Processing Kona coffee beans, from harvesting the cherries on the trees to roasting the beans, is an extremely labor-intensive process. Coffee cherries, red when they’re at the peak of their maturity, are picked by hand from the months of late August to January. The cherries are fermented and washed in clean, fresh water. Then wet milling separates the beans from the outer skin. The beans are then dried. Next they are dry milled to separate the parchment skin from the green beans. And finally the green beans are roasted and bagged. Continue reading Processing Kona Coffee Beans
For the best coffee drinking experience, drink 100% Pure Kona Coffee – not a blend of Kona beans and beans from other origins. There’s no mistaking pure Kona coffee. For coffee drinkers, there is nothing like pure Kona coffee, but consumers should know about the different Kona coffee blends.
The difference is in the taste – buyer beware of Kona Coffee blends!
Why your Kona Coffee might not be Pure Kona Coffee — but a Kona Coffee Blend!
“Blended” Kona Coffee?
A Kona coffee blend may not mean what you think it might mean.
Do you think it’s a melange of beans from Kona? You’d be wrong, In this case, a Kona coffee “blend” is a coffee made up from other regions — and the lowest quantity might be Kona coffee. These other coffees in a blend are often from plantations far from Kona, or even Hawaii, for that matter.
The minimal amount of Kona Coffee is added to satisfy labeling requirements. In many cases, these blends take away from the enjoyment of drinking a pure cup of Kona coffee. Also, they may use substandard beans.
Why are blends so popular among manufacturers?
Kona coffee is one of the most expensive coffees available. Raw coffee bean — or green coffee beans — are often six times more expensive than other kinds of beans. A Kona coffee blend is a way for big coffee makers to capitalize on the Kona coffee name for cheap.
A Kona coffee blend takes away from the taste of what little Kona coffee is in the bag. Common Brazilian and Columbian coffee varieties make up 90 percent of the bag of a blend. Actual amount of Kona coffee? Ten percent.
100% Pure Kona Coffee direct from Kona, Hawaii
In an attempt to safeguard their name, Kona coffee farmers have sued companies claiming to sell Kona coffee. They’ve also sought out federal protection of the Kona name, but larger coffee manufacturers have thwarted those efforts.
In response, Kona coffee farmers banded together to form trade organizations like the Kona Coffee Council. The primary mission of these groups is to ensure consumers buy real Kona coffee. In addition, they educate coffee drinkers at trade shows. These shows familiarize the world with the unique taste of Kona coffee.
Kona also is host to the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, a 10-day event held in November to celebrate Hawaii’s favorite crop. Events include art exhibits, coffee farm tours, parades , coffee picking, cupping competitions as well the crowning of Miss Kona Coffee.
Avoid “blends” if you want to experience real Kona coffee. Seek out and buy nothing less than 100 percent pure Kona coffee.
Store your fresh roasted Kona Coffee properly to maximize flavor and freshness.
Your coffee arrives in a specially designed bag.
Store your coffee in the bag it arrives in. Your Kona Coffee arrives packed in a one-way valved bag. This valve is specially designed to let the natural gasses of your fresh roasted coffee escape, while not letting oxygen in. Continue reading How to store Kona Beans – extend the shelf life
There’s nothing like visiting Kona coffee farms if you’re looking for a complete coffee experience when you visit Hawaii. Unless you’ve flown direct to Kona, you’ll probably have to take an interisland flight to the Big Island of Hawaii. The Kona International Airport is located outside the town at Keahole Point. If you’re in Hilo, you can drive to Kona, but it takes about two and half hours (one way) to get there on the old scenic roads. Continue reading Kona Coffee Farms in the State of Hawaii
RoastingKona Coffee heats the green beans to a desired taste and doneness. The length of time in the roaster varies from approximately 12 to 18 minutes. Time and temperature vary depending on the desired results. Coffee roasting is an art and a science that requires creativity, skill and quality equipment. A great roast master is able to combine scientific analysis, technical ability and art to create the perfect roast profile.
