Throughout coffee's history, women have played a vital role in shaping the industry—from farming and roasting to innovating more sustainable practices. Yet, their contributions often go unnoticed and unappreciated.
At Sueños Coffee, we’re passionate about highlighting the women in coffee making an impact, pushing boundaries, and creating a better future for the industry our mornings rely on.
Celebrating Women in Coffee
In this blog series, we’re sharing the stories of women who are leaving their mark on the coffee industry today. In today's post, we’re featuring Stephanie Welter-Krause (she/her), founder of Swelter Coffee, whose mission is rooted in sustainability and supporting women coffee producers.
From a background in graphic design to launching her own coffee brand, Stephanie has built a business with purpose—focusing on zero-waste packaging and showing how ethical coffee choices can blend with great quality.
Read on to hear Stephanie's journey, the challenges she’s faced, and the advice she has for women in coffee forging their own path.
What inspired you to get into the coffee industry, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
After drinking coffee my entire adult life, I fell in love with it once I started roasting as a hobby around 2013. I loved getting coffee from different origins and tasting the different natural flavors that came through, even at the beginning stages of my roasting skills.
I decided to launch the brand after I had my kid, with a newfound drive to make a positive impact in the world. I learned the intersectionality of supporting women and sustainability through the work of a prominent non-profit. I didn’t see other brands with such a focus on supporting women coffee producers, and my mission was born.
Tell us more about Swelter Coffee and your Zero Waste Coffee Club! What’s the why behind it, and how has it evolved?
I came to coffee from a career in graphic design, specifically working for 15 years in a firm focused on sustainability and social responsibility. When diving into coffee packaging and finding something that truly aligned with my values, the status quo came up short.
So, I developed a reusable system that focuses on e-commerce so I could grow the business nationally, not just locally. It's become my most popular product, but it definitely has its challenges as I had to develop a whole new system to fulfill, process and clean the reusable bags, and set up a return process that is easy for customers.
It's still evolving, but I am slowly working out the kinks and getting improvements. It offers coffee lovers anywhere in the US a way to access delicious, high-quality coffees, sourced from women, without any packaging (specifically plastic) waste.
If you could sit down for coffee with any woman (past or present), who would it be and what would you ask her?
Two women I have been more recently obsessed with are Reshma Saujani, and Chimanda Ngozi Adichie. I’d love to share a coffee with either, and just learn more about their drive and motivation, and ask for any advice as a woman trying to make her way in this world, staying confident, and owning your own truth.
What’s a small daily ritual (coffee-related or not) that helps you feel grounded when things get hectic and you’re balancing business and life?
It may sound cliché, but when things get to be too much, I try to zero in on my own mindfulness. To notice the small things to help remind me why I do all I do, and to try and cut down on the noise (am I over committing? Engaging in things that aren’t serving my mission?).
Mindful moments include focusing on my kid’s joy and silliness, noticing the birds in the backyard, taking deep breaths, definitely tasting my coffee and feeling a connection with the women behind it. These can literally be a second or two, but I find if I make the effort, it does help… and helps me do them more.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a woman just starting out in coffee — or just chasing a big dream?
Keep your “why” in focus. Why are you embarking on this journey, doing something different, maybe out of your comfort zone. Stay true to the why, and if you no longer feel the why is worth it, move on (its ok!). It is also ok if the why shifts over time. It's easy to let things get overwhelming and intimidating, but we all have value, and contribute something unique to the space we step into. So keep your WHY in focus, and hold your head up.
To continue to learn more about Swelter Coffee and connect with Stephanie, follow her on Instagram and Threads @sweltercoffee
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**All photos via Swelter Coffee
