Three Beans That Support the Women of Coffee
By: Eric Bates-McLoed
For: North Roast
At North Roast we are committed to the ethical sourcing and production of coffee. This begins with finding growers who match our standards and support causes we are equally passionate about. Initiatives like Café Femenino are exactly what we wish to uplift and highlight within the greater coffee community.
Café Femenino is a program started in 2004 by Peruvian women farmers to provide fair compensation, opportunities, and resources to female farmers in the male-dominated coffee-growing industry. Working with established farming cooperatives within a select country Café Femenino supports gender equality in the sector and reduces poverty and abuse among female farmers and their families. Since its inception, the program has spread across the coffee-growing world and has helped female farmers acquire leadership roles and equal wages, and as a result, these farmers have been able to benefit their greater community (Café Femenino, Ending the cycle of poverty affecting women coffee farmers).
We are so proud to support this vital foundation and similar organizations by roasting and selling coffee beans grown on farms that provide this support to women farmers. We currently have the Nicaraguan Dark and Medium Roasts as part of our regular selection of Fair-Trade coffee beans, and two recurring Micro lots in the Brazil Women in Coffee Natural, and the Sumatra Gayo.
Nicaragua Medium & Dark FTO:
We are sure you are familiar with our Nicaragua Medium and Dark roast beans, the medium with its perfectly balanced acidity and the Dark with its rich chocolate and nutty flavours. Both beans are grown in the Nicaraguan farm of Corcasan which became a part of the greater Café Femenino program in 2017 after starting their own initiative in 2009 that sought to support the female farmers of Nicaragua who were facing hardship and abuse in their remote farming communities. Since its foundation, the women of Nicaragua have achieved economic autonomy, education opportunities, and leadership opportunities, and have helped to end the cycle of abuse and exploitation within their communities (Café Femenino, 2018, June 21, Nicaragua Program).
The beans from this farm can be purchased as their single-origin variants in both Medium and Dark Roast or can be found in some of our most popular blended coffees. The Nicaragua Dark provides our Dark Espresso FTO and our French Roast with some of their characteristic chocolate notes. Whereas the Nicaragua Medium in our Northern Lights mix helps give it a pleasantly bright hit of acidity.
Brazil Women in Coffee Natural Micro-Lot:
The popular Brazil Women in Coffee Natural Micro-Lot is a coffee-produced by primarily female farmers who have started their own group called The Cafeina Women’s Group. Began in 2019 this group consists of 261 active women farmers who hold equal shares in their respective farms, giving them autonomy and financial stability. The organization is run and operated by the women in the community, providing freedom and equality for these farmers (Sucafina, Cafeina Cocatrel Women’s Coffee Natural).
Smooth and rich with excellent cocoa and nutty notes the Brazil Women In Coffee Natural is a Medium Roast that is a must-try whenever we can acquire these sought-after beans. Not only will you be enjoying an exceptional coffee, but you will also be supporting women run and operated farms, providing them with the support needed to continue their efforts and help even more women.
Sumatra Gayo Micro-Lot:
Among the many farms that make up the GARMINDO cooperative of Sumatra, the Sumatra Gayo comes from the subgroup of women coffee producers who sell their coffee at a premium so that a portion can be directly paid to these female workers. This has helped these farmers achieve greater economic freedom and has aided in uplifting their communities thanks to the additional income (Cafe Imports, GARMINDO - Peteri Bensu – Gayo).
With a robust coffee flavour with hints of cherry, mild chocolate and earthy undertones the Sumatra Gayo is a unique variant of our popular Sumatra FTO Dark Roast, which is sure to please those who already love our Sumatra beans.
It is our great privilege to host these coffees and support these amazing women who produce some of the best coffee in the world. We encourage you to try these coffees whenever they are available not just because they help a worthy cause, but also because they make incredible cups of coffee. The coffees from Nicaragua Corcasan are available year-round as roasts last and our two micro-lots can be purchased whenever beans can be acquired. Keep an eye on our social media and other platforms to be notified when they are in stock!