Women in the coffee industry

Coffee cultureWomen in the coffee industry

Coffee is grown, picked, roasted and poured by millions of people, and a huge share of that work is done by women. Yet they own little of the land and rarely reach the top jobs. Here is where things stand, and what is changing.

On the farm

Most of the harvesting and processing is done by women, but they are far less likely to handle the business end: trade, certification, marketing. Reports suggest women own only about 3 to 20 per cent of coffee land in producing countries, often smaller and lower-quality plots, because they have less access to finance. Studies in East Africa have found wage gaps of around 39 per cent. On top of the farm work, many carry a second shift of childcare and the household, the so-called double burden.

In the roastery

Roasting sits in wealthier countries, but it is still male dominated, with few role models and a quiet assumption in some hiring that the work is too physical for women. That is slowly shifting. Movements like She's The Roaster, backed by the Specialty Coffee Association, are encouraging more women into professional roasting, and more are entering the world championships each year.

Behind the bar and in competition

In cafes the gap shows up less in pay and more in who runs the place: women are less likely to hold management or ownership. They also report more harassment and weaker job security. In competition, the numbers tell the story: the World Barista Championship crowned its first female winner only in 2019, and women still make up a small share of finalists, partly because unpaid work at home leaves less time to train and travel.

What actually helps

At origin: equal access to training, finance and co-ops, plus joint ownership and decision-making at home. Further down the chain: roasters and drinkers choosing coffees that support equity, and backing groups like the International Women's Coffee Alliance. And more data, because change is easier to argue for when it is measured. Our own Peru is bought direct from the farmer, which keeps more value at the source.

Why it matters

Equity is worth pursuing for its own sake. But there is a bonus: give women growers the same access to land, finance and training and yields can rise by up to 30 per cent, with quality to match. Money in women's hands also tends to flow back into nutrition, schooling and health. Better for people, and better coffee in your cup. It sits alongside the wider sustainability and quality work the whole industry is leaning into.

Sources include Perfect Daily Grind, the Specialty Coffee Association gender white paper, and the International Coffee Organization report on gender equality in the coffee sector.

FAQs