As you know, ALLMYNE is looking to make the world a better and more sustainable place; and we couldn’t do any of that without our incredible partners. This week’s partner is She is Coffee, a company that is focused on coffee equality and women’s empowerment, something we can all surely get behind.
We got the chance to meet up with Nicole Tignor, the brains behind supporting women coffee growers. Pretty cool, right?
Let’s see what she had to tell us!
Hey, Nicole! It’s so nice to finally get a chance to talk with you! How have things been over at the proverbial She is Coffee HQ?
Things are going well. We’re quite busy these days, as all of our staff are volunteers, but things are going really well!
That’s great to hear! What sort of things do you have going on right now?
Well, this month we are launching the She Is Coffee storytelling campaign, highlighting the powerful voices and real-life experiences of our board members and women throughout coffee-producing communities.
That is seriously so neat. Tell me more.
Each story will offer a raw, honest look at the challenges women face within the male-dominated coffee industry, serving as an invitation for more women to join and strengthen this movement.
It’s always important to give voices to those who have been silent for so long. Anything else you all are up to right now?
Actually, we are also preparing to release a multilingual Global Needs Assessment survey, which will provide critical insight into the realities women face across the coffee supply chain. This data will help us establish and support focused, locally-driven organizations in all coffee-producing countries.
What a wonderful way to expand your visions. You’re seeing a problem most wouldn’t think about and you’re bringing it to the forefront with a solution supported by data collection. That’s really brilliant.
Thank you!
Of course! Speaking of visions, tell me more about what your mission and primary goals are.
Our mission is to empower and uplift women in the coffee, vanilla, chocolate, spices, and agricultural industries. We provide resources, education, and opportunities for personal and professional growth, fostering economic and social empowerment among women.
I am so on board! What inspired you to get into this line of work?
We believe it’s vital to recognize that investing in women at origin is one of the most impactful and overlooked opportunities in the coffee industry. When you invest in women, you invest in communities, in food security, in sustainability, and in the future of coffee itself. Women are often the backbone of the industry—working the land, raising families, organizing cooperatives—yet they remain underrepresented in decision-making roles and under-resourced in funding and training.
At She Is Coffee, we live by the irrefutable fact that investing in people is the best investment. And in coffee, that starts with women. They are the stewards of the land, the keepers of tradition, and the drivers of innovation. Supporting them is not only the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do.
Wow. Very very well spoken. I am absolutely obsessed with this idea. To pursue this goal of women empowerment in the coffee industry, what projects—or initiatives—are you currently focused on?
Well, we have three actually.
Ooo, let me hear them!
Okay, so the first one is the Women’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program.
We are actively building a global network of women throughout the entire coffee supply chain—including producers, exporters, importers, roasters, café owners, and baristas. Women in coffee deeply need networking, genuine friendship, and mentoring relationships at every level.
Our mission is to ensure that women know they are not alone in their struggles and that a community of supportive peers stands with them. To achieve this, we’re creating a comprehensive database highlighting women-run coffee businesses and organizations worldwide. This resource will foster transparency, connection, and informed support across the industry.
I can’t wait for it to be completed. Our users will be able to consult that guide whenever they go traveling and need a little espresso to brighten their day!
Exactly! The other thing we have going on right now are sustainability and reforestation partnerships. So, we are partnering with women-led farms to protect and restore land for future generations. At Finca Corralillo in Veracruz, Mexico, we’re documenting reforestation initiatives, donating vanilla plant starts to reintroduce vanilla cultivation at its origin, and supporting diversification efforts.
Our goal is that the surrounding community of women will see these actions, become inspired to join our efforts, and gain the confidence to advocate for equal rights within their family farms. We also aim to support these women in forming their own cooperative to collectively sell their products—securing better prices for themselves and higher-quality products for consumers. This pilot program we hope to duplicate many times over wherever women coffee farmers are located around the world.
A global initiative always seems so difficult to execute, but you all at She is Coffee are putting in the utmost effort to make sure these women in the coffee industry are heard and seen. And what’s your third focus in the company right now?
Education across the supply chain. We are dedicated to educating consumers about the vital roles women play throughout the coffee industry, from farm to cup—highlighting their contributions as producers, exporters, importers, roasters, café owners, and baristas.
I love that. “Farm to cup.” Sorry, go on.
It’s okay! So, we provide specialized training and business education for women at origin, including topics such as crop diversification, business management, and sustainable farming practices—resources often not accessible elsewhere.
Additionally, we facilitate educational trips for women roasters, baristas, and coffee professionals to origin countries, enabling them to directly experience and appreciate the labor and dedication of women producers. Our ultimate goal is to foster lasting relationships among women throughout the industry and raise broader awareness of women’s invaluable contributions to coffee. This system can also bring additional revenue to women farmers hosting travelers while they experience coffee related agriculture.
How do you engage with your audience? Like, what channels do you use in particular?
We currently engage with our audience through hybrid monthly meetings, Instagram, email newsletters, and in-person events. We also start local networking groups in different countries—including Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, and Uganda—designed to connect women in the coffee industry and foster grassroots leadership.
These local chapters help us build global solidarity while staying deeply rooted in each region’s unique challenges and strengths. We prioritize in-person origin travel, where coffee professionals can visit farms, learn directly from women growers, and form long-lasting mentorship and sourcing relationships.
For us, travel is networking, and education is mentorship. Our storytelling and updates are shared mainly through Instagram and email, with a focus on highlighting women’s voices, sharing impact stories, and inviting others into the movement.
Here at ALLMYNE, we can all get behind that idea about traveling. Meeting people around the world strengthens global connections, which are necessary for all of us to make the world a more sustainable place. And we will link your Instagram account for our readers to peruse. Finally, to finish our conversation on a high note, share with us a recent success story or milestone that you’re particularly proud of.
Last fall, She Is Coffee traveled to Finca Corralillo in Veracruz, Mexico, where we documented interviews, vanilla harvesting, and beekeeping practices while helping the women farmers complete our global collaboration questionnaire. This visit was the first step toward helping the community form a formal cooperative and was a powerful milestone in our effort to support and connect women across borders.
That is seriously so cool, getting the chance to go to the roots of coffee and seeing firsthand how the coffee is made. There are so many steps that are put into place before we sit down in our little cafés and sip an iced latte out of a cup. Your company really emphasizes the importance of noticing what society has deemed invisible. Thank you for shedding light on this and sharing all of this stuff with us!
You can check out She is Coffee on their Instagram for any future updates. We are so excited to be partnering with them, so go show them some love!
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