Women in Coffee: From Pennsylvania to Peru

International Women’s Day is the perfect time to shine a light on the incredible women in coffee; and I don’t just mean the people behind the espresso machine (though they’re crushing it!). At Backyard Beans, women run the gamut: baristas, cooks, production roasters, production assistants, receiving, cold brew, marketing, sales, and finance. They keep every part of our operation humming, making sure your coffee tastes amazing, the kitchen runs smoothly, and the business actually stays in business.

But the story doesn’t stop in Montgomery County. This year, one coffee in particular feels worth celebrating: Peru Las Damas. Some of the most inspiring women we work with are halfway across the world, in Cajamarca, Peru, where Peru Las Damas is grown and produced entirely by women farmers.

In 2025, we roasted 58,064 pounds of this coffee. That’s a lot of beans!  We’ve been buying Las Damas since 2017 through our importing partner Royal NY, and every year we’ve increased our purchases. This coffee has become a staple for us, appearing in Punch in the Face, Breakfast Blend, our cold brews (Punch and Organic), and even some collaborative accounts.

Las Damas — “The Ladies” — comes from COOPAFSI (Cooperativa Agraria “Frontera San Ignacio”). This cooperative has been creating space for women to thrive since 1969. Gender equality is built into how the land was purchased and divided, and it remains a core value today. Women at COOPAFSI are deeply involved in every step: growing, processing, tasting, and quality-checking. In 2016, they set up a committee responsible for distributing loans to improve land, homes, livestock, and crafts — and they even created a computer lab so every member has access to modern technology. They make coffee, run businesses, and improve their communities.

Back here in Pennsylvania, that work arrives in our roastery. Bags of green coffee are roasted, brewed, and served.

International Women’s Day isn’t about hashtags or pink drinks. It’s about noticing who’s doing the work, supporting them, and celebrating the skill, care, and creativity they bring to coffee every day.

So here’s to the women growing it, roasting it, brewing it, and running the show behind the scenes.