Florence Encounter Recap: A Landmark Gathering for IWCA Consuming Country Chapters
The IWCA Florence Encounter at L’Accademia del Caffè Espresso was a momentous event that brought together leaders from IWCA’s consuming country chapters to strategize, collaborate, and build stronger networks for the future. Against the stunning backdrop of the Tuscan hills—despite the unexpected “water bomb” rains and road closures—we gathered with a shared mission: to define the next steps for empowering women in coffee across consuming markets.
A Day of Connection, Insight, and Concrete Action
The day opened with coffee, connection, and inspiration. Each chapter in attendance shared their initiatives, challenges, and goals, highlighting both the progress made and the critical work ahead. L’Accademia del Caffè Espresso and our generous sponsors—BWT+ More, Bunn, De’Longhi Group, and La Marzocco—provided a stunning venue and warm hospitality, setting the stage for an intensive day of brainstorming and planning.
After a series of insightful presentations from industry leaders, we transitioned into focused working sessions. Attendees divided into five groups, each tackling a critical challenge facing women in coffee within consuming markets. Over the course of the afternoon, we worked through these challenges and developed actionable solutions in the following key areas:
Key Areas of Focus & Outcomes
Building the Next Generation of IWCA Leaders
Expanding mentorship and networking opportunities.
Strengthening digital communication and engagement strategies.
Connecting young professionals with leadership opportunities within IWCA.
Gender Policies & Equity in the Coffee Industry
Assessing the effectiveness of existing policies.
Identifying gaps in gender equity and advocacy.
Developing stronger accountability measures for recognition and support of women’s work.
Market Access & Visibility for Women in Coffee
Addressing knowledge gaps in market trends and specialty coffee.
Strengthening consumer education on the gendered dimensions of the coffee supply chain.
Partnering with universities and industry professionals to expand awareness and support.
Gender Data & Research: Bridging the Gaps
Strengthening IWCA’s ability to collect and leverage data for advocacy.
Increasing transparency in trade and sustainability metrics.
Exploring certification programs and self-reporting tools for chapters.
Expanding Educational Access Across the Coffee Value Chain
Creating more accessible training opportunities for women in all sectors of coffee.
Supporting knowledge-sharing platforms between consuming and producing country chapters.
Developing industry partnerships to bring coffee education to new audiences.
Each group presented their findings, outlining concrete next steps to be implemented over the next two years. The conversations were energizing, forward-thinking, and deeply collaborative, reflecting the strength of the IWCA network.
Looking Ahead: Next Steps & Continued Collaboration
The Florence Encounter was not just a meeting—it was the foundation for deeper collaboration between IWCA consuming country chapters. The relationships built, the strategies developed, and the commitment shown by all in attendance will fuel the next phase of IWCA’s global impact.
As we move forward, we will:
✅ Refine and implement the proposed action plans from each working session.
✅ Expand our data collection and advocacy efforts.
✅ Strengthen partnerships to support women across the coffee value chain.
✅ Develop mentorship and leadership programs for the next generation of IWCA members.
The work we started in Florence is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more updates as we put these plans into action, strengthen our network, and continue driving meaningful change for women in coffee worldwide.