Sunday morning paper brings another Wild Woman alert! A name we should recognize as easily as Steve Jobs’ or Mark Zuckerberg’s!  Meet Steve Shirley (because her business letters signed as “Stephanie” went unanswered). “Ridiculously ahead or her time,”(Sue Black NYTimes 8/24/25) she founded a tech company that provided the programming for the Concorde’s flight data recorder, software protocols that were adopted by NATO, and pioneered scheduling software for buses and trains. Her company’s high stakes innovative work was done by a small army of women working from home via dial-up connections. By sharing ownership of her company with her mostly female employees in the 1970s (297 of her first 300 employees were women), she made at least 70 of them millionaires; her retirement  years were devoted to philanthropy; her company eventually reached a value of $3 billion. Dame Steve, rescued from the Nazi’s via a Kindertransport train, then attending a boys school when the local girls school did not offer advanced mathematics, and starting her own company offering flexible work hours for women after bumping against the glass ceiling of the corporate world of the 1960s while designing an early computer.  Yes, a Wild Woman indeed! https://stevenirosenfeld.substack.com/p/a-pioneer-in-technology-and-a-giant https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/business/stephanie-shirley-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Welcome to the Wild Women Coffee Conversations Blog: Musings about coffee, travels in the coffee belt, and women who inspire us (and maybe even drink coffee ). Enjoy this collection of occasional essays that always circle back to coffee. We two authors inhabit a little corner of coffee space. We love to travel in coffee growing climates and experience the cultures of coffee growing people. We dabble in coffee roasting, and learn from observing master roasters. We watch barista competitions and play at steam milk designs and surface powder stencils in our kitchen. We share our knowledge of the mysteries of coffee through cuppings and presentations. We brew coffee in limitless iterations to share with friends and new acquaintances and try our best to learn about the world through the people who live in it with us. We laugh a lot, with each other, with our families, with our friends, and often with strangers. Our blog is a reflection of what we know, what we learn, what we admire. It is flavored by the ribbon of coffee running through it. Reading and writing both require coffee! Here are some of the coffee books that inspire us to write. A note about the WWC LogoGirls Our Logo is intended to be whimsical composites and a little unfinished. Sort of like us. The colors--a sort of orange, and a sort of purple, primary color blends--are representative of so many of us: a little of this and little of that and not fully defined in any one way. The LogoGirls represent us on our packages. They travel with us and love to get their pictures taken. Follow them on Instagram to see all their adventures Blog or newsletter or both? We publish an occasional newsletter but the blog format allows us to get our thoughts out more quickly. We'll re-publish some of our newsletter content here and post a link to full newsletter issues. We hope you enjoy reading our coffee musings-- We enjoy writing them. Leave comments, subscribe, and by all means, buy coffee!

Josephine Baker once said about her partner Jo Bouillon, “He was my cream, and I was his coffee. And when you poured us together, it was something,” Offerring a simple yet powerful metaphor that captured the essence of their relationship. But it is another quote, from her brief speech at the March on Washington in 1963 that provides insight into the internal fire that fueled her courageous work for the French Resistance during World War II and her rise to prominence in the “I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents, and much more,” she told the crowd of some 250,000. “But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee , and that made me mad. And when I get mad, you know that I open my big mouth.” Josephine Baker performing in Paris, 1930s Early Life and Rise to Stardom Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1906, Josephine Baker grew up in poverty and faced racial segregation from an early age. Despite these challenges, she showed remarkable talent and determination. She moved to New York City as a teenager and began performing in vaudeville shows. Her breakthrough came when she moved to Paris in the 1920s, where she became a sensation in the vibrant nightlife scene. Baker’s performances were groundbreaking. She combined dance, music, and theatrical flair with a unique style that captivated audiences. Her famous banana skirt costume and energetic dances challenged conventional norms and made her an international star. Paris embraced her as a symbol of freedom and exotic beauty, but her success in Europe contrasted sharply with the discrimination she faced in the United States. The Coffee Denial Incident and Racial Discrimination Despite her fame, Josephine Baker was not immune to racism. One striking example occurred when she was denied a cup of coffee at a hotel in the United States. This incident highlighted the harsh reality of segregation laws and racial prejudice that persisted even for a world-renowned artist. Baker refused to accept such treatment quietly. She used her platform to speak out against racial injustice and segregation, and ended up paying a high price for calling out her experience at the Stork Club. Her experiences fueled her commitment to equality and human rights. Josephine Baker’s Role in the French Resistance Before the fight against segregation in America, Josephine Baker was one of an army of women who were part of the French Resistance . When World War II broke out, she was living in France and became involved in the fight against Nazi occupation. Using her celebrity status as a cover, she worked as a spy and courier for the French Resistance. Baker’s missions included carrying secret messages hidden in her sheet music and traveling to various locations to gather intelligence. Her performances allowed her to move freely between different social circles and countries without raising suspicion. She also used her connections to help smuggle refugees and provide aid to those persecuted by the Nazis. Her bravery earned her several honors, including the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor from the French government. Baker’s work in the Resistance showed a different side of her — not just an entertainer but a committed fighter for freedom and justice. Legacy Beyond the Stage Josephine Baker’s impact goes far beyond her performances. She broke racial barriers in the entertainment industry and became a symbol of resistance against oppression. After the war, she continued to advocate for civil rights. She and Bouillon adopted 12 children from different ethnic backgrounds, calling the family at their French Château des Milandes her “Rainbow Tribe.” Her life story inspires many today, reminding us that courage and determination can overcome prejudice and adversity. Baker’s journey from being denied a simple cup of coffee to risking her life for freedom illustrates the power of resilience and the importance of standing up for what is right. Josephine Baker’s legacy is a powerful reminder that fame does not shield one from injustice, but it can be a tool to fight it. Her work with the French Resistance and her lifelong commitment to equality make her a a Wild Woman to be remembered and celebrated.

Selma Miriam, founder of the iconic Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant & Bookstore , passed away on Feb. 6, 2025. She named the restaurant for the native plant that spreads “separate but connected”, through an underground root system, forming new colonies of flowers.  “We don’t just want a piece of the pie, we want a whole new recipe.” Along with founding partner Noel Furie, the restaurant opened in 1977, and indeed, many recipes were launched and connections made. Bloodroot quickly became a special place for independent-minded women in the late 70’s and continues to this day.  As Women’s Herstory Month comes to a close, we thank you, Selma, for being a Wild Woman and helping so many others along the way. Let's keep Bloodroot going! The restaurant is open Wednesday thru Saturday and is located at 85 Ferris St., Bridgeport, CT. Call (203) 576-9168 for more info or visit www.bloodroot.com

The Hammer Throw is a track and field event that requires strength, coordination and explosive power as athletes compete to throw a weight the farthest distance. The women's event debuted at the Olympics in 2000. A woman competitor holds the grip of a four foot long wire that has an almost nine pound steel ball attached to the other end.  She typically swings the ball over her head then spins and spins and spins—and maybe spins one more time—to create the centrifugal force that will send the "hammer" flying!  She must stay within the bounds of a 7-foot diameter circle until after the ball lands and then, no dizzy staggering allowed, the athlete finishes her throw by exiting the circle only through the back half. Jannee’ Kassanavoid is the first Native American woman to medal at the World Track And Field championships and the hammer throw is her event.  She is poised to be an Olympic champion on TEAM USA this summer in Paris. Kassanavoid uses her platform as a professional track and field athlete to “fight for indigenous representation, equality and justice.”  She has said “It is with great gratitude that I amplify my voice, walk forward as a leader, and embody the role of those who walked before me.  I am proud to be Indigenous and pave the way for the future generations of young athletes, women and fellow natives to come.” (Team USA News) While she humbly makes history, she remains focused on her goal to “inspire and empower not only athletes, but also others chasing their dreams of being that shining light.  I want to show them that in the end, hard work does pay off.” The coffee connection?  Until 2004 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), whose regulations the International Olympic Committee adhere to, included caffeine in their list of banned substances because of its performance enhancing properties. “While caffeine does not increase strength or stamina the way most banned ergonomic compounds do, it does increase energy by encouraging the migration of reserve fat to the bloodstream and leaving more reserve sugar available for the muscle to convert to energy.” Since  2004 coffee has moved to the WADA’s “safe foods” list and then, after more studies was put on the “watch” list in 2018  where it remains today. So this summer, Kassanavoid and the other elite athletes in Paris may compete penalty-free if micrograms of caffeine  per milliliter of urine is under with 12.  That means they can have 6 to 8 12 ounce cups of coffee in the hours preceding competition.  Too bad Wild Women Coffee is not available in France!  It would surely make winners of all the TEAM USA athletes! sources: World Athletics, New York Times Athletic, Team USA News,

The U.S. War Department considered coffee to be an essential element of the troops' diet--lifting morale, keeping them alert for night time combat and used as a therapeutic in the field by medics. The army requisitioned 10 times more coffee in 1942 than they had in the year before Pearl Harbor was attacked which meant that back at home, families were asked to stretch their coffee supplies by reusing brewed grounds. We can only assume that Maggie Higgins was getting the coffee she needed as she competed to "get the scoop" in the male dominated world of wartime journalism. The rule that barred women correspondents from reporting from the combat zone didn't keep her from jumping in a jeep headed behind enemy lines, putting her in position to be the reporter on site as Dachau was liberated. She went on to cover the war in Korea in a way that few other reporters did--from the center of combat. In her new biography, Fierce Ambition, Jennet Conant chronicles Higgins' achievements and explores her motivations. In an NPR interview Conant recently said that although the journalist opened doors for women, she never wanted to be distinguished for her gender. "She won the Pulitzer for her daring dispatches, and the Pulitzer committee noted that she won it under extraordinary, difficult circumstances because she was a woman. But she did not want that to be what she was known for. She wanted to be seen as a good newspaper man, not woman." Truly, Maggie Higgins belongs on the WWC Wild Women billboard!

One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself. ~Lucille Ball Lucille Ball brought the gift of laughter to generations with her hilarious antics and ingenious wit. While she earns "wild woman" status with her acting alone, she was a force to be reckoned with off screen as well. Ball started in film but found real success in broadcast television, first in front of the camera and later as the first woman to own and run a major television production studio. Her show I Love Lucy ran for 6 years (1951-57) and was the number one show in the country for 4 of them. She also acted in The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy and Desilu productions went on to produce Our Miss Brooks, Make Room for Daddy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Untouchables, Star Trek , Mission: Impossible and other groundbreaking shows. Lucille Ball was the first woman to receive the International Radio and Television Society's Gold Medal (1971). She also won 4 Emmy awards and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. The combination of her genius and drive toward perfection made her a legend in the world of entertainment and her work paved the way for the countless women in comedy who followed her. In 1957 Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz filmed a Sanka commercial. We have to believe that it was bold, caffeinated coffee that fueled her long hours, but if you prefer decaf, this is one area where we would have to say, don't take Lucy's advice. Try one of our Wild Women Coffee decaf selections instead! (Getty Images)

There is a hunger in this digital age to hear authors together, to participate in programs, to just be in a place, a community space. ~ Carla Hayden The Library of Congress, established in 1800, is the largest library in the world; and Carla Hayden is in charge of it. The current Librarian of Congress was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2016, becoming the first woman and the first African American to hold the position. Prior to her appointment as Librarian of Congress, Hayden served as CEO of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a rock star in the library world and served as president of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004. Hayden is known for her advocacy for intellectual freedom, access to information, and diversity and inclusion in the library profession. Librarian Hayden is partial to the spinach smoothies offered at the LC's Madison Café. Coffee is on the menu too--but don't even try to take a cup into the national stacks! From Hayden's National Library Week Tweet: A library’s role in our communities is more relevant and important than ever. Libraries are the pillar of democracy because we provide free and open access to information but also a place for civic engagement and dialogue. #NationalLibraryWeek 9:44 AM-Apr 28, 2023

Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off. But if you don't have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you. ~Amelia Earhart Ninety years ago this week, that wild woman Amelia Earhart made history when she became the first woman to fly nonstop across the Atlantic solo, sustained throughout the trip by tomato juide and a few squares of chocolate. When she was flying, Amelia followed three simple "food rules:" 1. She ate just enough to “prevent fatigue, but not induce drowsiness.” 2. She ate food that was simple to access since “pilots have only two hands and dozens of things to do” and 3. She only brought the lightest weight food on a flight because “…a pilot whose land plane falls into the Atlantic is not consoled by caviar sandwiches.” Of course, she had a thermos of steaming hot coffee stowed to keep her awake on lonely, extended flights, right? Sadly, no! According to a post by the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, “She didn’t drink coffee or tea, and would use smelling salts … to stay awake on her long flights!” Well Amelia, if only you had added salt to your coffee! As it turns out, according to foodie Alton Brown (and a Turkish bridal tradition) adding salt to ground coffee before brewing (a quarter teaspoon of kosher salt to every six tablespoons of ground coffee) enhances the flavor and neutralizes the bitterness of coffee. A little salt as a substitute for milk and sugar might have made even Amelia Earhart a black coffee connoisseur! Could coffee have saved her from vanishing just a few years after her record-settting trans-Atlantic flight? For more about this Wild Woman, check out the Library of Congress Amelia Earhart Resource Guide. And to read about the benefits of salt in your coffee visit The Old Coffee Pot. Use your fear...It can take you to the place where you store your courage.

The Specialty Coffee Association: in their words: The Specialty Coffee Association is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that represents thousands of coffee professionals, from producers to baristas all over the world. Built on foundations of openness, inclusivity, and the power of shared knowledge, we foster a global coffee community and support activity to make specialty coffee a thriving, equitable, and sustainable activity for the entire value chain. The International Women's Coffee Alliance: IWCA The mission of the International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA) is to empower women in the international coffee community to achieve meaningful and sustainable lives; and to encourage and recognize the participation of women in all aspects of the coffee industry. National Coffee Association USA: The NCA has been around since 1911. It serves people in all aspects of the coffee business, offers webinars and annual conferences, and has a website chock full of coffee information and data