Description
It may be news to you, but decaffeinated coffee from female producers is seriously difficult to find. Trust us.
In the mountainous region of Jaltenango, Chiapas, more than 300 families are part of La Tribu, a local producer organization working across Jaltenango and the Sierra Madre. We purchase coffee through Bean Voyage, which has been partnering with La Tribu for the past few years, focusing our efforts on sourcing from 65 women producers within their network.
These women are not only producing high-quality coffee, but they’re cultivating resilience and building thriving businesses for themselves and their families. Despite the structural challenges smallholder farmers often face, they continue to invest in their land, expand their knowledge, and work toward long-term stability. Through coffee, they are creating pathways toward economic autonomy and shared prosperity.
This year, they worked together to develop a decaf lot called Vayichil, a word that means “to dream” in Tzotzil, a Mayan language spoken in many communities throughout Chiapas. The name reflects both the care behind the coffee and the vision these producers carry for their futures.
Tasting notes: Apple, Toffee & Plum.
Why We Chose This Supplier:
Girls Who Grind Coffee is an all-female specialty coffee roastery owned by Casey LaLonde.
Casey, originally from Upstate New York, had the dream of starting her own coffee business for as long as she can remember and there’s nothing she’s ever had as much passion for. She has happy childhood memories of her house filling up with the smell of coffee brewing in the mornings and became passionate about producer relationships after studying power dynamics for her Sociology degree.
Casey started off her career in a cupping lab and roastery where she learned how to cup and roast. She also assisted on Q-Grader courses. She enjoyed the experience of working in a lab but learned two things. 1.She wanted to work for herself. 2. She wanted to be involved in green buying and producer relationships.
After moving to the UK in 2009 and two daughters later, she was ready to start her dream business. She founded GWGC along with a previous co-founder, Fi O’Brien, in 2017.
Coffee is a wonderful world, but it’s also not always a fair and equal one. GWGC recognises the inequalities women face in coffee and sets out to help create an industry where women felt seen and celebrated for everything they bring to the table and have their voices heard. Hence, we made the conscious decision to focus solely on buying coffee from female producers, sharing their stories with the world, and giving them the recognition they rightly deserve for the incredible work that they do.
