When you brew your favourite cup of coffee, it’s easy to forget just how many hands helped bring it to life. All over the world, millions of women are working tirelessly behind the scenes growing, harvesting and processing the coffee we love.
Yet despite playing a vital role in the coffee industry, many women face significant barriers to ownership, recognition and fair pay. That’s why supporting women in coffee is about much more than great taste, it’s about helping to create a more equal, sustainable future for coffee.
At Pebble & Pine, we’re proud to offer coffees like our Honduras Gea, which celebrates the skill and dedication of over 400 women farmers. In this post, we’ll explore why women in coffee matter, share their stories, and explain how your choices as a coffee drinker can make a real difference.
Why Women in Coffee Matter
Women make up around 70% of the labour force in coffee production globally. They often plant and care for the coffee trees, harvest the cherries and help with sorting and processing.
But when it comes to land ownership, access to training, decision-making and income, women are still under-represented. According to the International Coffee Organisation, women typically earn less than their male counterparts and own fewer coffee farms.
Empowering women in coffee isn’t just the right thing to do - it also leads to better coffee and stronger communities. Studies show that when women have more control over resources and income:
- Families enjoy better nutrition and healthcare
- Children, especially girls, are more likely to attend school
- Communities benefit from greater economic stability
- Coffee quality improves, as women often adopt more sustainable farming practices
Stories of Women Coffee Farmers
A shining example of the impact women can have in coffee is our Honduras Gea.
This beautiful single origin coffee is produced by over 400 women farmers from across seven regions of Honduras, including Lempira, Ocotepeque, Intibucá, Copán, La Paz, El Paraíso and Comayagua.
Brought together by exporter Becamo, these women have formed a supportive network, sharing knowledge and improving both their farming and business skills. Many use eco-friendly techniques such as planting fruit and timber trees alongside coffee, which boosts soil health and flavour.
By growing coffee organically and focusing on quality, they are helping to create a brighter future for themselves, their families and their communities.
And the result? A deliciously smooth and layered cup with flavours of caramel, almond, toffee, apple and apricot — a true reflection of their passion and dedication.
The Impact of Supporting Women in Coffee
When you choose coffees grown by women farmers, you help create lasting, positive change.
Supporting women in coffee leads to:
✅ Fairer incomes → helping women invest in their farms and families
✅ Better education → more children staying in school
✅ Healthier communities → improved access to healthcare and nutrition
✅ Higher coffee quality → sustainable farming produces better beans
It also sends a powerful message to the wider industry: ethical sourcing matters. When roasters and consumers demand more traceable, women-produced coffees, more opportunities open up for female farmers around the world.
How We Can Support Women in Coffee
It’s easy to make a difference through our everyday coffee choices. Here are a few simple ways to help:
☕ Choose women-grown coffees → look for products like our Honduras Gea, which directly support female farmers.
🛍️ Buy from ethical roasters → support brands that champion transparency and fair sourcing.
📚 Share their stories → raising awareness helps drive more demand for women-produced coffees.
👩🌾 Support training and education → some organisations run programmes to help women farmers access skills and market opportunities.
So Women are Central to Coffee Farming
The future of coffee depends on the people who grow it — and women are central to that future.
By celebrating and supporting women coffee farmers, we help build a stronger, more sustainable coffee industry — one that benefits everyone, from farm to cup.
Next time you brew your favourite single origin, take a moment to appreciate the hands behind it. And if you’d like to taste the difference women farmers can make, we invite you to try our Honduras Gea — a coffee full of flavour, heart and purpose.
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