Sumatran Coffee Retailers In Medan Give Relief During The COVID-19 Pandemic

One cafe provides coffee drinks both Arabica and Robusta types in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Medan City. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Sumatran coffee retailers in Medan City have been forced to adopt a policy of providing payment relief to customers, especially hotels, restaurants and cafes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in the implementation of health protocols.

"We, as coffee providers, have taken a win-win solution scheme. If all this time they were using the buy-out model, now we will give them a break according to the agreed time," explained Sumatra coffee retailer, Fachriz Tanjung in Medan, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, January 26.

He admitted, due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hit Indonesia since March last year, there was an 80 percent decline in sales of coffee, both Arabica and Robusta, from a total of one to two tons per month.

Now the sales of coffee from Sumatra are slowly starting to rise to 40 percent per month amidst the implementation of health protocols and restrictions on operating hours as well as the imposition of curfews for hotels, restaurants and cafes in the country.

"In addition to surviving, we are also innovating. Earlier this year, we opened a Sumatran coffee shop from Aceh to Lampung. In addition to education for residents who come directly to this shop, they can choose coffee in the form of roasted beans or powder at a fairly affordable price at least. purchase 100 grams or an ounce, "he said.

He said that the retail or retailer of Sumatran coffee is absorbed by the domestic market which is controlled by his party, the majority comes from Java, with the mainstay type of Gayo Arabica coffee grown in the highlands of Aceh.

"For national needs, mostly Gayo coffee. In addition to its unique taste, and the character of the coffee is influenced by soil elements. But we also provide it from North Sumatra, such as Karo, Lintong, Mandailing, and Sipirok. Jambi has Kerinci coffee, later from Meranti (Riau). ) Liberika coffee, coffee from South Sumatra and Lampung, "explained Fachriz.