510: Advancing Equity in Farmer-Consumer Relationships w/ Ethiopia's Beamlak Bekele!

One of the beautiful things about working in coffee today is the connectivity that is available to players in the value stream. Those who want to make the biggest difference, both use and innovate better versions of these various avenues for connection to build trusting and generous relationships that bring thriving and understanding. 

Today's guest live and breaths this mission. I am so honored to welcome to the show, Beamlak Bekele! 

Beamlak has experience working as a Green Coffee Export Manager, Logistics and Documentation Supervisor, and Coffee Quality Control Specialist. She is the 2nd-place national barista champion, and currently working as the project coordinator for  IWCA Ethiopia. Being raised in a family that has worked in the Ethiopian Coffee industry for decades, Beamlak is interested in learning how to bring origin country perspectives to international coffee dialogues and how to design gender-inclusive and sustainable operational systems in coffee businesses.

Beamlak has also just returned from a tour in the United States after participating in the Cxffee Black barista exchange progam and being a guest at Nossa Familia

In this conversation we explore her upbringing in coffee, career, perspectives on trade, and the importance of better systems and trust in coffee relationships. 

You will learn about:

• Family Legacy in Coffee Production
• Education and Its Impact on Coffee Understanding
• Transitioning into Professional Coffee Roles
• Ethics in Coffee Trade and Farmer Benefits
• Empowering Women in the Coffee Industry
• Building Sustainable Relationships in Coffee Trade
• Ethiopian Coffee's Unique Value Proposition
• Connecting Trade and Consumer Experience
• The Role of Baristas in Coffee Culture
• Transforming Consumer Perceptions of Coffee
• Community and Collaboration in the Coffee Industry

 

Links: 

Beamlak on IG @HUMANS_OF_COFFEE

 

Related episodes: 

• 488: Founder Friday! Honoring Coffee's Root w/ Bartholomew Jones of Cxffee Black!
• 451: Business Growth, Integrity, and Coffee Farmer Equity w/ Martin Mayorga of Mayorga Coffee
• 397: Diversity and The Color of Coffee w/ Keith Hawkins, The Color of Coffee Collective
• 413 : Coffee Education and Training at Origin w/ Fabiola Solano of Soy Barista
• 335: A Better Business Model for Coffee Farmers w/ Thaleon Tremain of Pachamama Coffee

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