The new product forms part of the British coffee specialist’s ‘Equal Ground Project’, which is focused on building long‑term relationships with women‑led farms producing speciality‑grade coffee to help build a more equitable industry.
Named ‘Colombia Single Origin’, the single‑origin, medium‑roast coffee will be released exclusively online and in Waitrose stores on 31 May. It will be made available in 200g ground packs at a recommended retail price of £7.95.
Pact says that the coffee will be the result of a rotation of single‑estate lots grown by members of the Mirtayu Women’s Group, a cooperative of women producing speciality coffee in Huila, Colombia.
The cooperative was first developed by Pact in collaboration with the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. Sales of the coffee will directly fund the recruitment of more members to the cooperative.
“Economic empowerment for women in rural areas is proven to be the quickest and most effective way to promote gender equality in Colombia. By choosing this exceptional coffee, Waitrose customers are contributing to that,” said Sophie Reed, chief commercial officer at Pact Coffee.
“This isn’t charity; it’s a correction of a market failure. These women are some of the most talented growers in Huila, the speciality‑coffee capital of Colombia, yet they’ve historically lacked the platform to reach the UK market. This new coffee changes that.”
Reed added that by forming long‑term, personal relationships with these women, Pact Coffee can guarantee that the premium it pays for this coffee goes straight into their bank accounts.
“It’s through sourcing intentionally from talented women in coffee that we can help to build a more equitable industry.”
The first release will come from La Esmeralda farm, run by Deisy Paiva. Once her harvest sells out, the coffee will rotate between other women‑led farms within the cooperative, while maintaining a consistent flavour profile, Pact adds, due to the farms’ close proximity.
According to figures provided by Pact, just 25% of coffee farms in Colombia are owned by women, part of a wider global pattern where women make up 70% of the workforce but own or run only 20% of farms.
Since 2025, Pact Coffee has pledged to source a minimum 50% of its total coffee from women or gender‑equity groups. The brand says that from April 2024 to April 2025, this figure stood at 60%.
In March 2026, 100% of Pact Coffee’s core range was grown by women or gender‑equity groups across Colombia, Brazil, Honduras and Rwanda.
The launch of Colombia Single Origin comes as speciality coffee enjoys a boom in the UK market, with the segment currently boasting a predicted compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5% from 2024 to 2030.
The coffee’s price may prove a sticking point, however, despite its altruistic focus, with identical pack sizes from premium brands such as Grind and Union sold in Waitrose for £6.25 and £7.50 respectively.
Polly Astbury, buyer for coffee, tea and hot beverages at Waitrose, added: “Closing the gender gap is a quality imperative as well as a social goal. By backing women growers, we are bringing more expertise to the table to build a more sustainable coffee industry and push quality further.
“That’s why we’ve chosen to partner with Pact Coffee on this initiative, sourcing great‑tasting coffee intentionally while directly funding a cooperative which backs women in coffee.”
