Coffee from Hawaii

Something you might not know about Hawaii is that it is the only state in the United States that grows and commercializes coffee beans. And how do we know that? Well, we are pretty sure that you never entered a coffee shop and requested a cup of Texas or California. Sadly, there is also the chance that you never ordered a Hawaii either, simply because it is not as famous as we would expect. 

Context

How come that Hawaii is the only place in the US where coffee is commercially grown? And why is it so good? This happens because Hawaii naturally has the best conditions and labor in America is highly expensive, in comparison to other regions. Therefore, the producers do their best to only come up with the best quality coffee that can be later on sold to high-paying customers.

This being said, there are approximately 790 coffee farms to be found in Hawaii, where the largest growing district is Kona, and also the most popular. Most of the profits are being made from selling the produced coffee to tourists. 

Growing conditions

As we all know, the Hawaiian islands are full of volcanoes. This makes it so that the soil is full of rich minerals, and therefore highly beneficial for growing healthy coffee trees. Also, rain is a rather frequent event on the islands, so not only enough water is produced in order for the plants to survive, but also there are also periodical shades from the powerful sun. Overall, it seems like there is a perfect balance between sun, rain, low winds, and mild nights. 

High altitudes usually create better, unique, and more flavourful coffee. Even though in Hawaii there are high elevations, they do not compare with other regions. Therefore, the coffee is milder in taste and acidity in comparison to other ones. 

The taste profile

As we mentioned before, Kona coffee is the most sought-after. Therefore, avoid ”Kona blends”, as the taste can be diminished, and instead opt for 100% pure Kona. You will discover notes of brown sugar, milk chocolate, honey, and the little cherry on top: hints of bright fruit flavors. Therefore, it is rich, but not overpowering, smooth, with an almost syrupy body. 

Instead, if you want to try coffee from other parts of the island, you will notice that they have brighter floral notes, like rose, and even unexpected fruit notes like orange and blackberry. Everything is brought together by a unique sweetness, that is molasses-like. 

Best brewing methods for Hawaiian coffee

Now that you learned about the qualities of the beans, you should also know what is the best way to bring them to the surface. There are two methods: drip and French Press.

Drip

It can be either manual or automatic, but as long as it is brewed through a paper filter it will create the best result possible. This is because it will maintain the balance of the body, acidity, and sweetness, while also highlighting the amazing flavors. Because they sometimes tend to be rather subtle, this method will make sure that they are as enhanced as possible. Also, if the coffee is a lighter roast, drip is even more effective. 

French Press

Hawaiian coffee is fit for this method too because of its low acidity. If you are looking for a smooth and well-rounded cup of coffee with a full body and nice sweetness, you are in the right place. French Press will work best if the roast is closer to a medium-dark because if it is lighter, your cup might end up too lightly bodied, mild, and even sour. Therefore, if it is a medium-dark, you will notice that the full-body, sweet, chocolate notes and brown sugar flavors are perfectly highlighted. 

If this article has convinced you to try Hawaiian coffee, maybe the best way is to visit Hawaii itself! As we previously mentioned, this is mainly how they are able to sell their coffee. This way, you can enjoy both the unique cup profile and the beautiful scenery! On the other hand, if you prefer to remain in the comfort of your home, look out for those ”Kona blends”. They are mostly only 10% Kona and the rest 90% can be practically whatever. Therefore, you will only taste that 90% and most likely end up disappointed. As a conclusion, keep your eyes peeled for that 100% Kona tag!