Women in Coffee: Connection, Community, and Showing Up
How Olympia Coffee is creating space for connection, mentorship, and leadership for women across the coffee industry.
Written by Richelle, Director of Operations at Olympia Coffee
Community in coffee does not happen by accident. It happens when people choose to create space for it.
Last summer, I had the honor of hosting our first Women in Coffee gathering at Olympia Coffee. As the Director of Operations, I spend a lot of time thinking about how people connect within our company and across the coffee industry.
Earlier in the year I attended a women’s networking event at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, hosted by Katherine Morris of Cherry Coffee and Novel Coffee Roasters, that left me feeling energized, inspired, and deeply connected.
The collaboration and openness in that room were powerful, and it made me realize how meaningful it would be to create a similar space within our own community.
Rather than waiting for someone else to create it, we decided to build it ourselves.
The result was an evening centered on connection, storytelling, and shared experience. Women from across coffee and hospitality joined us, including baristas, roasters, café leaders, business owners, and creatives.
Together we created space to talk openly about challenges, growth, and opportunity within our industry. Watching new relationships form and conversations unfold in real time was incredibly meaningful.
Women help shape our company every day. In fact, 15 of our 23 leadership roles at Olympia Coffee are currently held by women.
The gathering also reflects something I am especially proud of within Olympia Coffee. Women help shape our company every day.
Women work across every department, including retail cafés, production, education, operations, and creative. In fact, 15 of our 23 leadership roles are currently held by women.
Their perspectives and leadership influence how we serve coffee, support our teams, and show up for our community.
Our experience at Olympia Coffee is something we are proud of, but we know it is not yet the norm across the industry.
Free to attend, RSVP required: and fully sold out. A full house and a room full of connection from the moment doors opened.
While women contribute greatly across the coffee supply chain, leadership roles and visible industry platforms have historically been dominated by men.
Even in specialty coffee, where many baristas are women, representatives in competitions have traditionally been men.
That is why showing up matters.
Supporting women in coffee does not only mean hosting events. It can be as simple as attending a local cupping, latte art throwdown, or coffee competition and cheering on women who are competing.
It can mean encouraging a colleague to pursue training, competitions, or professional development. It can also mean mentoring someone new to the industry or creating space for women’s voices in conversations about coffee.
Sometimes the most powerful form of support is simply being present.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I find myself reflecting on the generations of women who have shaped this industry, often without recognition.
Creating spaces like Women in Coffee is one way we can honor that legacy while helping shape a more inclusive future.
I am excited to share that we will be hosting another Women in Coffee gathering this summer, and I cannot wait to bring this community together again.
At the same time, community does not have to happen just once a year. One of the biggest takeaways from last summer’s gathering was how much people wanted the conversation to continue long after the event ended.
Giveaways from trusted partners, including Breville, were part of the evening. This guest took home a Breville Bambino Plus.
Between now and our next gathering, we are exploring ways to create digital spaces where women in coffee can stay connected and support one another throughout the year.
This may include online discussions, storytelling that highlights women across the coffee supply chain, and mentorship opportunities that support professional growth.
Our hope is that Women in Coffee becomes more than a single event. We want it to grow into an ongoing community where mentorship, collaboration, and support can happen year round.
Our hope is that Women in Coffee becomes more than a single event. We want it to grow into an ongoing community.
Women in Coffee
Connection, mentorship, and leadership grow stronger when people choose to show up for one another.
Join the Women in Coffee Community
We are currently planning our next Women in Coffee gathering this summer, and we would love for you to be part of it.
In the meantime, there are many ways to support women in coffee:
- Attend coffee events and competitions
- Encourage women pursuing professional development
- Share stories and experiences from the industry
- Show up and support women competing and leading
Community grows when people choose to participate. Whether you are a barista, roaster, café leader, producer, or someone passionate about coffee, there is a place for you here.
Stay connected and be the first to hear about upcoming Women in Coffee gatherings and conversations.
Sign up below to receive updates, event announcements, and stories from women across the coffee community.
