Café Femenino is a global program committed to empower women coffee farmers globally and to break the cycle of poverty. Since its establishment in 2003 in northern Peru, it has diligently reached out to provide support and resources to empower these women, enabling them to bring about positive change in their communities according to their own terms. The program has expanded its reach by opening a new store in Athens, Greece in the area of Nea Erythraia. Within the store, the women’s cultivated coffee varieties are offered both as beverages prepared in a functional coffee area and as roasted beans displayed on the existing shelves. Cafe Femenino aims to convey the compelling stories of the women involved in the program and provide visitors a glimpse into their daily lives, drawing inspiration from the nature, architecture, and culture of their respective countries.
The design incorporates natural materials such as wood, wicker, marble, plaster, and terracotta, lending an earthy color palette to most surfaces. The colonial style, inherently connected to the women’s background, is embraced with the prominent use of curved elements. Furthermore, the design embraces the vibrancy and multicolored palette reminiscent of coffee-producing regions, which is also emphasized as a symbol of vitality and supports the underlying concept. This is effectively accomplished through decorative patterned flooring and handmade fabric lamps suspended from above. The space features straw baskets, symbolic objects utilized not only in the coffee collection process but also in various daily activities of the female coffee farmers.