Sightseer Coffee

ABOUT:

Hi there! We’re Sara Gibson and Kimberly Zash. We love coffee, kittens, and a good dad joke. We’re goofy people, but there are a few things we’re serious about:

  • Coffee should be delicious. We source high-quality, fresh-crop coffee from exceptional farms and co-ops and then dial in our roasts and blends to create appealing flavor profiles that you’ll want to drink all day long. 
  • Coffee should be impact-driven. Coffee has a colonial history that has driven abusive supply chain practices for far too long. It’s why Americans get mad about paying “too much” for coffee and why coffee farmers (the vast majority of whom are in developing nations) have a hard time making a living. Around 44% of smallholder coffee farmers live below the international poverty line, earning less than $3.20 per day (source). By working with community-minded importers and producers and paying more-than-fair-trade prices for the coffees we buy, we’re working to ensure that farmers and their families have access to living wages, education, health care, and a sustainable future in coffee. 
  • Coffee should be representational. As a queer-owned company, we understand that representation matters. When we see ourselves reflected in an industry, at a place of business, or on a team, we experience inclusion and validation. Sightseer is dedicated to empowering marginalized peoples (e.g., those who identify as queer, BIPOC, disabled, and/or low-income) through vendor selection, training opportunities, employment, and livable wages.
  • Coffee should be sustainable. Climate change is real, and it’s coming for our coffee. According to a 2014 study, about 50% of the land suitable for growing coffee could disappear by 2050. We choose to partner with farms, importers, and vendors who invest in environmental initiatives. We also strive to make earth-friendly choices in our roasting and packaging, and as we grow we will continue to challenge ourselves to do more.
  • We are a feminist enterprise. We're deeply committed to building gender equity in the coffee industry. While women typically make up about 70% of the manual labor force on coffee farms, they are often shut out of decision-making and ownership. By sourcing exclusively from women producers and co-ops, we’re helping women stake their claim in the industry. When women make the decisions, more resources are invested back into social and environmental initiatives, leading to better outcomes for families and communities. Land and people prosper—and you, my friend, get a damn fine cup of coffee.