Cosmorex smash the patriarchy, one espresso at a time
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You might spare a thought as to where and how the coffee in your morning latte was made—but have you ever considered who might be producing it?
The team at Cosmorex have, and they’re on a mission to recognise and promote the fact that women play a significant role right across the coffee industry, as producers, innovators and leaders.
“Our industry is mainly male-dominated—both front and back of house,” explains Jess Grant, Chief Operation Officer of Cosmorex.
“Yet our company has amazing strong women working to make our company the success it is today. And in fact there are amazing strong women at work all throughout the coffee industry.”
“Our industry is fun and vibrant but so many stories in the journey from crop to cup—and especially women’s stories—are rarely heard.”
Jess Grant, Chief Operation Officer of Cosmorex.
The latest Cosmorex range, Women in Action, is a collection of three coffees produced by women in Colombia and Peru, hand-selected for their passion, expertise and, of course, exceptional coffee.
To source the coffee, the Cosmorex team embarked on an origin trip in November 2019, where they met women recommended to them through contacts in the industry and through initiatives like Café Feminino, an ethical sourcing model committed to ending the cycle of poverty affecting women coffee farmers across the world.
The goal was to find women with remarkable coffee, who don’t receive the recognition they deserve. Women like Sara Gutierrez, a coffee farmer in Buenavista, Quindío, Colombia.
“My first memory with coffee was when I was a little girl,” says Sara. “Since I was born, my father already had a small farm where I had all my childhood, and I had the opportunity to learn many things from the field.”
“I knew that I wanted to dedicate myself to coffee when, despite having the option of going abroad to study and work, my heart did not allow me to leave my tradition behind and to be able to have the satisfaction of giving something back to the land that saw me born.”
Sara Gutierrez.
Rather than migrating from farms to the city, as Sara saw many of her peers doing, she decided to migrate from the city to the farm, bringing with her fresh ideas and knowledge.
Returning to take an active role in coffee farming wasn’t just at odds with Sara’s peers—it’s contrary to the traditional societal roles of women in Colombia.
“Colombia is a society run by men, and also coffee growing, the vast majority of women in the field have dedicated themselves to housework.”
Sara Gutierrez.
Sara decided to not only challenge that notion but fight against the commercialisation of coffee production, choosing instead to focus on sustainability.
“Sustainability is one of the most important aspects for us, because if we do not make our environment sustainable, our future is destined for failure or extinction.”
“That is why we have entered into many practices such as the protection of water, the growth of our apiaries, the planting of native trees, the implementation of coverage in our soils, and, last but not least, the human component. The collectors are a fundamental part of this process, which is why we are in the construction of well-being and adequate remuneration.”
These environmentally and socially friendly practices allow Sara to cultivate her land and earn a living in a way that’s aligned with her personal values, and the values of Cosmorex.
“One of the things that I love most about my job is being able to be a part of the change, and the preservation of the traditional Colombian culture. But what I really love the most is knowing that our effort here is valued there, I love knowing that someone loves our coffee.”
Sara’s passion and care for her product and practices translate into not only a beautiful story but a spectacular product.
The Sara Gutierrez Yellow Colombia coffee is presented as a medium to light roast, perfect for pour over or other manual brewing methods, with aromatics of peach and apricot leading to sweet tropical notes of orange and passionfruit.
Each of the three offerings in the Women in Action range is delicious and distinctive, produced by women with stories as layered and complex as their coffee.
You can purchase the range instore at the Cosmorex roastery on Kembla Street in Fyshwick, or online.
Use the code WOMENINACTION for free shipping on orders over $40.
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