Sometimes, the perfect cup of coffee can spark something bigger, like a new idea, a new community, or even a whole new career. For Natalie Webb, founder of Cafecita Coffee, it did all three!
Before starting Cafecita, Natalie spent a decade working as a human rights lawyer, traveling the world and often working from cafés. During these travels, she fell in love with coffee culture. Specifically, the people, the ritual, and the sense of connection it created everywhere she went. But she also noticed something not so great: the gender inequality that exists throughout the coffee industry.
So, like any trailblazer does, Natalie decided to do something about it. She returned home to Los Angeles and launched Cafecita Coffee, a coffee brand that partners exclusively with sustainable, women-owned coffee farms and co-ops around the world. Her mission is to make sure women are not just part of the story but leading it.
In this interview, Natalie shares how Cafecita came to life, what drives her work today, and the advice she has for women chasing big dreams. Let’s dive in!
Brewing Change: How Natalie Webb of Cafecita Coffee Empowers Women in Coffee
How did you first get into coffee? And how did you know this was the industry you wanted to build a business in?
Prior to launching Cafecita I worked as a human rights lawyer for 10 years. I worked abroad a lot, often from cafes, and fell in love with cafe culture. It was amazing to see the similarities around the world, especially how coffee always brings people together. But I also saw the gender inequality in the coffee industry and wanted to address it. So I returned to my hometown of LA and started Cafecita.
Tell us more about Cafecita! How and where did it start? How has it evolved? Where do you see its future?
Cafecita sources all our coffees from sustainable women-owned farms and co-ops. 70% of the labor on coffee farms is done by women, yet they’re rarely the owners or decision-makers. Even when women do own the farms, they’re not paid fairly for their coffees. Studies show that women reinvest up to 90% of their earnings into their families and communities. This is why Cafecita works exclusively with women-owned farms–to allow the women to be in the driver’s seat about their own business and because investing in a woman means investing in her family and community.
I launched Cafecita in 2020 right at the start of the pandemic, she’s very much a pandemic baby. Although the original idea was to be a cafe, it was not the right time to be opening a physical location. Instead, I quickly pivoted to e-commerce and wholesale. In 2023 I decided to take the first steps into physical retail and launched a coffee trailer. We did pop ups and events all around Los Angeles, and now the trailer is permanently parked at a 2 acre native plant nursery called Flora Grubb. However, we kept getting event requests so in 2024 I also purchased a mobile coffee bar. Now Cafecita has 3 wings: e-commerce and wholesale, our garden cafe, and catering and events. It’s a lot!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a woman just starting out in coffee, or just chasing a big dream?
Having a support system is so helpful. Cafecita has a board of advisors who are all my friends and Cafecita’s number one fans. Having a network like that helps immensely. Also, grab every opportunity that comes your way. You never know where it might lead.
What’s been one of your favorite moments you’ve had while working in coffee and/or growing Cafecita?
By far the people I’ve met have been so inspiring. I love meeting other small business owners since we understand the struggle and can support and encourage each other. I’m very grateful for the new friendships I’ve made along the way.
What’s something about you that people might be surprised to learn, coffee-related or otherwise?
Prior to law school I lived in Honduras and Turkey and worked as a scuba dive master.
___________
Natalie’s story is a great reminder that coffee can be a force for good. Through Cafecita Coffee, she’s creating real change by partnering with women-owned coffee farms and building a more equitable future for everyone involved.
Want to taste Cafecita Coffee? Our coffee subscription features Cafecita Coffee and other incredible women-led roasters, delivered right to your door. Subscribe today and enjoy coffee that not only tastes amazing but also supports women doing extraordinary things in coffee.
