Looking to start your business as a coffee consultant? Our workshop "It's Time To Become a Coffee Consultant" is for you - https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Welcome to the 2nd episode of this five-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro by the Map It Forward Podcast, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest on the podcast today is Lennart Clerkx, the co-founder of This Side Up Coffee, an independent coffee trading house and importer based in the Netherlands. In this series, Lee and Lennart will explore whether or not an independent, values-driven, coffee trader can maintain their values long-term. The episodes of this 5-part series: 1. Independent Coffee Traders vs. The Big Guys - https://youtu.be/h-U9E8L5Q-w 2. How is Coffee Trading Funded - https://youtu.be/u8W46VUSAFo 3. Values Driven Coffee Trading Companies - https://youtu.be/MTWN_MOS4Hw 4. EUDR for Values Based Traders - https://youtu.be/L13jBcrA8_Y 5. The Volatility of 2025 For Coffee Traders - https://youtu.be/5gKlL9PrxKM In this episode of The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward, Lee and Lennart delve into the opaque world of coffee trading. They discuss how the current trade system benefits high-level figures who leach money from the industry, the financial mechanics behind coffee trade funding, and the troubling realities hidden from the public eye. Lee also touches on the misleading sense of success within the coffee industry and argues for genuine, values-based business practices. This candid conversation reveals the deep-seated issues within the system and offers insights into making a real impact. 00:00 Introduction to Transparent Trade 00:58 Sponsored Message: Become a Coffee Consultant 01:37 Welcome and Episode Overview 01:57 The Hidden World of Coffee Trading 02:41 Funding in Coffee Trading 03:01 The Role of Banks in Coffee Trading 04:49 Challenges and Realities of the Coffee Industry 08:56 Personal Experiences and Industry Insights 18:41 The Success Fallacy in Coffee 22:39 The Illusion of a Profitable Coffee Industry 28:02 Final Thoughts and Next Episode Preview Connect with This Side Up Coffee here: https://www.instagram.com/thissideupcoffees/ https://thissideup.coffee/ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Daily Coffee Pro by Map It Forward Podcast Host: Lee Safar https://www.mapitforward.coffee https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee https://www.instagram.com/leesafar •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• This episode is brought to you by Map It Forward's revised on-demand online workshop "It's Time to Become a Coffee Consultant" available now on our website with additional new bonus material including the coffee consultant career map. Get more details on how you can create an alternative revenue stream today at https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops