Ampersand Coffee Roasters

Coffee farmers grapple with numerous challenges, with hunger and gender inequality being the most prominent.

Women constitute over 70% of the labor force in coffee farming, yet they are significantly underrepresented in ownership roles or positions of authority on farms or at the cooperative level, with a ratio of 10 men to every woman. Furthermore, women account for a mere 3-20% of landowners in the developing world. Despite legal rights being equal for both genders in most of these countries, societal norms and the prevalence of men in power positions continue to hinder women's progress.

Beyond the obvious reasons for advocating women's empowerment (such as global harmony), research indicates that women reinvest up to 90% of their income into their households, compared to men who typically spend up to 25% of their income on consumables. This higher household investment contributes to more educated, sustainable communities and discourages engagement in unlawful activities.

We firmly believe that empowering women coffee farmers is the most effective strategy to stimulate and support coffee-growing communities, aiming for enduring, positive change.