SPEAKER_02 0:04

Hi, hello and howdy, and welcome back to Tiny Sidecar. If you're new here, I'm your host and sidecar companion, Kate, and today I've got a bunch of good coffee stories lined up for you. It's no secret in the last few months that I've been scrounging the internet for all sorts of coffee news, and today felt like a good day to share some of my favorite stories with you. We're talking about a mental health program started for Colombian women producers. Absolutely, we need more programs like this. A summit that's all about putting women in coffee at center stage, a Michigan roasting event that I wish I could absolutely teleport myself to, and a new organization called Raise the Bar that's giving working Buristas some much-deserved space and support to learn and grow together. And so much more, honestly. So grab yourself a little kapa and let's dive right in. So first things first, your girl is a little sleep deprived. For about I don't know, almost a month. I've been waking up around 4:30 and going into work to help roast because one of our two roasters is down and the part is back ordered that will fix it. Yeah. And the reason why I bring this up, I've been talking about it a lot in my personal and work life, is that in coffee, a lot of times you have to be able to adapt and be able to move and change and grow. Like if I wasn't doing what I was doing right now, it would put my team in a really bad way, and it would just cause a lot of extra stress. And ultimately, even though it's changed my sleep schedule, it's really moved around my personal life, it still has been a great learning experience for me. One, to figure out how to keep showing up for myself outside of work and taking care of myself and thinking about what I need in order to keep my brain and body happy and not give up on activities and things like that, especially in such a busy summer season. But it also has reminded me that the people around you will continue to show up for you if you ask for help and ask them to. And the amount of support that I've gotten from my teammates and my family and friends is really something that helps keep me awake every single day. But if you find yourself in a situation where you're having to wake up super early to brew coffee or set up an event or roast coffee or whatever it might be that you're waking up at an unreasonable hour for yourself, then I guess here are a couple tips and tricks for me. First and foremost, I have this orange lotion. This is silly, but it absolutely wakes me up every single morning. Oranges are like the smell is my favorite smell in the world and it makes me happy. So I slather on some orange face cream every morning before I go to work. Um, and then I've also, I mean, if you listen to the Wisconsin uh recap episode, you'll know I fell in love with Coca-Cola lattes. And should you be drinking Coca-Cola at 5 in the morning? I don't know. But have I absolutely been making myself Coca-Cola lattes at least three to four times a week? And then it just, it's something bright, something chill, something great in the morning. So just treat yourself right away and then power through, stay focused, do one thing at a time. I think I've really, the thing that's been good about this for me is that I've been able to turn off my brain and not multitask and instead just focus on roasting, focus on what my team needs in order for them to be successful when they show up, know that they're supporting me when I'm not there and I'm resting and I'm doing the same thing for them. So slowing down, treating yourself orange face cream. Those are the tricks and tips to keeping yourself going and running and getting stuff done. Cause there isn't one person that works in this industry that doesn't know that you hustle. No matter if it's your nine to five, no matter if it's your side gig, no matter what you're doing with coffee, you are hustling. And um, it's just what it takes on all levels, on all areas of the supply chain. There's seasons that are harder than others, you just have to know it and keep going. And there's no job in coffee that won't have a difficult season. And I think that's something else that makes it easier is just to know that right now this is my season, this is our season, and we're gonna get through it and we're crushing it, and that's that. But when I talk to people and they're like, dang, you got a lot on your plate right now, and you're choosing to do a lot of things, and I think that is absolutely true. I am choosing to do a lot of things, but I'm also really tired, and it'll get better. But yeah, your girl's a little sleepy today. But if I'm gonna be sleepy and then I'm definitely going to record a podcast that's talking about all these incredible things that are happening in the coffee industry because I think you need to know about them, and hopefully you can help support some of them, or maybe I'll find yourself at one of these events. I'm hoping to find myself at some of these events, so we'll see as time will tell. But I think it's it's well due that we hop in and start talking about some really cool people, and so all of the um links to websites and Instagram, they're all gonna be in the show notes. So please feel free, and I would strongly encourage you to go follow these programs, to give them a lot of love. If you're not able to donate or sponsor, I think speaking from someone else that's starting something small, like a like and a comment on a post means so much because it just feels like you're not alone in it, you know, and that other people also care. And so absolutely give these people some love because they're doing great things. And here we go. So I think it only makes sense to start the episode by talking about the event that's happening first on the list, and this one's happening like next week. And if you're in Michigan, then you're lucky ducky because the Michigan Coffee Roaster Retreat is back for round three. It's a one-day event that brings together, I think, 10 Michigan-based roasting companies, and you have the ability to connect, sip, swap stories, maybe buy some merch. There's a custom tasting mug that you can take around with you that I've already had my eyes on, and it's quite cute. Some amazing raffle prizes from all the big names in the biz, like Fellow and Created Co. and good vibes all around. It's hosted by Washed Up Coffee, and I've been so lucky to follow along with them since starting a tiny sidecar. Washed Up Coffee is an up-and-coming uh cafe that's going to be in Detroit. And Emily and Emily are just one, they're a riot. Their content is so funny, and their merch is so cute. I have a custom cup on its way to me right now. Um, but they're also doing really cool things with bringing new names in coffee to the forefront, building a lot of community. I can't wait to visit one day. And a lovely surprise for you is that one of the Emilies sent a little soundbite about what she's most excited about for washed-up coffee. Running on six years in the coffee industry, Emily is finally taking matters into her own hands and opening her own shop. After operating a handful of coffee shops, she's ready to do it for herself and the community that she's built along the way. The idea of bringing coffee to Detroit that people may never have tried or known about otherwise excites her. And facilitating inclusive events, activating spaces for both the industry and customers while also serving damn good coffee is kind of the whole point. So here's a little bit from Emily.

SPEAKER_01 8:20

The thing I'm most excited for with opening up washed up coffee in Detroit is having six roasters rotate every quarter and feature so many of the friends we've made over the past seven to fifteen years in specialty coffee in Detroit.

SPEAKER_02 8:42

Again, I couldn't be more excited for the community that they're building with Washed Up Coffee. And if you want to be a part of that community, your opportunity is on July 20th. Now, tickets for the event are pretty limited, so head over to washedupcoffee.com, grab your tickets, get all the details that you need, and tell me all about it. I'm so jealous of you already. Now, next up is something that's really close to my heart, both for my background in social work, but as a girly who knows her way around a good anxiety spiral. Sauna is a new mental health program created for women coffee producers in Colombia, and it's one of the most thoughtful, needed projects I've seen in a long time. It was created by Lucia, who's a photographer, storyteller, and just all-around powerhouse of an advocate with a group of women producers she's worked with for years. Now, Lucia might be familiar to you in the sense that she also wrote and photographed We Belong, a book that she released a couple years ago. And you might recognize her from Tiny Sidegar just because way back in the day I was blown away by her work. Now, the best part of Sauna is that it's not some top-down solution. It's built with the women it's meant to support, and it's giving more access to all this really needed resources to these women. Lucia was so kind and she's letting me share a bit of her voice as she talks about sauna. So let's have her take it from here.

SPEAKER_00 10:14

Hello, today is June 23rd, and today I'm launching Sana, a social impact initiative that provides mental health and wellness through a five-month program to women coffee farmers. We do it combining teletherapy with virtual education and community-based support. Why did I decide to build this? Well, there's so many reasons, but the first thing that I will say is that I believe that most coffee is women-produced coffee. Or at least there is a woman involved in the production of that coffee. And it feels weird having to remind people about this, that there's so many women behind the coffee production. And I guess that shows all the gender inequities and the invisibility that these women face. So, yes, they work in a lot of cases way more than any of their family members, but they make less money, they have less opportunities to own land, less opportunities to access resources, less opportunities to be in decision-making roles, and worse, they're the ones more exposed and more prone to experience domestic violence, to experience mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, PTSD. So many things. And I believe this is true because when I was traveling to make my book with long and I got the opportunity to interact with more than 62 women coffee farmers and pickers in Colombia, it became evident to me that these women were longing for spaces where they could break cycles of silence, where they could strengthen their emotional awareness, and more importantly, where they could gain agency, agency to understand how much they're worth, their value, where they want to go, what boundaries they need to set, a place where they can start building their own toolkit to navigate life and really to be able to also support their children and their families because at the end they are the ones holding these families and these communities together. So today I'm coming here to ask you for your support and your donations. Any donation, five, ten, fifteen, two hundred, five hundred thousand dollars help us reach that goal. You can make the donation in our website that is sanaprograms.org. Let's remember that mental health is also sustainability and it should be part of the sustained coffee sustainability agenda.

SPEAKER_02 12:42

Hearing Lucia speak just reminds me of how powerful this industry can be when we lead with care and community. And one way that you can help, other than donating to the cause, is helping spread the word about Zana. So following them on Instagram, signing up for newsletters, whatever suits you, but then also spreading that word around. And hopefully it'll land in the hands of someone that is also able and support the program as well. Such important work that Lucy is doing and an amazing trailblazer for this part of our industry. And speaking of community, let's talk about the Women Powered Coffee Summit that's coming up in October. The Women Coffee Summit is being held October 2nd through the 4th, and this is the fourth annual event. The event brings producers, importers, roasters, baristas, kind of all of us into the same room to have the conversations that actually help move things forward. It's about bringing smallholders together with other industry leads. It's about connection, access, and creating more space for women to be seen and heard at every part of the supply chain. Now, something that I found on their website that is very tiny sidecar is making women into protagonists. The summit seeks to create a space and platform for women to be the protagonist of their own stories, recognizing their knowledge and experiences that are often ignored or unheard. I mean, it just absolutely yes. Yeah, just another absolutely yes, why not? Now the weekend we'll have workshops, farm visits, and lots of time to connect with other women in the industry while you're in an inclusive and safe space. So if you're at all interested, again, I would absolutely take a look. It's the women-powered coffee summit put on by Bean Voyage. And you can find all the information linked down below in the show notes. It sounds like such an incredible opportunity, and I'm hoping to be there this year as well. So maybe I'll see you there. And while we're talking about coffee weekends together, let's talk about something that's happening actually a week earlier than the Women Powered Summit. Um, it is called Level Up, and it is being put on by Raise the Bar. Now, Raise the Bar is a nonprofit reimagining what professional growth looks like in the specialty coffee industry. They run accessible community-driven programs that center working coffee professionals, including baristas and early career coffee workers with a focus on equality, skill building, and real-world impact. And level up is a way for baristas to get more education and hands-on experience while working with amazing coffee professionals in the industry. It's a really exciting experience, and it's happening in Minneapolis at the Mill City Roasters, who's just another amazing roasting company. This is something else that I would keep your eye on. They just announced it within the last few days, and there's so many cool people that will be speaking and giving demonstrations and all sorts of goodies, and more information is definitely coming out. Give Raise the Bar a follow, give Level Up a follow. And if you're a working barista, this could be such a great opportunity for you. And if you're in the Midwest, then man, you got some cool stuff coming your way. Before we wrap up, I want to give a quick shout out to Equator Coffees and the 60 plus coffee companies who joined them in raising funds for immigrant rights this past week. From July 1st through the 5th, we ran a coordinated fundraiser across the coffee community. Proof again that when we come together, we can do more than just make a good cup of coffee. And I know the numbers are still being put in about how much money was raised through these companies, but it was incredible to see how many people are standing together to help support immigrant rights through the ACLU. Now, if you've missed it and you want to still contribute, I've got a donation link in the bio of Tiny Sidecar on Instagram. Every little bit helps, even if it's just the same amount as a small cup of coffee. Really cool. I mean, this whole episode is really over and over and over and over again how much community matters in coffee and the things that we can do together by just leaning into each other. Whether it's the small things of having your team show up for you when you're going into work early, again, love you guys so much. Or the big things like showing up for a community of people that need mental health support or need more rights or need a louder platform or need more education. Like the coffee industry is such a cool industry, and I'm so happy to be here with y'all and to be inspired by y'all and to learn from you. And yeah, just so proud that this is the industry that I've landed in and so proud to be here with you. So again, if anything really spoke to you, there's some things that are coming up, there's things that are a couple months out. All of the links are in the show notes, and so go check everyone out, go give them some love, go give them a follow. The littlest thing to you might mean the world to someone else. So show up for the people that are doing things that you're really excited and proud for. And until then. Oh my goodness, I almost forgot. And how could I? What tragedy? At the roasting coat, we tried the Jiffy, aka JIF is what the brand is actually called. Coffee the other day. One of the roasters that I work with, she was like, I just listened to Crystaline's episode. Can we try that coffee? And I was like, Yeah. So the closest thing that we had is we did a French breast with a Brazilian medium roast coffee. We thought that that would pair well with the peanut butter. And then we had a scoop of peanut butter and stirred it up really well when it was still hot. And man, I mean, full body experience, lots of oils from the peanuts and from the Brazil. And I could see that going somewhere really yummy. And can we talk about why aren't there more peanut butter lattes? I get that we don't use a lot of peanuts and things because of people's allergies that are very serious, which I get, I understand that. But peanut butter and chocolate just they're a marriage waiting to happen in the coffee world. So anyway, I I don't know, maybe we'll play around with it. But it was delicious, and I can absolutely see why she grew up drinking that. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, then just hop on over to last week's episode. You're gonna meet Crystaline, and she's such an amazing, cool person, and I know that she's gonna go wonderful places in the coffee industry, like so many people that we talked about today. So, anyway, do yourself a favor, go listen to that and try some peanut butter coffee. And again, I can't stress enough. If something stood out to you today, then send it to a friend, post it, talk about it over your next coffee. That's how this stuff grows. And seriously, if you got something cool happening in the coffee world, let me know. I want to share it. Again, so proud to be here with y'all. Love you to death. Thanks for hanging with me and catch you next time on Tiny Sidegar. Bye.