Oceansider’s coffee company fuels frontline workers

Andean Mountain brews ‘coffee for a cause’

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Oceansider George Franzese, owner of Andean Mountain Coffee, has been making his rounds to donate coffee to frontline workers and first responders during the coronavirus pandemic.

It started when he was speaking to a nurse who works at Mount Sinai South Nassau. “I found out she was working at the hospital a mile from my house and bringing her own coffee,” he recalled, “I know our coffee is superior and really thought they could use the great coffee that we have to get through the day.”

The company has donated to the Oceanside hospital, as well as Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre. Franzese also brews the coffee and delivers boxes to firehouses, senior centers and other places in need.

“With all the things these people are going through right now the last thing they should have to worry about is a source of great coffee,” Franzese said. “A great cup of coffee makes everything a little better, and we’re hoping this is just one small way we can help our fellow Long Islanders.”

At the same time, business has been down, so community members have bought his coffee to donate to frontline workers, Franzese said. “Say thank you to them or a loved one and help us out at the same time,” he offered in one of his videos.

Even before the pandemic, Andean Mountain had launched its “coffee for a cause” program. The company started selling in Manhattan in 2001, just five months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. After that, they always had a pull toward helping others with their coffee wherever they could.

For about a year now, Andean Mountain Coffee has donated some of its proceeds to the Stephen Siller Tunnel for Towers Foundation, which supports families of fallen first responders of 9/11 and, now, of Covid-19. The coffee company also has a partnership with Island Harvest. For every pound of coffee or set of K-Cups sold, Andean Mountain donates $1 to either organization.

For more information, visit andeanmountain.com.