Episode Details

Advertising Sponsor:

This 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.com

Episode Description:

This is Part 2 of a five-part series, The 2026 Ethiopian Coffee Harvest, with Matthew Thornton, founder of Arkena Coffee Market.

In this episode, we explore what makes Ethiopia unique as a coffee trading origin. Unlike most producing countries, Ethiopia operates under a government-mandated export pricing system. Each week, the Coffee and Tea Authority publishes a minimum export price list by grade, region, and processing method. Exporters are not permitted to sign contracts below those thresholds.

The system was introduced to prevent underpricing, protect foreign currency inflows, and reduce capital leakage through sister companies abroad. The result is a market where pricing trends upward until it temporarily moves out of alignment with buyers, followed by periodic corrections.

We discuss how this structure changes power dynamics, why it reduces dependence on pure C-market pricing, and what buyers should expect from Ethiopia’s 2026 harvest.

If you source Ethiopian coffee, this episode provides critical context.

Guest Links
Arkena Coffee Market: https://arkenacoffee.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkenacoffee/

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