Hannah Rowley-Birch

"The Ethics of Water and Coffee"
Mixed Media: Illustration with Digital Editing and Composition
29.7 x 42 cm (Framed)

The specialty coffee industry is still not as sustainable as it can be. This is especially true when it comes to water distribution in coffee-growing countries, where the process is pesticide-intensive, where water is often allocated to crops, and whilst clean drinking water is not readily accessible. I created this piece to emphasise the social impact of coffee, stress the need for clean drinking water in origin countries, whilst recognising the importance of water quality research. I have depicted precision equipment alongside talented female baristas, as I believe representation is still an issue in the industry. The illustration is also recoloured in blue to represent water to highlight its importance.