Cafe de Mujeres – Coffee from Women from Lampocoy
Some coffees tell stories. Others change lives. The Café de Mujeres does both – quietly, yet decisively. It stands for self-reliance, quality, and the power of women to make themselves heard in a male-dominated world. Whoever drinks it not only enjoys excellent highland coffee – but also supports courage, self-determination, and sustainable local perspectives.
Kaffeerösterei Kirmse consciously decided to include this coffee from the Cafecita project in its product range – not only because of its excellent taste, but also because it specifically supports the women in Lampocoy. For us, it's clear: coffee is more than just a drink. Coffee is a statement.
Café de Mujeres: Coffee from Guatemala by 57 Women – available from us as Kaffee de Luchs
In the past, we have already reported in our blog about the impressive Cafecita project and the coffees from Lampocoy – for example, about the new harvest of Kaffee de Luchs, our commitment to a good cause, or the impact of Corona on the coffee farmers in Lampocoy and the coffee trade.
And this very Kaffee de Luchs is the Café de Mujeres – a single-origin Arabica coffee from Guatemala, grown on the plantations of 57 courageous women who have joined forces to forge their own path.
But why Kaffee de Luchs? The name is a tribute – to the lynx as a protected animal in the Bavarian Forest and to the species protection project of the same name, which we support with €1 from every pack of Kaffee de Luchs sold. This way, we connect two matters close to our hearts: the socially responsible, directly traded coffee from Guatemala – and the commitment to biodiversity right on our doorstep. For us, it's clear: true enjoyment knows its origin. And its impact.
Women Take Responsibility – The Café de Mujeres Project
In 2017, 57 women in Guatemalan Lampocoy, supported by Cafecita, founded their own coffee project: Café de Mujeres – Coffee by Women. Most of them come from farming families, many had been working in agriculture for a long time, but always in the shadow of men. With this project, they consciously chose self-determination, economic independence and autonomy.
What sounds like a small movement is, in truth, a quiet revolution. The women cultivate their own coffee gardens, make their own decisions, and confidently present themselves as producers. Café de Mujeres became the platform for their voice – a voice that wants to be heard: for equality, for fair pay, and for a dignified life in the countryside.
The video "The Women of Lampocoy" provides a deep insight into the daily lives and motivation of these female coffee farmers. Their statements are impressive: “We can work ourselves and manage the money – and we prefer to spend it on important things: for the kitchen, for clothes, for school.” This attitude makes Café de Mujeres more than just a product – it makes it a symbol for change.
Cafecita: From Heartfelt Impulse to Powerful Movement
The roots of the Cafecita project date back to 2010. At that time, Dethlev Cordts, a German television journalist, travelled to Guatemala to film a documentary about the collapse of Maya culture. On this journey, he met his future wife Milvia – and through her, in 2011, her remote home village of Lampocoy in the east of the country, near the border with Honduras – Guatemala's poorest region.
Poverty in the village was omnipresent: huts with dirt floors, leaky roofs, hardly any prospects. Yet amidst the hardship, there was a moment that changed everything – a hot cup of coffee, freshly brewed from the beans of the small family plantation behind Milvia's uncle Juan's house.
Given the living conditions, Dethlev Cordts and Milvia decided to buy three sacks of green unroasted coffee directly from the site – a first step to find out if the people's fortunes could be improved through direct sales of their coffee. This impulse laid the foundation for today's Cafecita project – and for a new form of coffee trade based on dignity, transparency, and partnership.
“We understood absolutely nothing about the coffee business back then,” Dethlev Cordts recalls. “But the roasters in Germany, to whom we had the opportunity to present the coffee, were thrilled!” In 2012, the first container of Café de Lampocoy was shipped to Europe – and quickly sold out. We at Kaffeerösterei Kirmse have been involved from the very beginning!
A Decade of Impact: The Development of Cafecita
What began with 200 kilograms of green coffee rapidly developed:
- 2011: 200 kilograms of green coffee embark on a journey to Germany, to be presented to German roasters and traded directly.
- 2012: 20 tonnes of coffee from Lampocoy arrive in Hamburg harbour.
- 2013: The first larger harvest – 40 tonnes of coffee are produced. Revenues begin to provide schools with learning materials.
- 2014: 60 tonnes of the high-quality Lampocoy Grand Cru are harvested. For the first time, health posts can be equipped with urgently needed medicines.
- 2015: Infrastructure significantly improves: Toilets, a school kitchen, and a sewage treatment plant are built in several communities.
- 2016: The project grows to include 74 small-farmer families. The first computer education centre is built.
- 2017: A milestone for equality is achieved: The women's initiative Café de Mujeres is launched. The construction of another school in Capucalito enables even more children to receive an education.
- 2018: By now, 90 families are part of the project. The school in Lampocoy is built.
- 2019: The go-ahead for a large-scale reforestation programme is given – a contribution to greater biodiversity and soil protection. Medicines and learning materials are distributed.
- 2020: Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the project continues to grow: 125 families participate, three new computer centres are established, and pandemic relief is organised.
- 2021: 115 tonnes of coffee are produced. 13,000 trees are planted.
Cafecita is more than a project – it is a steadily growing movement that shows that coffee doesn't just mean enjoyment, but can bring real change: for families, for villages, for entire regions.
Cafecita: A Philosophy That Endures
What began as a spontaneous idea in a mud hut has evolved into a movement with impact. Cafecita was never just a coffee project – from the very beginning, it was a stance: against injustice, against exploitation, against being forgotten.
Transparency, social equity, education, medical care, reforestation, and environmental protection – all these are not mere side effects, but the heart and soul of this project. What's more: Cafecita pursues the clear goal of tackling the root causes of displacement – by creating sustainable prospects locally.
This commitment is driven by the motto:
“Finest coffee. Directly traded. Socially responsible. Grandchild-friendly.”
Today, coffee from Lampocoy is enjoyed in seven European countries – by people who want to know where their pleasure comes from. By people who, with every cup, give a piece of the future. Because Cafecita means more than just beans. It means: children going to school. Mothers managing their own finances with self-determination. Forests being reborn. And a village that no longer just dreams of survival – but of life.
Lampocoy – Where Exceptional Coffee Grows
Café de Mujeres originates where Guatemala is at its most untouched: in the green, remote highlands surrounding the village of Lampocoy in the east of the country. Between 1,100 and 1,400 metres above sea level, the female coffee farmers cultivate their plots – steep slopes, densely vegetated soils, protected by ancient shade trees. Here, high-quality Arabica varieties Bourbon, Caturra, and Catuaí grow – slowly, yet powerfully, surrounded by orange, banana, and avocado trees, which further characterise the terroir.
The climatic conditions are exceptional: humid fog banks repeatedly drift through the valley, while the volcanic rock provides nutrient-rich soil. The combination of microclimate, high altitude, and traditional cultivation makes Lampocoy one of Central America's most exciting coffee-growing regions – perfect for complex, elegant coffees with depth, clarity, and origin.
In the Café de Mujeres project, manual labour isn't just a quality feature – it's fundamental. The women consciously refrain from using chemical aids, work in organic mixed cultivation, focus on crop rotation, and natural pest control. Only what is truly ripe is harvested – selectively by hand. Every single coffee cherry is picked with care and handed over to the Cafecita team.
Further processing takes place in direct cooperation: The beans are prepared using the "washed" method, then gently dried in the sun. The women also retain a say in selection, quality control, and export preparation – transparent processes, fair participation, and continuous traceability are integral to the Cafecita philosophy.
Café de Mujeres is part of the Lampocoy Grand Cru quality region – a designation of origin that is more than just a name. It stands for meticulous cultivation, respectful treatment of people and nature, and a sensory quality that even discerning roasters find convincing. All Cafecita coffees come from this region – and the women's coffees, in particular, demonstrate the potential hidden in every single bean here.
What Makes This Coffee So Special
In the cup, Café de Mujeres unfolds a flavour profile that unites warmth, depth, and elegance. Dark chocolate, roasted pecan, and delicate caramel characterise the aromatic interplay – full-bodied, rounded, and with a pleasant finish. A subtle acidity lends freshness to the coffee, while its medium body provides structure – perfectly balanced for pure enjoyment or with a dash of milk.
This sensory diversity makes it a true all-rounder: It works equally well as filter coffee, in automatic machines, a French press, or as a gentle espresso. Whether in the morning, at the office, or during an afternoon ritual – this coffee strikes the right balance between character and accessibility.
What makes it special is not just its quality, but the journey it has taken – from the hands of the producers to your cup. Behind every sip lies a story of self-determination, care, and pride. And that's exactly what you taste.
Coffee with a Stance - What Your Purchase of Café de Mujeres Achieves
Whoever chooses Café de Mujeres chooses not only exceptional taste but also real impact. Because every purchase directly supports the women of Lampocoy – and thus a movement committed to self-determination, equality, and social participation.
But this coffee is more than just taste. Behind every bean lies a project with a stance – driven by the women of Lampocoy, supported by Cafecita, and championed by people who believe in change. Cultivation is carried out close to nature in mixed culture, harvesting by hand, processing "washed", and drying under the Guatemalan sun – with the greatest care and genuine passion.
And the impact? Tangible. Every purchase of Café de Mujeres flows directly back into the region: into education, health, reforestation, and social infrastructure. The women receive fair prices far above world market levels for their cherries and independently decide how the funds are used – for their children's schooling, healthy nutrition, clean drinking water, and a future in the countryside. This is development that comes from within – and that lasts. This is how quality connects with responsibility. Enjoyment with impact. And a simple coffee with a grand idea.
How to Get Café de Mujeres – As Kaffee de Luchs or Soon as Green Coffee
At Kaffeerösterei Kirmse, you'll find Café de Mujeres under the name Kaffee de Luchs – lovingly roasted, carefully refined, and ready for your favourite moment. This single-origin Arabica represents everything we love at Kirmse: genuine origin, deep aroma, and clear social value.
Soon, this special coffee will also be available as green coffee – for all who wish to roast themselves, develop their own style, and make a statement with every bean. Whether a home roaster or a professional: Café de Mujeres is made for light to medium roasts that bring out its delicate character.
Whether already roasted as Kaffee de Luchs or soon as green coffee for your own roasting profile – discover Café de Mujeres and experience how much power is hidden in a small bean.
Find even more specialities and stories about courageous female producers, sustainable cultivation projects, and social change in our section on Coffee Aid Projects. There, you'll learn how coffee makes education possible, allows forests to grow, and gives people hope – cup by cup.