There's too much cream in the coffee... Addressing diversity issues in the Coffee Industry

Written By: Grace Gonzales

Coffee is something that is widely enjoyed across the world! For myself, sitting down at a coffee shop is an activity that I love, not only because I have worked as a barista, but have also experienced the sense of community that is made. Working as a barista is a skillset that is super unique, as you become acquainted with the process of growing and roasting coffee beans, making delicious drinks, and engaging in conversations with customers every day. That being said, the coffee shop aesthetic has overwhelmingly been catered to white communities, leaving many of our BIPOC communities without spaces that are accesible, represent us, or provide the same sense of community equally.

This past week I sat down with my friend Miriam, who is a fellow Barista/Manager at Prospect Coffee in Ventura, CA, to chat about the current state of diversity and representation throughout the coffee industry. Miriam has worked in the coffee industry for about 4 years and has seen the café world from the perspective of a customer, barista, and management position. As two Latina women, working in spaces that have welcomed us, but have also experienced places that have reflected some major societal issues in our face, we are able to shed light on how the coffee industry could work towards a more inclusive and well representative environment.

It's not all about "the aesthetic."

As a business, following trends and aesthetics in today's day and age, has possibly the biggest impact on the way a business performs. When in competition with industry giants, it is necessary to keep up, but unfortunately, this typically falls into an aesthetic that is popular amongst their targeted white demographics. For example, clean cut minimalism is a style that is very popularized throughout white communities and is a typical theme we see in coffee shops. In opposition, many black and latino communities celebrate their cultures and backgrounds through vibrant colors and patterns, which is not often represented in cafe culture.

Being that the history of coffee culture is deeply intertwined with black and brown communities, it is important that we push for cafés that are inclusive and representative of the culture! Coffee beans are literally grown and harvested in countries like Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ethiopia, many other culturally rich places, so why are those roots not commonly represented? Also, being that there continues to be many ethical issues surrounding coffee sourcing in these regions is yet another reason why it is so important to be educated and culturally inclusive in this industry.

...we NEED more representation.

Change is necessary. Change in how the coffee industry shows up and represents different communities, as well as a change regarding how and by who coffee education is taught. This could start with being more transparent about the history of coffee which ties into diverse cultures around the world. There also needs to be more opportunities for our BIPOC communities to create spaces that connect with us on a deeper level.

As Miriam now holds a manager title at Prospect Coffee, she uses her identity and experiences to better the environment in the cafe! She leads with a passion for building up her community, making a welcoming space for everyone, and bringing perspective to hold the business responsible for its impact. This comes down to making a safe space for herself and fellow employees through communicating issues directly and creating boundaries for what will and will not be tolerated in the space.

As Miriam works to diversify her own team and support the community, she encourages all POC who are interested in specialty coffee to know they have space in this industry and to use it up unapologetically! At the end of the day, we have influence and the more we take up space, the more we pave the way to adequate representation.

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