Coffees of Hawaii has many varieties to choose from.
I will start this review by telling you that I am a coffee fiend. As an endurance athlete, coffee is an ergonomic aid, but I just love the taste and pick me up. Now, I’m not a coffee snob per say, but I do have my opinions on how it should be made (French Press is best), how it should be served (black) and which types are best.
Coffees of Hawaii roasts beans from the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai, Maui and Kona. Each is different, with a different taste profile and experience. On the top of my list is Kona. If you’ve never had Kona, not the blend, but real Kona coffee, stop reading, book a flight to Kona and go grab a mug, it’s that good. Thankfully I don’t have to do that every time I want to taste the good stuff as Coffees of Hawaii will ship it to me. The cost isn’t cheap, about 25 per pound, but try it once and you will be convinced it’s worth the extra money.
Coffees of Hawaii has many varieties to choose from.
The guys at Coffees of Hawaii shipped out some of the Nightingale, what they tout as the quintessential Kona cup. I prefer to use whole beans, that way I can adjust the grind to my liking. I made mine in a French press, careful not to grind it too fine. I used filtered water that I boiled and let it steep for 4 to 5 minutes. When I poured the first cup I felt like a kid at Christmas.
The taste was spot on. Not too heavy, some soft fruit tones and a smooth finish put a smile on my face. The initial taste is quite bold but there is no acidic bitterness following it up. Instead, it mellows out with just bit of spice at the end. For my tastes it was pretty much perfect. It would only be better if I were drinking it in Hawaii watching the waves.
I also tried it in my espresso machine and with a few adjustments to the grind, water acidity and taste preference I was able to make a pretty good espresso. Coffees of Hawaii has a dedicated espresso variety, but I like to see how beans taste in a variety of way. I would never make a latte or cappuccino with it though, the milk and sugars just kill the taste for me. It’s like buying top shelf liquor than mixing it with so many juices you can’t tell top shelf from well.
The passion and love of coffee, the land and the process is evident when you see the effort they put into their product. With four different plantations, many varieties from each island and a full knowledge of their product Coffees of Hawaii is worth the extra money. Check out www.coffeesofhawaii.com to view all their offerings and get your first shipment going! Or visit www.amazon.com/coffeesofhawaii.
