IWCA News & Updates
IWCA News & Updates
Welcome to the IWCA Family: Canada Becomes Our 37th Chapter
The global movement just grew stronger. IWCA Canada launches as our 37th chapter, positioning Canadian professionals at the intersection of consuming markets and origin empowerment. Welcome, Canada!
A Meaningful Way to Celebrate Women’s History Month: Celebrating Amy’s Blend and Our Partnership with Caribou Coffee
Each March, Caribou Coffee's Amy's Blend returns — and so does a partnership that connects every bag sold to women building the future of coffee. From March 5 through March 29, 2026, Caribou will donate up to $50,000 to IWCA. Here is what that support makes possible.
From Barcelona to the National Stage: How IWCA Spain Built a Pipeline — and Monserrat Cornet Walked Through It
When IWCA Spain noticed that fewer than 5% of women competed in national barista championships despite making up 54% of Spain's coffee workforce, they didn't wait for someone else to solve it. They built Espréssate, the first women's barista championship in Spain. Monserrat Cornet won. Then she walked into the SCA Spain National Barista Championship as the only woman in the finals and placed 6th in the country. This is the story of how a chapter built a pipeline, a network built a bridge, and a grant fund opened the door.
When One Grant Strengthens 33 Women and an Entire Chapter
A $5,000 grant from Caribou Coffee helped Women in Coffee Ethiopia train 33 women in business and life skills, then support a democratic board transition. This is what sustainable empowerment looks like: skills, leadership, and stronger local infrastructure.
From Ethiopia to Nairobi: How One Trainer Is Expanding Coffee Education Across East Africa
Ethiopian coffee trainer and Q-Instructor Sara Yirga completed her first regional training in Nairobi, Kenya, teaching SCA Roasting Skills at Utake Coffee. Learn how women coffee leaders are expanding specialty coffee education across East Africa and what it means for the future of the industry.
Where Competition Meets Community: IWCA in Bremen
The IWCA Germany chapter represented IWCA Global at the German Barista Championships in Bremen, bringing a conversation on access, visibility, and women’s leadership to one of the industry’s most visible stages.
Announcing IWCA’s New Board Leadership
IWCA welcomes new Global Board leadership, appointing Emily Bollinger as President and Shelby Colley as Vice President to support women’s leadership across the global coffee value chain.
Welcoming Francisca Indarsiani and Gerardo Díaz to the IWCA Global Team
IWCA welcomes Gerardo Díaz as Regional Coordinator for consuming country chapters across Australia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, and the USA, strengthening connections between coffee professionals and women producers globally.
Welcoming New Board Members to IWCA Global
We’re excited to welcome Jeff Daou and Masyitah Daud to the IWCA Global Board. Their global experience and shared commitment to women in coffee strengthen IWCA at an important moment for the industry.
IWCA Formalizes Renewed Partnerships with Cup of Excellence and Alliance for Coffee Excellence
IWCA has formalized renewed partnerships with Cup of Excellence and the Alliance for Coffee Excellence to expand women’s participation in coffee competitions, strengthen training and sensory education, and increase visibility and market access for women producers globally.
The First Grant from IWCA’s New Access & Training Fund Helps IWCA Spain’s Champion Advance to the National Stage
The first IWCA Access & Training Grant supports IWCA Spain’s Espréssate champion, Monserrat Cornet, in advancing to the SCA Spain National Barista Championship—removing financial barriers and expanding opportunities for women in coffee.
Standing With Jamaica: A Community-Led Recovery Effort
The US Chapter of IWCA is mobilizing support for our Jamaica Chapter after Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage to farms and community infrastructure. This post shares how the global IWCA network is working together to provide direct recovery funding, why this support matters, and how you can contribute to help women producers rebuild.
IWCA Launches Aceh Recovery Fund to Support Coffee-Farming Communities After Floods and Landslides
Severe floods and landslides in Aceh, Indonesia have damaged roads, cut power, and isolated many coffee-farming villages supported by IWCA. The IWCA Indonesia Chapter, working with the Ketiara Cooperative, is leading local disaster relief by restoring communication, delivering generators and fuel, and providing food to affected families. IWCA Global has launched a fundraiser to directly support recovery efforts in 25 impacted villages. All donations go straight to the Ketiara Cooperative to help coffee-farming communities rebuild after the disaster.
When Three Chapters Meet at HOST Milano to Showcase Women's Coffee
IWCA Greece collaborated with IWCA Honduras and IWCA Colombia at HOST Milano 2025, creating cross-cultural coffee experiences featuring women producers and demonstrating how women coffee professionals build international networks that elevate origin stories.
Greece Chapter Spotlight: Collaboration, Craft, and Connection at HOST Milano
At HOST Milano 2025, IWCA Greece collaborated with IWCA Honduras and IWCA Colombia to showcase the power of women-led coffee—from producer to barista. Through guest shifts, origin stories, and shared cups, the weekend offered a tangible example of how collaboration strengthens the global coffee community.
Angelique’s Finest Wins the Fair Cups Audience Award at Berlin Coffee Week 2025
Angelique’s Finest, a Rwandan women-led coffee cooperative, won the Fair Cups Audience Award at Berlin Coffee Week 2025 — celebrating fair trade, quality, and women’s empowerment in every cup.
IWCA Vietnam represented women coffee farmers from Sơn La at the “Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers” seminar in Hanoi, sharing how sustainability and leadership are driving resilience and impact in coffee communities.
Empowering Girls and Young Women in Coffee: IWCA Uganda Launches Groundbreaking EYE‑C Program
On International Day of the Girl Child, IWCA Uganda celebrates the launch of the EYE‑C program with Mastercard Foundation to empower 300,000 young women in coffee. A milestone for gender equity in Uganda’s coffee value chain.
When Women Lead: Honoring Patricia Tumain, IWCA Cameroon President
IWCA Cameroon President Patricia Tumain stands as a candidate in Cameroon’s national elections. We celebrate her leadership, courage, and the global power of women in coffee to inspire and transform communities.
Honoring Women Leaders in Salvadoran Coffee on Día de la Caficultura
IWCA El Salvador leaders were honored on El Salvador’s Día de la Caficultura for their contributions to the coffee industry. María Elena Botto received special recognition from the Instituto Salvadoreño del Café for her leadership and dedication to empowering women in coffee.