Serving People Serving Coffee Since 2005
Issue link: http://baristamagazine.epubxp.com/i/686001
57 www.baristamagazine.com Right around the time she was headed to Rimini for her first WBC, Sonja took a barista position at La Cabra Coffee Roasters, which opened in May 2012 with an intense focus on farm-direct coffees. She loves working with the "passionate and exciting team" there, and is perfectly settled-in and content. It was La Cabra, in fact, that stood behind Sonja from the start when she got the idea for an event that was designed for and by women baristas. "After returning to Aarhus from [the WBC in] Seattle, I started to think more about how fortunate I've been to have the chance to compete, and how amazing it would be to stand next to more women in the competition practice area in the future." She started thinking about it more and more. She started actively seeking to learn not only from her coffee peers, but from the larger community, in general. "It's a widespread problem within society that women are underrepresented in the many levels or positions within a given industry, and most notably in positions of leadership," she says. "This is also the case within the specialty-coffee industry. We need to help create an environment where both men and women can have an opportunity to build a fulfilling and rewarding career in coffee." Back to that: Sonja loves her male peers in the coffee world. In fact, she feels they as well as women will benefit from promoting greater gender equity in specialty coffee. "I want to see a more even balance of men and women feeling fulfilled, enjoying working and making an impact and contribution to this very young and exciting industry," she says. Everything Sonja has to say about the topic is positive— yes, there's a problem, but the solution is within reach. She felt this more than ever after the first Women Barista Connect event came to fruition in October 2015, and to great success. "I feel women are underrepresented primarily due to a lack of women role models," she says. "It is evident from our first Women Barista Connect and from speaking with many people that a lot of passionate women in coffee are left without someone they can relate to, be inspired by, and look up to. I feel that maybe there has been an intimidating atmosphere in the industry, and that can still exist but it's starting to change. The more women we see deciding to continue with a career in coffee will help create an environment which can feel less intimidating." With Women Barista Connect, Sonja sought "to create a meeting point, invite as many women to come along and connect" as she could. "The event last year was a success because we had plenty of very enthusiastic attendees who came to be a part of something special," she says, giving a shout out to the companies that supported it, including Acacia, ACME & Co., Aerobie, Reg Barber Enterprises, Clever, Bunn, the Mayor Hotel, La Cabra Coffee Roasters, and Gejst Studio, plus a number of specialty-coffee roasters. " We also had amazing guest speakers whom I can't thank enough for volunteering their time and believing in our cause." Word of the intent and success of Women Barista Connect quickly traveled, and almost overnight, work was in progress to put together a similar event to take place in Kansas City, Mo., during the United States Coffee Championships Qualifying Event in February. "It's really inspiring and motivating for our team to hear about that," Sonja says. "Knowing that we have had an impact in some way really keeps us determined to grow this event more. I think discussion related to gender equality is really a much bigger issue than just the coffee industry, and right now it's exciting to see a lot of people discuss how it can be achieved and have a positive impact." At the moment, Sonja is fresh from her first turn at the Danish Barista Championship, and while she didn't win, she plans to compete again in 2017. That gives her plenty of time to work on the second Women Barista Connect, which is scheduled to take place at Prufrock Coffee and Square Mile Coffee in London September 9–11. "I hope that more women will be able to serve as role models and ambassadors from farm level all the way to behind the bar as head baristas and café owners," she says of her dreams for the future of the specialty-coffee community. "If we can achieve that, I would be very satisfied. Encouraging more women to be brave and compete is going