Pact Coffee to roast record-breaking 45 tonnes of coffee grown by women in single month

Pact Coffee has announced that it will source 100% of its core coffee range from women growers and gender-equity groups throughout March 2026, totalling a record-breaking 45,000kg.

The move coincides with International Women’s Day (8th March), and highlights both the persistent gender imbalance in coffee production and what is achievable through intentional sourcing decisions.

Throughout March, Pact Coffee will spotlight the work of 20 women producers across Brazil, Colombia, Honduras and Rwanda through its subscription service and online store as part of its Equal Ground Project, which focuses on long-term relationships with women-led farms and cooperatives producing speciality-grade coffee.

Sophie Reid, chief commercial officer at Pact Coffee, said: “Closing the gender gap in the coffee industry isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s vital if we want better quality coffee and a more sustainable coffee industry.

“If the coffee industry addresses this imbalance, it results in long-term social and economic benefits, more diverse ideas to tackle climate challenges, and a thriving meritocracy that values all contributors.”

It’s estimated that while women make up an estimated 70% of the global coffee workforce, just 20% of coffee farms are owned or run by women, with women producers typically facing significantly reduced access to land ownership, finance and training compared to men.

According to Pact Coffee, these disparities are not inevitable. By making targeted, intentional buying decisions, roasters and retailers can actively support greater equity at origin while also securing consistent, high-quality coffee supply, demonstrating that commercial success and meaningful social impact can go hand-in-hand. 

“The opportunity exists to create real change in the coffee industry,” added Sophie. “We’re passionate about using our position to tackle this imbalance directly, and showing the industry and our customers what’s possible when sourcing decisions are intentional and relationships with growers are personal.”

Pact Coffee sourcing 100% of its roasted caffeinated coffee from women growers and gender-equity groups throughout March builds on its wider sourcing strategy to back women growers. 

Between April 2024 and April 2025, 60% of the roaster’s total coffee was sourced from women growers or gender-equity groups. Since 2025, Pact Coffee has committed to maintaining a minimum threshold of 50%. 

Pact Coffee has also built long-term relationships with gender-equity groups Cafeína, in Brazil, and the Mirtayu Women’s Project, in Colombia, as part of its ongoing efforts to bring more women-grown coffee to the UK coffee market.

Women from both cooperatives were also featured in a limited-edition Women in Coffee Discovery Pack, launched to coincide with last year’s International Women’s Day, which sold out within weeks.