A Queer Coffee Resource Guide

These organizations and queer-friendly cafés promote the LGBTQIA community.

Cover photo courtesy of PSAC Atlantic

BY KATRINA YENTCH
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Our coffee community extends well beyond circles of people who love to nerd out over brewing specs. We offer countless networks of support for sub-groups within the industry, from roasters to small business owners and marginalized communities.

We’ve compiled a useful list of just a few of the many resources for our queer companions and queer allies in the coffee industry; use it to seek friendship, encouragement, and guidance as you navigate the challenges that present themselves in the café and beyond.

ORGANIZATIONS

The BICC hosts events for marginalized groups within Boston’s coffee community. Photo by The Pour.

Boston Intersectional Coffee Collective – Kristina Jackson started the BICC in the fall of 2017. In a city whose diverse population is segregated by neighborhoods of color and white communities, Kristina saw a similar discrepancy within the city’s coffee industry. Since then, the group actively works with other organizations to host events for people of color, women, queer, and transgender individuals in Boston’s coffee community. Find out what they’re doing on Facebook, and reach out via email.

Queer Coffee Events organizes coffee events for the queer community and its allies. Photo by Queer Coffee Events.

Queer Coffee Events – Queer Coffee Events is exactly what you think it is! The group hosts community-building events that are queer-centered, meaning both the queer community and allies in coffee are welcome to participate. While QCE hasn’t hosted an event since summer 2018, anyone is able to host one, so long as it falls within the Code of Conduct. Propose your idea over email, and for updates, follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

SAMECUP increases visibility for women, queers, and minorities in the Australian coffee community. Photo by SAMECUP.

SAMECUP – Demelza Jones and Shirin Demirdag started SAMECUP after attending Barista Connect in Melbourne in 2018, an event that brought together women of coffee from around the world. SAMECUP increases visibility for women, queer folx, and ethnic minorities in the Australian coffee community. Their events cover a range of topics that empower these groups, including all-female/queer-only competitions, tech workshops, and more. Help them continue these events and create content for awareness and action plans on Chuffed, and stay afloat of news on Instagram.

Get these pins when you donate $10 to #coffeetoo on GoFundMe. Photo by #coffeetoo.

#coffeetoo – Molly Flynn started the grassroots community project #coffeetoo in October 2017 in response to the publicizing of the #MeToo movement that same fall. The project picked up momentum in January 2018, when an act of sexual discrimination within the coffee industry was publicized. Since then, it has become an organization that empowers and supports anyone in confronting assault, harassment, and discrimination in the industry. Find them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and email. You can also donate to the cause on GoFundMe.

CAFÉS