Women in Coffee

Published on

06 Mar, 2026

This International Women’s Day, we want to highlight the essential role which women play in the coffee industry at every level.

Globally, women provide up to 70% of the labour in coffee production, yet only own or operate 20% to 30% of coffee farms.* This is because women have commonly been barred from land ownership, credit and decision-making roles.

This must be remedied.

For this reason, we actively seek out coffees that are produced by women. We are proud to source 51% of our coffees from female-owned or led farms — or family-owned farms where the women play an integral role in the day-to-day management and operations.

We are so lucky to work with some incredible women producers and groups, including Carmela Aduvuri (Bolivia), Maria Rosa Oidor and AMACA Women (Colombia), Lucia Zelaya (Guatemala), Terezinha Rigno de Oliveira (Brazil) Victoria Mukamurenzi and Rambagirakawa Women (Rwanda) and Mukami Mugo and Jane Njeri Njiru (Kenya).

From L to R, Victoria (Vice-President of Rambagirakawa Women's Alliance), Odette (President of Rambagirakawa), Soline & Laurence (members of the group).

Coffee producer, Carmela Aduviri, an incredibly dedicated producer in Bolivia, who we have had the joy of working with for almost a decade.

Coffee producer Mukami, with Market Lane co-founder, Fleur.

At every level of our business and supply chain, we are committed to strengthening women’s independence and control over the profits of coffee production.

We are proud to be majority female-owned and 60% of all Market Lane employees are women.

We have two beautiful coffees on our menu this month, from the farms of female producers we have worked with for many years.

The first is a fruit-forward filter coffee from the Vice-President of the Rambagirakawa Women’s Alliance, the wonderful Victoria Mukamurenzi.

Later in the month, look out for a creamy, sweet espresso from Carmela Aduviri, an incredibly dedicated producer who we have had the joy of working with for almost a decade.

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