How do they make Kona Coffee?
August 11th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Grown in Hawaii, on the slopes of Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa, Kona coffee has the title of one of the most sought after coffee in the world. It is grown from the Arabica bean, and to be allowed to be called Kona coffee, has to have been grown in the Kona district.
The specific flavor of the coffee from the Kona district is attributed to the weather conditions in Hawaii. The combination of bright sunny days, with sometimes humid rainy afternoons and balmy nights contribute a lot to making coffee growing favorable in this part of Hawaii.
What goes into the Making Of Kona Coffee
In nineteenth century, a Samuel Ruggles initially brought the coffee plant to Kona. He brought the cuttings for the coffee plant from Brazil, and at this time there are several Kona coffee family owned farms all over the Kona district in Hawaii.
The Growing Season
Around February and March the coffee plants start to flower, these small white flowers are called Kona snow. Around late August, the red berries arrive and they are soon ready to be picked around that time. The hand picking of the berries start from August to early January.
The Process
After the berries are picked the berries are defruited or run through a pulper that separates the pulp from the seeds. The coffee beans are then dried for around a week or two weeks to have optimum moisture left in them.
Grading the Coffee Bean
Kona coffee beans are graded into different types. The usual types of coffee beans are flat on one side and oval at the other. The other type is a round coffee bean in a single berry. The single coffee bean is usually more prized because this contains more coffee flavor than the ones that come in pairs.
The two seed types can further be differentiated depending on their moisture content, bean size and purity. The coffee beans, which come in pairs, are graded as Kona Extra Fancy, Kona Fancy, Kona Number 1 and Kona Prime, while the single seeds are graded as Peaberry Number 1 and Peaberry Prime.
The Kona Coffee Blends
In todays market several coffee producers sell Kona Coffee blends. This type of coffee usually only contains 10% original Kona coffee and the rest is made up of coffees from Columbian or Brazilian. Naturally this makes the sold coffee actually not Kona at all since it has lesser percentage compared to the other kinds blended with it. If your looking for the best coffee you have ever tasted I would recommend having a look at Mystic Monk Coffee that is roasted by monks passionate about coffee.
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Learn about Hawaii Coffee
August 11th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
If I was to think of Hawaii, I have to admit that coffee is not the first idea that would pop into my head if asked about Hawaii. I would be more likely to think about surfing, huge waves at the North Shore, Pearl Harbour, and I am sure many others would think the same. These are perfectly acceptable, but if you asked a coffee drinker you may get a different response.
What a Coffee drinker thinks when asked about Hawaii?
A coffee drinker would most likely respond with the word coffee, and inparticular one type of Hawaiian coffee, Kona Coffee. So what makes this brand of coffee, Hawaii coffee so flavorful, and a favourite with coffee conesourse. How did it arrive in Hawaii and how is it grown.
The History Of Hawaii Coffee
In 1825 the Briish Warship, HMS Blonde arrived in Hawaii with a few coffee trees on board. These had been bought in Argentina by Chief Boki, the governor of Oahu at the time. A Samuel Reverend Ruggles then moved these trees to Captain Cook, Kona.
How Hawaii Coffee From Kona Is Grown
At present they are grown on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa weather patterns create favorable coffee growing conditions of bright sunny mornings, humid rainy afternoons, and mild nights. The extremely rich volcanic soil also help in the production of this coffee bean. Another factor is the attention, pride and dedication that is given by coffee growers. This dedication is due to the fact that many of the coffee growers take pride in the fact that they lay claim to being 5th generation coffee growers. Many of the growers were originally from Japan, brought in to tend and harvest the sugar cane.
What is the Hawaii Coffee taste
The taste of this Hawaii coffee can best be described in terms of being clean tasting, very flavorful and mild. Also, Kona coffee is very aromatic. In addition, unlike other coffees, this coffee is not bitter nor does it leave an aftertaste in the mouth of the coffee drinker.
In addition, Kona coffee does not carry a robust flavor. In actuality, the flavor of this Hawaii coffee is very mild and light in flavor.
What to look for when buying Hawaiian Coffee.
Only coffee grown in Kona can be given the name Kona Coffee. Counterfeit Hawaiian Coffees, were a problem for a while and in 1997 the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture began certifying all Hawaiian coffees by origin (island – district). The Coffee may also be certified by grade.
So remember to Look for the certification stamp to make sure your buying the real thing. If your looking for the best coffee you have ever tasted I would recommend having a look at Mystic Monk Coffee that is roasted by monks passionate about coffee.
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Related Tags: coffee bean, coffee beans, hawain coffee, kona coffee
