Lucia Solis talks to Rani Mayasari, an extraordinary producer in the coffee industry. They discuss Rani's past influences, turning waste into new money, the importance of women in her business, and innovative coffee processing.
Rani Mayasari empowers women in the coffee industry by providing economic opportunities and challenging traditional conventions.
Rani Mayasari's zero-waste approach and commitment to sustainability are reflected in her innovative techniques, such as producing cruelty-free luwak coffee and transforming coffee waste into valuable resources.
Deep dives
Ronnie's Coffee Journey and Empowering Women
Ronnie, an exceptional coffee producer, is dedicated to empowering women in the male-dominated coffee industry. She recruits and employs women from her village, providing them economic opportunities in coffee production. Ronnie's focus on inclusivity and gender equality challenges traditional conventions. She encourages women to plant coffee near their homes, allowing them to balance domestic responsibilities while earning an income. Ronnie's commitment to sustainability is evident in her zero-waste approach, turning coffee waste into valuable resources like compost and fire starters. She also prioritizes animal welfare, introducing a cruelty-free version of luwak coffee using innovative techniques. Ronnie's expertise in fermentation and processing techniques ensure the quality and uniqueness of her coffee.
Innovative and Sustainable Practices
Ronnie's dedication to environmental sustainability is reflected in her farming and processing practices. She meticulously designs her working station, optimizing efficiency and reducing waste. She implements anaerobic fermentation techniques, measuring and testing different strategies to enhance flavor profiles. Ronnie's commitment to reducing waste extends to her collaboration with black soldier flies, using their larvae to compost coffee waste and produce nutrient-rich soil amendments. Additionally, she transforms coffee parchment into eco-friendly briquettes, providing an alternative to traditional charcoal. These practices not only benefit the environment but also open new revenue streams for Ronnie's coffee business.
Challenges and Confidence Building
Ronnie acknowledges the challenges faced by women in the coffee industry. She works to empower and uplift women by providing opportunities and a supportive community. Ronnie's journey showcases her continuous pursuit of knowledge and confidence-building. By attending classes, participating in workshops, and engaging with experts, she deepens her understanding of coffee processing. This knowledge allows her to articulate the reasoning behind her practices, defend her decisions, and communicate the value of her coffee to buyers. Ronnie's commitment to learning and adapting positions her as an influential figure in the coffee community.
Future Prospects and Impact
Ronnie's innovative approaches and sustainable practices have garnered attention and appreciation from the coffee community. Her unique methods have sparked research collaborations and interest in her coffee offerings. Ronnie envisions a future where more coffee producers, especially women, embrace sustainable and ethical practices. She emphasizes the importance of calibration and education to create a more knowledgeable and conscious coffee industry. Ronnie's journey serves as an inspiration for other coffee producers, encouraging them to challenge norms, embrace innovation, and prioritize sustainable practices.
Today I bring you a conversation with an extraordinary producer: Rani from Java Halu in Indonesia. I do not use this word lightly. Rani is a truly exceptional person and my new coffee crush.
I met her because she was the only woman who attended FTC Indonesia in June. Each previous FTC has been minimum 50% female, this is very important to me because so many coffee spaces are still very male dominated.
During our plan for FTC Indonesia, I handed over many of the logistics to the Bandung Coffee Exchange team. It was only after 23 tickets were sold that I looked at the roaster and saw 22 males and 1 female.
I thought this might make Rani a bit shy but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
In this episode we talk about:
How her past influences her present
how she developed her business acumen
turning waste into new money
civet coffee without civets
the contradiction of “specialty wet-hulled” coffee
why women are important to the sucess of her business
the importance of getting research out of the lab and into the farms
RESOURCES Inquiries about coffee samples or future Fermentation Training Camps: info.luxiacoffee@gmail.com
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