logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
27m 13s

Born into coffee

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Inheriting a family business can be a tall order. All the more so when it's a coffee business, where men have traditionally dominated the sector in many countries that produce one of the world's most popular beverages. While women have a crucial role to play in an industry that supports 25 million rural households across the globe, they're often under-represented at the highest level.

Kim Chakanetsa hears from two women who've broken the mould. Heleanna Georgalis is the president of Moplaco Trading in Ethiopia, a company she took on when her father died in 2008. When she arrived, the system of trading coffee in the country was turned on its head, and she was forced to make changes to secure the future of the company.

Ana María Donneys from Colombia inherited a coffee producing company from her grandfather when she was only in her mid-twenties. As the first woman to lead the company, and the first to export their specialty coffee, she's overcome numerous challenges to succeed in a highly volatile market.

Both women discuss the future of coffee in the context of climate change, and how women can play a role.

Produced by Fiona Clampin

(Image: (L) Ana María Donneys, courtesy of Laura Victoria Usma Salazar. (R) Heleanna Georgalis, courtesy of Imran Mazar.)

Up next
Oct 19
Women making sport greener
From the pitches we build to the stadiums we fill, the world of sport can have a huge impact on the environment. The biggest sporting events in the world bring joy to millions of people, but that comes at a cost. As the climate crisis intensifies, can the sporting world become pa ... Show More
26m 28s
Oct 12
The healing power of wild landscapes
Plunging into a remote mountain lake, camel-trekking for miles through empty desert… Natural landscapes have an incredible ability to change the way we think and behave. Datshiane Navanayagam talks to women from Wales and the Netherlands who spend their time in some of the world' ... Show More
26m 28s
Oct 5
Crime scene and trauma cleaners
Cleaning up after a death or violent incident is often far too traumatic and potentially dangerous for family members or for regular cleaning services to undertake. Instead, it’s a task carried out by a small but specialised group of individuals – often women.Ella Al-Shamahi spea ... Show More
26m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2022
Women’s Underappreciated Role on Coffee Farms
When you picture a coffee farmer, who do you have in mind? For many people, it will be Juan Valdez, the symbol of Colombia’s National Federation of Coffee Growers, with his thick moustache, sack of beans and trusty donkey.But women play a crucial role on coffee farms which often ... Show More
30m 49s
Feb 2014
Bro-rista Coffee Culture
<p>Since it first began its westward expansion in the 16th century, coffee has been a distinctively male drink. Even today, while plenty of women work behind the coffee counter, many wonder whether a bro-rista culture continues to dominate the rapidly expanding specialty coffee i ... Show More
37m 12s
Apr 2022
SMNTY Classics: Bro-rista Coffee Culture
Since it first began its westward expansion in the 16th century, coffee has been a distinctively male drink. Even today, while plenty of women work behind the coffee counter, many wonder whether a bro-rista culture continues to dominate the rapidly expanding specialty coffee indu ... Show More
42m 41s
Dec 2021
521: The Business of Coffee: What You Didn’t Know About This Industry
Coffee and entrepreneurship seem to go hand in hand. I bet you can’t scroll the Instagram accounts of your favorite creators and business owners without a photo of a latte or a caffeine-inspired meme popping up, right?  This guest made coffee the center of her business, and with ... Show More
38m 52s
Sep 2020
More Than A Buzz
In our day-to-day lives, it's a drink. But for some people, it is not as simple as that. It's a Sufi's spiritual companion, an Emirati's keeper of tradition, and a Yemeni's connection to his homeland. Today, we dive into three stories about coffee, exploring the tradition, cultur ... Show More
41m 28s
Oct 2025
The Future of Coffee Depends on Science - World Coffee Research | HANNA NEUSCHWANDER!
As climate change, disease, and shifting generations reshape coffee production, Hanna Neuschwander from World Coffee Research (WCR) joins us to unpack how genetics, collaboration, and innovation are securing the future of coffee. From varietal trials across 18 countries to the ra ... Show More
1h 24m
Apr 2023
Coffee: Time for a new bean?
The Liberica bean is a species of coffee that growers are hoping will make their crops sustainable in the future as the climate changes. We speak to farmers struggling to grow the most popular coffee plants and taste test a Liberica brew. Presenter / producer: Laura Heighton-Ginn ... Show More
18m 39s