EPISODE · Jul 9, 2026 · 23 MIN
EP1634 Part 4 of 5 | Why $3 Coffee Still Isn't Enough for Farmers (Ana Maria Donneys) | Map It Forward
from The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by MAP IT FORWARD · host Lee Safar
Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Map It Forward Podcast Advertising. Interested in advertising on this podcast? Email [email protected] to learn more.Episode DescriptionThis is Part 4 of a 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar.Our guest is Ana Maria Donneys, a fifth-generation Colombian coffee producer, founder of Café Primitivo in Quindío, Colombia, and President and Co-Founder of IWCA Colombia.Throughout this series, Lee and Ana explore how Colombian coffee farmers are navigating one of the most volatile periods the coffee industry has experienced in decades, discussing climate, politics, pricing, financing, and the future of the coffee supply chain.In this episode, they tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in coffee today: the belief that historically high coffee prices mean producers are finally making good money.Ana explains why that's simply not true.Using examples from her own farm, she shows how lower yields, climate impacts, labour shortages, rising wages, and increasing production costs mean that even coffee selling above US$3 per pound may only be covering the cost of production. For many producers, there is little or no profit left.The conversation also explores the important differences between industrial coffee farming and smallholder production. Lee and Ana discuss why comparing Brazilian industrial farms with Colombian smallholder farms creates unrealistic expectations and why the future of specialty coffee will depend on innovation, mechanisation, and finding new ways to support producers before labour shortages become an even bigger challenge.If you've ever wondered why higher coffee prices haven't solved the coffee industry's problems, this episode provides one of the clearest explanations you'll hear.Connect with Ana and Café Primitivo here:https://www.instagram.com/cafeprimitivo/ https://www.instagram.com/anadonneys/https://www.cafeprimitivocolombia.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/anadonneys/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. ***************************************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: [email protected]
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What this episode covers
Part 4 of 5: If coffee prices are above $3 per pound, why are producers still struggling? Ana Maria Donneys explains why higher prices don't automatically translate into higher profits for farmers. From climate-driven yield losses and rising labour costs to the differences between industrial farming and smallholder production, this episode explores why today's coffee prices are barely covering costs for many producers and what that means for the future of coffee.
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EP1634 Part 4 of 5 | Why $3 Coffee Still Isn't Enough for Farmers (Ana Maria Donneys) | Map It Forward
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