Would you change your coffee based on your menstrual cycle? These Ontario founders want women to try

Sip your way through every phase of your cycle with ATETE, a women-founded specialty coffee subscription crafted to support your body’s natural rhythm and transform your daily cup into a mindful ritual.

Ontario local Monja Petersen had been experiencing premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe hormone-based mood disorder that occurs a week or two before menstruation, and said conversations about how caffeine made her feel at different points in her cycle helped spark the idea.

She chatted with her friend, fellow mom and coworker, Marlene Sturm, and decided to make a coffee product that can support your affinity to coffee without the negative side effects.

“It’s so hard on the market to actually find a product that supports you as a woman throughout your cycle if you love coffee and you still don’t want to have the negative side effects,” Sturm told Now Toronto.

“So the idea came up: why don’t we find a way of creating a really good coffee that we roast ourselves, that is tailored to the phases of the menstrual cycle?” she said.

How does it work?

Petersen explained that the coffee is broken down into the four phases of one’s cycle: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal.

“We’re using a different kind of coffee in each phase because we believe that a woman in each phase smells, reacts, has different symptoms, and the hormones are completely different in each phase,” Petersen said.

Sturm added that the coffee supports the body’s natural feel.

“It just brings out the fun and calms you down a bit when you need to rest a bit,” she said.

Here are the different flavour profiles for each phase

Phase 1: Menstruation:  What do you crave most during your period? Chocolate. So, “The Rest Blend” has a gentle flavour profile with soft chocolate, nutty notes and smooth caramel sweetness. Its beans originate from Brazil and Hawaii; a natural, medium-dark roast with low-to-moderate acidity and low-to-moderate caffeine, with a quarter-caf option; mostly Swiss Water decaf to support your menstruative cycle.

Phase 2: Follicular: Still on a chocolatey note, welcome “The Rise Blend,” a Colombia/Papua New Guinea washed medium-light blend with medium acidity, designed for your follicular phase. The taste is bright and expressive, with moderate-to-full caffeine, a chocolate-nut base, a subtle grapefruit lift, and a clean finish.

Phase 3: Ovulatory: Enjoy a rich and comforting coffee during this phase with “The Peak Blend.” The Colombia/Guatemala-origin beans are washed during processing for a medium roast with medium-low acidity and moderate caffeine. The taste has notes of milk chocolate, caramel, toasted hazelnut, and warm spice.

Phase 4: Luteal: Finish your cycle with “The Calm Blend.” The beans originate from Hawaii, and the process is a Swiss Water Process decaf with medium roast and low acidity. The silk-smooth premium decaf has tastes of milk chocolate, brown sugar, toasted macadamia, and delicate honey.

What if you have an irregular period?

The pack focuses on a 21-35-day cycle but is open to everyone.

“We don’t use it as a medical solution. It is a wellness solution, and the box comes with a cycle map so you know when to change into the next phase, so everyone outside of the regular cycle can also use that,” Petersen explained.

Sturm shared that an acquaintance she knows who has had a hysterectomy shares that she still has a cycle where she feels depressed out of nowhere, and feels ATETE might help her track her cycle more.

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Why should you be more aware of your cycle?

Petersen shares her personal experience of having up to 40 days of menstruation before she had gotten pregnant, saying it’s crucial to understand your cycle.

“It’s really important to understand how your cycle works, even if it’s irregular. Before I became pregnant, I had a very irregular cycle for sometimes up to 40 days, but you can still be mindful and shift into the next phase with your cycle,” she said.

Over the years, as someone living with PMDD, Petersen learned that many women don’t even know what her condition is, and believes awareness is crucial.

“We created ATETE, and we spread the word, and we talk to the women in our community… Our product is a solution for people who love the coffee… but this is such a strong product for women who have that sensitivity,” Petersen said.

Sturm adds that, growing up in the 80s and 90s, there was little conversation about menstrual health, so this product encourages such discussions.

“Going into a store and buying a period product was weird, and you wouldn’t talk to your friends about it. But now, I’d like to change that. I have a daughter myself, and I would like to have women be fully aware and be proud of their bodies,” she said.

Where can I access the subscription?

The Kickstarter is launching on Sept. 15, coincidentally in the same month as many feminine health awareness campaigns, such as PMOS month, Interstitial Cystitis, and sexual health awareness month, and more.

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“It was a nice coincidence,” Sturm said. “We’ve seen, through growing up, how important it is for women to come together, to accept our bodies and who we are and how it affects us… so this is a lucky match that September has many women’s health awareness topics at the same time as our launch, quite special.”