Alaska Coffee Company Inc. makes the switch to SWISS WATER® Decaf

Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company, Inc. (SWDCC) of Vancouver, British Columbia, is pleased to announce that Alaska Coffee Company Inc. of Anchorage, Alaska (owners Diane and Bob Lewis), has signed up to become an exclusive SWDCC Licensed Vendor in November, 2004. Bob Lewis cited two significant reasons for the decision: one, SWDCC offers Quadra Seal coffees, which are triple certified decaffeinated coffees (Organic, Fair Trade and Shade-Grown), and two, 100% chemical free SWISS WATER® Process delivers the best tasting decaf coffee that he has ever cupped. 

In business since 1992, Alaska Coffee Company is one of the largest coffee roasters in the state, with a thriving espresso shop called Coffee Cats and about 75 wholesale accounts, including other coffee shops, restaurants and hotels. Lewis states, "Our forte is what we like to call 'just roasted' coffee. The thing that separates us from the rest of the crowd and distinguishes our coffee is our roast-on-demand policy. No coffee from Alaska Coffee Company is ever any older than a few hours to a few days." Coffees from all over the globe are offered—from Africa, South and Central America, Mexico, Sumatra and Indonesia. "We really like the Swiss Water decaf from Peru and Guatemala. We wouldn't choose Swiss Water coffees if they didn't cup out to our expectations, and they more than meet our standards!"

Switching over to SWISS WATER® Process decaf represented a significant change in the Lewis' lineup. Since 1994, Alaska Coffee Company has been roasting coffee decaffeinated by the methylene chloride method. Recently though, more and more customers had voiced concerns over chemical decaffeination, prompting Lewis to look into chemical free decaffeination. They chose the 100% chemical free Swiss Water Process because of its ability to maintain their coffees’ distinct flavor characteristics. "Even our employees like it better than the old decaf. And that means they stand behind it, too. Swiss Water coffees may cost a little more, but nobody bats an eye" says Lewis.   

Alaska Coffee Company is taking full advantage of SWDCC's marketing program and has already seen an increase in their decaf sales, using Swiss Water signage for doors and windows and brochures for customer education. "Their marketing program is quite impressive and was one more reason we went with Swiss Water" says Lewis. He eloquently summed it up: "I believe that the decaf coffee drinker has as much a right to a decaf coffee that tastes as good as it possibly can taste, as the regular coffee drinker. That is why we went 100% Swiss Water."

About Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company, Inc.
Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company, Inc. (SWDCC) decaffeinates premium coffees to a 99.9% caffeine-free level. The SWISS WATER® Process is an organically certified, 100% chemical-free, proprietary decaffeination process used by premium roasters and demanded by discerning decaf drinkers around the world. The SWISS WATER® Process is the world's only branded decaffeination process and SWDCC supports its brand through ongoing consumer research and focused consumer advertising. For more information about SWDCC or brokers and roasters that carry SWISS WATER® Process decaf, visit www.swisswater.com.

Media Contact:

Sheryl Rothmuller
SWISS WATER® Trade PR
Ph: 800.677.6181 x244
Email: tradepr@swisswater.com