the farm. Farm activities, fertilization, pest and disease pressure, post-harvest practices, milling, fermentation, drying, and logistics can all affect the final cup. When those steps are recorded and correlated, farmers can better understand what produced a strong result and how to repeat it.Lee pushes into the harder question: quality is not only objective. Moisture, defects, residue limits, and transport conditions can be tracked more clearly, but sensory quality depends on the person cupping the coffee and the standards they use.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this episode, Lee and Ciro examine how technology can help trace coffee quality as it moves through the supply chain, and where the limits of that traceability begin.Ciro explains that quality consistency starts long before coffee leaves the farm. Farm activities, fertilization, pest and disease pressure, post-harvest practices, milling, fermentation, drying, and logistics can all affect the final cup. When those steps are recorded and correlated, farmers can better understand what produced a strong result and how to repeat it.Lee pushes into the harder question: quality is not only objective. Moisture, defects, residue limits, and transport conditions can be tracked more clearly, but sensory quality depends on the person cupping the coffee and the standards they use.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 2 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this episode, Lee and Ciro move from data collection into data visibility: what changes when farmers can actually see, compare, and use the information from their farms.Lee frames the conversation through a question Map It Forward has asked for years: who is making the money in the coffee supply chain, and why is it so hard to answer that without data visibility? Ciro brings that question back to the farm level and explains how visibility helps farmers understand flowering, harvest projections, quality consistency, risk, and operational performance.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 2 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this episode, Lee and Ciro move from data collection into data visibility: what changes when farmers can actually see, compare, and use the information from their farms.Lee frames the conversation through a question Map It Forward has asked for years: who is making the money in the coffee supply chain, and why is it so hard to answer that without data visibility? Ciro brings that question back to the farm level and explains how visibility helps farmers understand flowering, harvest projections, quality consistency, risk, and operational performance.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is episode 1 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this episode, Lee and Ciro begin with the problem underneath so many coffee supply chain conversations: most farm-level decisions are still being made with incomplete or imprecise information.Ciro explains how WSeeds is working with farmers through tools such as Agrochat, using WhatsApp voice notes to help farmers record operational data across seedling, harvesting, post-harvest, labour, inputs, costs, quality, and yield.The conversation focuses on the difference between collecting broad information and collecting data that can actually help a farmer make decisions. Ciro outlines why knowing harvest volume and sale price is not enough, and why farmers need to understand specific activities, lot-level costs, fertilization doses, labour allocation, soil conditions, administrative expenses, and how those data points relate to each other.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is episode 1 of a 5-part series with agro-tech company cofounder and CEO, Ciro Gelvez from WSeeds and Map It Forward Founder, Lee Safar. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing technology and the coffee supply chain, and what becomes possible when farm-level data is captured, managed, and used in ways that actually help coffee farmers make better business decisions.In this episode, Lee and Ciro begin with the problem underneath so many coffee supply chain conversations: most farm-level decisions are still being made with incomplete or imprecise information.Ciro explains how WSeeds is working with farmers through tools such as Agrochat, using WhatsApp voice notes to help farmers record operational data across seedling, harvesting, post-harvest, labour, inputs, costs, quality, and yield.The conversation focuses on the difference between collecting broad information and collecting data that can actually help a farmer make decisions. Ciro outlines why knowing harvest volume and sale price is not enough, and why farmers need to understand specific activities, lot-level costs, fertilization doses, labour allocation, soil conditions, administrative expenses, and how those data points relate to each other.Connect with Ciro Gelvez and WSeeds here:https://wseeds.co/en/https://www.instagram.com/wseeds_col/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cirowseeds/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 itEpisode DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 itEpisode DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorNeed help with your business? Email us: support@mapitforward.org to learn more.Episode DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorNeed help with your business? Email us: support@mapitforward.org to learn more.Episode DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 itEpisode DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 itEpisode DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis 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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 2 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 on one of the hardest parts of growth: deciding what actually deserves more investment.Nawar explains that growth decisions become clearer when operators stop thinking romantically and start reading the business properly. He talks through how Stitch looks at years of P&L history, margin pressure, department-level performance, and real market adoption before deciding where to keep pushing and where to stop.The conversation moves through RTDs, drip bags, steeped coffee, and why some products fail not because they're bad, but because the market infrastructure isn't there yet.Lee and Nawar also discuss why great operators need to study brands outside coffee, how strategy becomes sharper with maturity, and why sequence matters in growth. This is a practical episode about data, product discipline, and getting honest enough to cut what isn't working so you can back what is.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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 2 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 on one of the hardest parts of growth: deciding what actually deserves more investment.Nawar explains that growth decisions become clearer when operators stop thinking romantically and start reading the business properly. He talks through how Stitch looks at years of P&L history, margin pressure, department-level performance, and real market adoption before deciding where to keep pushing and where to stop.The conversation moves through RTDs, drip bags, steeped coffee, and why some products fail not because they're bad, but because the market infrastructure isn't there yet.Lee and Nawar also discuss why great operators need to study brands outside coffee, how strategy becomes sharper with maturity, and why sequence matters in growth. This is a practical episode about data, product discipline, and getting honest enough to cut what isn't working so you can back what is.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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is episode 1 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 without pretending the crisis isn't real.In this first conversation, Lee and Nawar unpack why Stitch Coffee didn't respond to pressure by retreating. Instead, Nawar explains how the business used timing, brand clarity, and a deep understanding of consumer behavior to grow while many operators were just trying to survive.The conversation is grounded in real decisions: investing in packaging when others thought it was frivolous, treating retail as a strategic growth lever, and building experiences that make customers feel something tangible when they interact with the brand online or in store.They also explore why the Queen Victoria Building site became such an important turning point for Stitch, what Nawar looks for in high-potential locations, and why the combination of tourists, locals, and business customers matters so much when choosing where to grow.This episode is a practical conversation about brand recognition, retail mix, confidence, and how to move when the market is tight but the opportunity is real.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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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/353877871523Episode DescriptionThis is episode 1 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 without pretending the crisis isn't real.In this first conversation, Lee and Nawar unpack why Stitch Coffee didn't respond to pressure by retreating. Instead, Nawar explains how the business used timing, brand clarity, and a deep understanding of consumer behavior to grow while many operators were just trying to survive.The conversation is grounded in real decisions: investing in packaging when others thought it was frivolous, treating retail as a strategic growth lever, and building experiences that make customers feel something tangible when they interact with the brand online or in store.They also explore why the Queen Victoria Building site became such an important turning point for Stitch, what Nawar looks for in high-potential locations, and why the combination of tourists, locals, and business customers matters so much when choosing where to grow.This episode is a practical conversation about brand recognition, retail mix, confidence, and how to move when the market is tight but the opportunity is real.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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorNeed help with your business? Email us: support@mapitforward.org to learn more.Episode DescriptionThis is episode 5 of a 5-part series with Isabela Raposeiras, founder of Coffee Lab Brazil. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we've been discussing leadership, hospitality, workplace culture, and the future of coffee businesses.In this final episode, host Lee Safar and Isabela ask a difficult but important question: Why is “specialty coffee” failing as a value proposition?This conversation challenges many of the systems, assumptions, and power structures that have shaped the global specialty coffee industry over the last two decades.Lee and Isabela explore whether the modern specialty coffee movement has drifted away from its original intention of creating a more equitable and values-driven coffee supply chain, and whether it has instead recreated many of the same extractionist behaviors it originally claimed to oppose.The discussion looks at who gets to define “quality coffee,” why producing countries are increasingly challenging Western-centric definitions of specialty coffee, and how organizations like the SCA and CVA continue shaping industry standards without adequately including the voices of producers and producing countries.Isabela also argues that “specialty coffee” is not simply a product category, it's a cultural and political concept, and that unless the industry becomes more inclusive, more self-aware, and more willing to redistribute power, it risks losing credibility altogether.This is one of the most direct, provocative, and important conversations we've had on the podcast in a long time.Connect with Isabela Raposeiras and Coffee Lab here:https://www.instagram.com/coffeelab_br/https://www.instagram.com/isabela.raposeiras/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 itEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 4 of a 5-part series with Isabela Raposeiras, founder of Coffee Lab Brazil. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing what's changing about leading coffee businesses and why many of the assumptions that built specialty coffee may no longer be serving the industry, or the people working inside it.In this episode, host Lee Safar and Isabela explore what's fundamentally changed about leading people in hospitality and coffee businesses over the last decade.The conversation examines how younger generations entering the workforce are asking different questions about work, identity, balance, dignity, and leadership, and why many older leadership models are struggling to adapt.Lee and Isabela discuss the emotional labor of leadership, why businesses can no longer rely on fear, pressure, or hierarchy to retain staff, and how the economic and social realities facing younger workers are reshaping expectations around employment altogether.Isabela also shares why empathy, communication, and flexibility are becoming essential leadership skills in hospitality, and why many businesses are still resisting the reality that workplace culture now matters just as much as pay.This episode is a thoughtful conversation about leadership evolution, generational change, emotional responsibility, and the future of work in coffee businesses.Connect with Isabela Raposeiras and Coffee Lab here:https://www.instagram.com/coffeelab_br/https://www.instagram.com/isabela.raposeiras/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series with Isabela Raposeiras, founder of Coffee Lab Brazil. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing what's changing about leading coffee businesses and why many of the systems, assumptions, and structures that built specialty coffee may no longer be serving the industry, or the people working in it.In this episode, host Lee Safar, and Isabela explore what the real priorities should be when leading people in coffee businesses today.The conversation challenges many of the traditional leadership models still dominating hospitality and café culture, particularly the belief that pressure, hierarchy, and burnout are simply part of building successful businesses.Lee and Isabela discuss the responsibility leaders have to create psychologically safe workplaces, why emotional intelligence matters more than ever, and how many business owners still underestimate the impact leadership behavior has on staff retention, communication, and workplace culture.Isabela also shares how Coffee Lab has approached leadership differently, why dignity and respect must be central to managing teams, and why younger generations entering the workforce are demanding something very different from previous generations.This episode is a direct conversation about leadership, workplace culture, emotional responsibility, and the future of hospitality businesses.Connect with Isabela Raposeiras and Coffee Lab here:https://www.instagram.com/coffeelab_br/https://www.instagram.com/isabela.raposeiras/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

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 DescriptionThis is episode 2 of a 5-part series with Isabela Raposeiras, founder of Coffee Lab Brazil. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we're discussing what's changing about leading coffee businesses and why many of the systems, assumptions, and structures that built specialty coffee may no longer be serving the industry.In this episode, host Lee Safar and Isabela explore whether the coffee industry is still building businesses based on outdated ideas of success, leadership, and café culture.The conversation looks at how many coffee businesses continue to copy business models, café experiences, and operational structures from decades ago without questioning whether those systems still make sense for today's consumers, workforce, and economy.Lee and Isabela discuss the tension between tradition and innovation, why so many café businesses continue chasing the same formulas despite increasing instability, and how fear, ego, and industry conformity prevent many operators from adapting.Isabela also explains why newer coffee-producing and consuming countries are beginning to challenge the traditional Western idea of what a coffee business should look like, and why that shift may ultimately redefine the future of quality coffee globally.This episode is a direct conversation about innovation, leadership, culture, and whether the coffee industry is brave enough to evolve.Connect with Isabela Raposeiras and Coffee Lab here:https://www.instagram.com/coffeelab_br/https://www.instagram.com/isabela.raposeiras/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.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org