Courtesy City Girl Coffee Co.
Around the world, women account for 70 percent of the labor on coffee farms, but head only 20 percent of coffee-growing families. In fact, in many countries, it is still illegal for women to own land—let alone secure critical bank loans to start and sustain coffee businesses.
Courtesy City Girl Coffee Co.
After learning of these inequities, Alyza Bohbot, owner and CEO of Alakef Coffee Roasters, felt inspired and driven to not only bring awareness to this issue, but do something about it. In 2015, she launched City Girl Coffee Co. with a mission of giving back and empowering women in coffee around the globe.
Alyza grew up in a coffee-roasting family. Her parents founded Alakef Coffee Roasters in 1990 to provide responsibly sourced and artfully crafted coffee. With 25 years of the coffee industry coursing through her DNA, Alyza didn’t just take City Girl’s mission seriously, she took the coffee seriously.
Alyza and her team set out on a mission to thoughtfully source fantastic beans from around the world, focusing as much as possible on women-owned coffee farms. Rather than focusing on one area of the globe, City Girl Coffee aims to reach widely with partnerships in Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Sumatra, and Brazil.
Courtesy City Girl Coffee Co.
The resulting product is so good that City Girl famously advises coffee lovers to enjoy it without cream and sugar so they can experience the smooth, fresh, and delicious flavors of the distinctive varieties.
And while enjoying a cup of excellent coffee truly is one of life’s best gifts, those who drink City Girl coffee can take extra satisfaction in knowing that their purchase empowers women in coffee around the globe. In addition to working with women-owned suppliers, City Girl Coffee Co. donates a portion of sales back to organizations that support women coffee growers by facilitating access to finances, education, and business resources. These organizations include Café Feminino and the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA).
A quick review of what happens when you purchase City Girl Coffee Co.’s products:
- You address inequities between women and men in these coffee farming regions.
- You empower women to achieve the sense of identity and ownership that comes from being a financially contributing member of their communities around the globe.
- You support a woman-owned, Minnesota-grown business.
- You enjoy a truly delicious cup of coffee.
All that before breakfast? (And probably during breakfast. And after breakfast. And maybe again in the afternoon.) Not bad at all.
City Girl Coffee Co. is available nationally via wholesale to coffee shops and grocers. Twelve-ounce packaged coffee and single-serve cups can be purchased on the website at citygirlcoffee.com or amazon.com. Contact info@citygirlcoffee.com for more information on how to support City Girl Coffee Co. and its global mission.
