MAP IT FORWARD Middle East

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 Jan-Cort Hoban, founder of Mr. Hoban’s Coffee Roastery in Germany. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we’ve been discussing the myth of being big in the coffee business and exploring whether leaner, more intentional businesses may actually be better positioned for the future of coffee.In this final episode, Lee and Jan-Cort explore how business owners can practically begin running leaner businesses in an increasingly volatile economy.The conversation moves beyond theory and into implementation—looking at downsizing, simplifying operations, reducing unnecessary overhead, and reconnecting with the original purpose behind building a coffee business.Jan-Cort explains why many businesses may already be operating beyond what is financially or emotionally sustainable, and why now may be the right time to reassess whether growth is still serving the business or simply feeding ego and external expectations.Lee and Jan-Cort also discuss the pressure being created by inflation, rising interest rates, geopolitical instability, coffee scarcity, and changing consumer behavior—and why operators who remain agile and connected to their communities may ultimately be better equipped to survive.This episode is about taking back control of your business before external pressure takes that choice away from you.Connect with Jan-Cort Hoban and Mr. Hoban’s Coffee Roastery here:• https://www.instagram.com/mr.hobans/ • https://www.mrhoban.com/ 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 Jan-Cort Hoban, founder of Mr. Hoban’s Coffee Roastery in Germany. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we’re discussing the myth of being big in the coffee business and questioning whether growth at all costs is actually sustainable in specialty coffee.In this episode, Lee and Jan-Cort tackle one of the biggest assumptions in the coffee industry: that success automatically means becoming bigger.Jan-Cort explains why he intentionally chose to remain a small roastery, even while many businesses around him chased rapid expansion, outside investment, and multiple locations.The conversation explores the hidden pressures that come with scaling, from staffing and operational complexity to debt, rent, investor expectations, and the emotional toll of carrying a larger business structure.Lee and Jan-Cort also discuss how social media has glamorized growth in coffee, why many owners feel pressured to constantly expand, and why downsizing should not be viewed as failure.This episode is a direct challenge to the idea that “more” automatically means “better.”For some businesses, staying smaller may actually be the thing that preserves quality, values, relationships, and sanity.Connect with Jan-Cort Hoban and Mr. Hoban’s Coffee Roastery here:• https://www.instagram.com/mr.hobans/ • https://www.mrhoban.com/ 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 Jan-Cort Hoban, founder of Mr. Hoban’s Coffee Roastery in Germany. In this series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, we’re discussing the myth of being big in the coffee business, why so many coffee entrepreneurs are chasing growth at all costs, and whether running a smaller, leaner business may actually be the smarter path forward in today’s coffee industry.In this first episode, Lee and Jan-Cort explore what motivates people to get into the coffee industry in the first place, and whether those motivations have fundamentally changed over the past two decades. Jan-Cort shares his journey from working in traditional coffee sales to building a values-driven coffee roasting business rooted in simplicity, direct relationships, and sustainability.The conversation dives into the rise of image-driven coffee businesses, the influence of social media and “coolness” culture in specialty coffee, and why so many business owners still misunderstand the connection between the café experience and the realities at origin. Jan-Cort also explains why he intentionally chose not to build a café empire, why he and his wife still run their roastery alone after more than 13 years, and how staying small has allowed them to remain connected to producers, customers, and their own quality of life.This episode also explores the growing movement of younger coffee producers building businesses at origin, the importance of running lean, and the tension between hyper-growth business models and more values-led approaches to coffee entrepreneurship.If you’ve ever wondered whether bigger really means better in coffee, this series is going to challenge a lot of assumptions.Connect with Jan-Cort Hoban and Mr. Hoban’s Coffee Roastery here:• https://www.instagram.com/mr.hobans/ • https://www.mrhoban.com/ 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 Part 4 of a 5-part series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with Frida Deguise, founder of L.A Donuts and Frida’s Pies in Sydney, Australia.In this series, we’re talking about what no one tells you about running a small business.In this episode, we move beyond the internal challenges of running a business and look at what’s happening externally, specifically the economic pressure building across supply chains and consumer behavior.Frida shares what she is seeing in real time:• Suppliers changing how they operate.• Relationships being replaced by automation.• Credit tightening.• Stock shortages becoming more common.What’s striking is that, from her perspective, businesses are already feeling the pressure, but consumers haven’t caught up yet. That gap matters.Because while small businesses are absorbing rising costs, adjusting products, and trying to maintain customer loyalty, the underlying system is becoming more fragile.This episode is a grounded look at what’s happening beneath the surface, and why many small businesses are preparing for what comes next, even if the wider market isn’t paying attention yet.Connect with Frida Deguise, L.A Donuts, and Frida's Pies here:- https://ladonuts.com/ - https://www.instagram.com/fridadeguise/- https://www.instagram.com/l.adonuts/- https://www.instagram.com/fridas.pies/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 Part 2 of a 5-part series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with Frida Deguise, founder of L.A Donuts and Frida’s Pies in Sydney, Australia.In this series, we’re talking about what no one tells you about running a small business.In this episode, we move from the story of starting a business into the reality of running one.Frida shares what she expected business ownership to be, creating products, serving customers, and building something meaningful, and how quickly that expectation collided with reality.What she didn’t expect was everything else.Managing staff. Navigating regulations. Dealing with accountants, contracts, and compliance. Learning to trust people, and then dealing with what happens when that trust is broken.This episode is about the part of business no one prepares you for.Not the work, but the weight of responsibility, the emotional toll, and the constant pressure of being accountable for everything.Connect with Frida Deguise, L.A Donuts, and Frida's Pies here:- https://ladonuts.com/ - https://www.instagram.com/fridadeguise/- https://www.instagram.com/l.adonuts/- https://www.instagram.com/fridas.pies/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. In 2026, fewer businesses can justify expensive trade shows. Advertising on a Map It Forward podcast connects you directly with a global audience of coffee business owners and professionals across the value chain. We offer flexible pricing structures and accept payment in US dollars or select cryptocurrencies. Email support@mapitforward.org to learn more.Episode DescriptionThis is episode 5 of a 5-part series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with coffee producer, educator, and co-founder of Academia do Café and Zinho Café, Bruno Souza.In this final episode, we examine the role of coffee associations and whether they are serving the industry or themselves.Bruno shares firsthand experiences with cooperatives, certifications, and global organizations, challenging how power and financial incentives operate within the coffee ecosystem.Connect with Bruno Souza:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandebruno/Academia do Café: https://www.instagram.com/academiadocafeZinho Café: https://www.instagram.com/zinhocafe.torraIf 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 The Honduran Coffee Alliance, connecting Honduran coffee producers with global buyers in a fair, sustainable, and commercially viable way.WhatsApp: https://wa.me/50487350786Email: sean@hondurancoffeealliance.comEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series of The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with coffee producer, educator, and co-founder of Academia do Café and Zinho Café, Bruno Souza.In this episode, we explore how the coffee industry communicates quality to consumers, and whether that communication is accurate.From competitions to certifications, this conversation challenges how quality is presented and whether these systems truly reflect what consumers are experiencing in the cup.Connect with Bruno Souza:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandebruno/Academia do Café: https://www.instagram.com/academiadocafeZinho Café: https://www.instagram.com/zinhocafe.torraIf 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 — contact us at support@mapitforward.orgAdvertise on the podcast — contact us at support@mapitforward.orgJoin our Patreon community — https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardSubscribe to our YouTube channel — https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardOr share this episode with someone who would benefit from itEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 5 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with agroecologist and newly graduated master’s researcher Lucia Reid. In this series, we’re exploring how regenerative management practices influence coffee quality.In this final episode, Lee and Lucia zoom out to look at the future of coffee supply, and the role regenerative management may play in it.This conversation brings together everything from the series: quality, scalability, environmental pressure, and the realities of farming systems under stress.Lucia explains how geopolitical instability, rising input costs, and climate pressure are already reshaping agriculture, and why regenerative systems may offer greater resilience in the face of these disruptions.We explore how farms that rely less on external inputs may be better positioned to withstand shocks, while highly dependent systems face increasing vulnerability.This is not a prediction. It’s a direction.And the question becomes: who is building systems that can adapt to what’s coming?Contact Lucia Reid here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-maria-reid-103/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reidsramblesnroasts/ 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 the Map It Forward Community Monthly Discussion Group. Join our third tier on Patreon for early ad-free access to podcast episodes, our weekly industry insights blog, and access to exclusive monthly live discussion groups with coffee professionals from around the world.Head to https://patreon.com/mapitforward to join the community.Episode DescriptionThis is episode 4 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with agroecologist and newly graduated master’s researcher Lucia Reid. In this series, we’re exploring how regenerative management practices influence coffee quality.In this episode, Lee and Lucia tackle one of the biggest questions in the industry: can regenerative agriculture actually scale?Lucia explains why this is not a straightforward yes or no. Regenerative systems are highly context-specific, meaning practices that work in one region may not work in another. This creates challenges when trying to apply regenerative approaches across large-scale supply chains.The conversation explores the realities of transitioning farms, including timeframes, financial risk, access to knowledge, and the need for localised solutions. We also examine the role of certification, incentives, and market demand, and whether the industry is currently set up to support this kind of transformation.This episode makes one thing clear: scalability is not about copying practices, it’s about building systems that can adapt.Contact Lucia Reid here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-maria-reid-103/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reidsramblesnroasts/ 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 The Honduran Coffee Alliance, connecting Honduran coffee producers with global buyers in a fair, sustainable, and commercially viable way.WhatsApp: https://wa.me/50487350786Email: sean@hondurancoffeealliance.comEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 2 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with agroecologist and newly graduated master’s researcher Lucia Reid. In this series, we’re exploring how regenerative management practices influence coffee quality.In this episode, Lee Safar and Lucia tackle one of the most contested questions in coffee: what is “quality coffee”?Lucia breaks down the technical definition, covering physical quality, biochemical composition, and sensory characteristics, but quickly moves into the deeper issue: quality is not a universal standard.This conversation explores how different stakeholders across the supply chain define quality differently, from farmers and exporters to roasters and consumers, and how these definitions often conflict.We also examine the emergence of the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) and the growing push to include intrinsic value, who grew the coffee, how it was produced, and the story behind it, as part of quality.The discussion challenges the idea that cup score alone defines quality and highlights the imbalance of power in how quality standards are set and imposed on producers.Ultimately, this episode reframes quality as something contextual, subjective, and deeply connected to both human and ecological systems.Contact Lucia Reid here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-maria-reid-103/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reidsramblesnroasts/ 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 the Map It Forward Community Monthly Discussion Group. Join our third tier on Patreon for early ad-free access to podcast episodes, our weekly industry insights blog, and access to exclusive monthly live discussion groups with coffee professionals from around the world.Head to https://patreon.com/mapitforward to join the community.Episode DescriptionThis is episode 5 of a 5-part series with founder and co-owner of RAW Coffee Company , Kim Thompson, based in Dubai, UAE. In this series, we’re discussing what it means to steer your business through a crisis.In this final episode, Lee Safar and Kim Thompson explore how the current crisis could reshape the global coffee industry.This conversation connects everything, from supply chain disruption and rising costs to consumer behaviour and business survival, and looks at what may happen if these pressures continue.Kim shares her perspective on what businesses are likely to face, including closures, consolidation, and shifts in quality and pricing. The discussion also explores how pressure on producers will continue to increase, and how difficult decisions across the supply chain may impact the future of specialty coffee.This is not speculation for the distant future. Many of these changes are already underway.Contact Kim Thompson here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawcoffeecompany/Website: https://rawcoffeecompany.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimthompsonraw/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 Arkena Coffee Marketplace, connecting you to the next coffee harvest in Ethiopia through direct trade.https://arkenacoffee.com/https://www.instagram.com/arkenacoffee/Email: hello@arkenacoffee.comEpisode DescriptionThis is episode 3 of a 5-part series with founder and co-owner of RAW Coffee Company , Kim Thompson, based in Dubai, UAE. In this series, we’re discussing what it means to steer your business through a crisis.In this episode, Lee Safar and Kim Thompson explore how crisis fundamentally changes the way a business operates.What worked before no longer works the same way.Kim shares how supply chains become unpredictable, customer behaviour shifts, and pricing decisions become increasingly difficult. From rising costs to changing demand, this episode looks at how businesses are forced to rethink everything, from product offerings to purchasing decisions.The conversation also explores the pressure placed on relationships across the supply chain, particularly with producers, and how difficult decisions need to be made in order to survive, often with no ideal outcome.This is where crisis stops being reactive and starts becoming structural.Contact Kim Thompson here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawcoffeecompany/Website: https://rawcoffeecompany.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimthompsonraw/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 founder and co-owner of RAW Coffee Company, Kim Thompson, based in Dubai, UAE. In this series, we’re discussing what it means to steer your business through a crisis.In this episode, Lee Safar sits down with Kim Thompson to understand what the current situation feels like in real time as conflict unfolds across the region.Kim shares what daily life looks like for her, her team, and her community, living with constant uncertainty, safety alerts, and the emotional weight of what’s happening around them. From managing a team of over 80 people from multiple countries to supporting employees whose families are directly impacted, this conversation reveals the human side of running a business through crisis.This episode is not about strategy. It’s about reality, what it feels like to lead, to stay, and to carry responsibility when everything around you is uncertain.Contact Kim Thompson here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawcoffeecompany/Website: https://rawcoffeecompany.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimthompsonraw/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