Alyza James transformed her family’s coffee legacy into a purposedriven brand that champions women at every step of the supply chain. With bold colors and an even bolder mission, City Girl Coffee blends quality brews with female empowerment, creating cups that carry meaning beyond the morning ritual.
THE SPARK: “Coffee had always been part of my life, but stepping into the business made me see it differently. I became passionate not just about quality coffee but also about the people behind it — especially women in the supply chain who often lacked recognition, resources and opportunity.” The defining moment came at an industry event: “At a breakfast hosted by the International Women’s Coffee Alliance, I heard a story about a woman farmer in Colombia being denied a loan simply because she was female. In that moment, I knew I had to build something bigger than coffee. That’s when City Girl Coffee was born.”
DAILY DRIVE: “Knowing that we’re not just roasting coffee — we’re creating something that can make a real difference. I’m driven by the opportunity to use my voice and platform to uplift women in coffee and, ultimately, to empower women everywhere to own their strength and their stories.”
BEHIND THE SCENES: Her workspace in three words? “Pretty, sunlit, inspirational.” Her favorite part of creation? “I love the storytelling behind the product — from sourcing beans grown by women farmers to crafting a brand that celebrates empowerment. Blending purpose with creativity lights me up. It’s more than coffee; it’s about creating something that connects people and sparks meaningful conversations.”
MILESTONE MEMORY: “Launching City Girl Coffee and seeing our first bag on the shelves. It was the moment my vision became real: bold, bright, unapologetically feminine — and mine.”
LAKE AND COMPANY CONNECTION: The collaboration between City Girl Coffee and Lake and Company is so natural that owner Megan Kellin, along with Robyn Frank, and Alyza are continuing to discuss business on the City Girl Empower Hour podcast. The trio has transformed their individual entrepreneurial journeys into a platform that amplifies stories of other changemakers while exploring leadership, innovation and social impact.
LOOKING FORWARD: “We’ve explored ready-to-drink options but have no immediate plans for widespread distribution just yet. For now, hopefully expanding our storytelling — more collabs, more content, more connection.”
MAKER’S ESSENTIALS:
Favorite Minnesota lake: Superior
Essential tool: My notebook for scribbled ideas, goals and gratitude.
Morning ritual: I love to incorporate my coffee into a protein smoothie, watch some of the Today show, and then set an intention to take into the rest of the day.
Advice for aspiring creators: Success is how you define it. Just because something didn’t go as planned doesn’t mean it wasn’t a step forward. Failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s part of the path. Trust that you’re exactly where you need to be, exactly when you need to be there.
Instagram: @citygirlcoffee, @alyza_james
Website: citygirlcoffee.com