In a traditionally male-dominated sector, these three coffee professionals are advocating for women’s empowerment—at every level of the supply chain.

BY SHANNA SMITH
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Featured photo courtesy of Shanita Nicholas

The coffee industry has long been a male-dominated space, but women are steadily reshaping the landscape. From owning and operating roasteries to fostering inclusive spaces and championing women throughout the supply chain, female entrepreneurs are breaking through barriers and building a more equitable future.

Today, we’re highlighting three driven women who are leading the charge for more gender inclusivity in the specialty-coffee world: Aliza James, owner of City Girl Coffee, and Sip & Sonder co-founders, Shanita Nicholas and Amanda-Jane Thomas.

City Girl Coffee: Aliza James

Growing up surrounded by coffee, Aliza James inherited her passion for the industry from her parents, who founded Duluth, Minn.’s Alakef Coffee Roasters in 1990. However, rather than simply continuing the family business, Aliza set out to create her own mark. In 2015, she launched City Girl Coffee—also operating out of Duluth—a brand dedicated to empowering women throughout the coffee supply chain.

Aliza tells of her introduction to the disparity in the coffee chain, which happened during a conference for the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) in 2014. During the conference, a man from Colombia told the story of a husband and wife who owned a coffee farm. The husband was unfortunately killed during a war in Colombia, leaving the farm to his wife. When a key piece of machinery broke down, the wife was denied at the bank for a loan because she was a woman. 

“I had more or less grown up my whole life in and around the coffee industry, and I had just no idea that this great inequity existed within the coffee industry—within the dynamic between males and females,” Aliza says. “That’s what really drove me to not only (want) to stay in coffee, but really to try to make a difference in (regards to) the equity and the equality of the coffee supply chain.”

Aliza also emphasizes City Girl Coffee’s commitment to ethical sourcing by sourcing exclusively from women-owned and -managed farms and cooperatives. And even still, her approach goes beyond the supply chain, extending into the hiring process within her own business. “When I look for new team members, I start with my female network. Creating opportunity is an active choice,” she says.

Sip & Sonder: Shanita Nicholas and Amanda-Jane Thomas

At Los Angeles’ Sip & Sonder, co-founders Shanita Nicholas and Amanda-Jane Thomas have built more than a coffee company: They’ve created a space where inclusion, equity, and women’s empowerment are central to every decision.

Both women entered the industry after pursuing careers in law, driven by a desire to create a tangible space that honored community, culture, and purpose. “We wanted to create a place where people could come for the coffee, but stay for the culture,” Shanita says.

And the culture Shanita speaks of is intentionally inclusive. At Sip & Sonder, the team makes a conscious effort to highlight and collaborate with women and femme-identifying individuals across the supply chain—from sourcing to baristas to leadership roles. The roastery also frequently partners with women producers, supports emerging women roasters, and curates educational opportunities and events designed to elevate underrepresented voices.

Mentorship also plays a major role in their approach. By hosting events, training sessions, and casual meetups, Sip & Sonder has fostered an ecosystem where women in coffee can network and thrive. “Representation isn’t just visual—it’s about access, opportunity, and presence at every level,” Amanda-Jane explains.

Still, the road ahead isn’t without its challenges: Even with growing recognition, gendered language and subtle biases continue to show up. “Even now, we’re sometimes called ‘girls’ in major meetings. Words matter,” says Amanda-Jane. “It’s a small thing, but it reflects a deeper issue.”

By showing up authentically and advocating for equity, Shanita and Amanda-Jane are redefining what leadership in coffee looks like and ensuring that more women feel seen, valued, and welcome in the industry.

Forging a More Inclusive Future

While their journeys differ, these three coffee powerhouses share a common mission: to create more space for women in coffee. Whether by hiring intentionally, sourcing ethically, or fostering community, they are driving change in the field. “We need to see women leading in coffee, so others know they can,” says Shanita.

Aliza James, meanwhile, envisions a future where gender equity is no longer a conversation topic, but a natural industry standard. “My hope is that one day, we won’t have to talk about inclusivity—it’ll just be the norm,” she says.

Together, these women are proving that representation, community, and resilience are essential pillars for reshaping the coffee industry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shanna Smith is the lead roaster and director of operations at True Coffee in Fitchburg, Wis. She roasts on a 12-kilogram Probat roaster and has been roasting coffee for a few years. Her favorite part of the work she does is meeting the wonderful members of the specialty-coffee community. 

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