As March approaches, the world prepares to celebrate International Women’s Day, March 8 — a day dedicated to honoring the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide. It’s a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of women in every aspect of society and to advocate for inclusion and gender equality.
Around the coffee world, women have long fought for equal rights, equal pay and equal representation, despite their integral roles in the industry, their communities and their families. Moreover, women’s involvement in the coffee industry often leads to more sustainable and equitable practices. Studies show that women tend to reinvest a higher portion of their income into their families, education and healthcare, thereby fostering greater social development and well-being. Further, studies confirm that when women are involved in decision-making, more intelligent choices get made.
This International Women’s Day, we hope you’ll consider supporting women-produced coffees and join us in celebrating the spirit of women’s achievements worldwide. Of course, recognizing the incredible women in the coffee industry and beyond, and striving for a more inclusive and equitable world, is a commitment we can uphold every day. Let’s continue to. Cheers to women’s empowerment, one sip at a time!
Women-Produced Coffees
Contributors to Honduras Gea, celebrating its send off at the warehouse.
Colombia El Desarrollo Café de Mujeres
El Desarrollo was founded with 27 producer partners from the municipality of Gigante Huila, with the goal of creating self-sustainability as well as economic, social and cultural development for its producers. Today, it has more than 220 members, 51 of whom are women and whose coffee constitutes our Colombia El Desarrollo Café de Mujeres.
Cupping notes: Orange, honey, caramel, green apple, green grape.
Honduras Gea SHG EP Organic
Our colleagues at NKG Becamo created this regional blend from the coffees of more than 400 women producers and named it Gea, after the goddess of the Earth and the mother of all creation. It’s a coffee that, they say, “embodies the determined spirit of women.” Women producers in Honduras — whether because a partner has passed away or migrated, or out of a pure passion for coffee — absolutely seize the opportunities that coffee presents. This coffee acknowledges and pays tribute to their work.
Cupping notes: Caramel, almond, toffee, apricot; smooth body, juicy acidity.
Mexico NKG Bloom Los Altos
Mexico NKG Bloom Los Altos is the work of 102 indigenous women from five municipalities of the Los Altos de Chiapas region of Mexico. Furthermore, 12 of these producers are under age 29, and 57 are between 30 and 50 years old, meaning the group represents both the present and the future of coffee in the region. Each producer works an average of 1.2 hectares, producing cherry that is hand-pulped, fermented in small tanks, washed and sun-dried. For generations, these women have been custodians of their traditional knowledge and culture, as well as of the production of coffee in Mexico.
Cupping notes: Plum, brown sugar, almond; citric acidity, juicy body.
Brazil Força Café Championship 2023
Maria Helena Carvalho Siqueira and Marie Nakao Sasaki were among the competitors in the 2023 Brazil Força Café Championship. The contest was created to highlight Brazil’s smallholder producers, who have worked incredibly hard to improve agronomy practices and cup quality as well as profitability. Celebrating its 10th year, the contest is paired with an online auction through which buyers can compete for the top lots!
These coffees have not yet shipped, but we are so looking forward to their arrival in late spring!
Maria Helena Carvalho Siqueira
Cupping notes: Orange, melon, chocolate, almond; clean and elegant.
Marie Nakao Sasaki
Cupping notes: Strawberry, milk chocolate, marzipan, apricot, toffee. •
