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Coffee companies, which have a special interest in Indonesia as a supplier of much of their product, are finding their own ways to help tsunami-ravaged areas.
Christian Waskiewicz, owner and roastmaster of South Lake Tahoe-based Alpen Sierra Coffee Co., said coffee from the Indonesian island of Sumatra accounts for about 40 percent of his coffee sales. Sumatra coffee, which he described as big in body and mild in acidity, is used as a base for most of the company's blends.
Sulawesi and East Timor are among other coffee-producing areas in Southeast Asia.
Alpen Sierra is planning a private donation to a "grass roots" aid organization, such as the East Timor Action Network, Waskiewicz said.
"We will do what we can," Waskiewicz said.
Starbucks has made an initial donation of $100,000 to two international relief organizations, CARE and Oxfam UK, according to a news release.
In addition, the company will donate $2 to aid organizations for each pound of whole-bean Sumatra, Decaf Sumatra and Aged Sumatra that is purchased in its stores this month.
Peet's Coffee & Tea, which has shops in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas and sells coffee in local Safeway and Raley's stores, is offering a company match of donations made through its Web site (www.peets.com) to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. The Web site notes that among those hurt by the disaster are "friends and business associates."
As of Tuesday evening, customers had donated more than $22,000 to tsunami relief; the company will match contributions up to $25,000.
Despite the damage inflicted by the disaster, it appears the supply of Indonesian coffee won't be substantially altered, experts said.
"At first, I wondered. That was the big question," Waskiewicz said.
Indonesian coffee is grown in the highlands, and picking is usually completed by August, Waskiewicz said. That's followed by a lengthy processing and a rest period.
Because of the location of the coffee growing areas and the timing of the crop, the tsunami likely had little or no direct effect on the coffee. The question then was whether there were ways to get it out of the country. But Waskiewicz said it appears "the channels are open."
Starbucks said through a publicist on Tuesday that it is confident in the short-term and long-term supply of Indonesian coffee.
Peet's, which includes Sumatra and Sulawesi coffees among its offerings, had no immediate comment on whether the disaster would alter supplies.
Christian Waskiewicz, owner and roastmaster of South Lake Tahoe-based Alpen Sierra Coffee Co., said coffee from the Indonesian island of Sumatra accounts for about 40 percent of his coffee sales. Sumatra coffee, which he described as big in body and mild in acidity, is used as a base for most of the company's blends.
Sulawesi and East Timor are among other coffee-producing areas in Southeast Asia.
Alpen Sierra is planning a private donation to a "grass roots" aid organization, such as the East Timor Action Network, Waskiewicz said.
"We will do what we can," Waskiewicz said.
Starbucks has made an initial donation of $100,000 to two international relief organizations, CARE and Oxfam UK, according to a news release.
In addition, the company will donate $2 to aid organizations for each pound of whole-bean Sumatra, Decaf Sumatra and Aged Sumatra that is purchased in its stores this month.
Peet's Coffee & Tea, which has shops in the San Francisco and Sacramento areas and sells coffee in local Safeway and Raley's stores, is offering a company match of donations made through its Web site (www.peets.com) to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. The Web site notes that among those hurt by the disaster are "friends and business associates."
As of Tuesday evening, customers had donated more than $22,000 to tsunami relief; the company will match contributions up to $25,000.
Despite the damage inflicted by the disaster, it appears the supply of Indonesian coffee won't be substantially altered, experts said.
"At first, I wondered. That was the big question," Waskiewicz said.
Indonesian coffee is grown in the highlands, and picking is usually completed by August, Waskiewicz said. That's followed by a lengthy processing and a rest period.
Because of the location of the coffee growing areas and the timing of the crop, the tsunami likely had little or no direct effect on the coffee. The question then was whether there were ways to get it out of the country. But Waskiewicz said it appears "the channels are open."
Starbucks said through a publicist on Tuesday that it is confident in the short-term and long-term supply of Indonesian coffee.
Peet's, which includes Sumatra and Sulawesi coffees among its offerings, had no immediate comment on whether the disaster would alter supplies.
