Hawaiian Coffees 2006: Not This Year

By Kenneth Davids

Disappointment implies history. We can only be disappointed if past successes make us expect more good things than actually come our way in the present. Such is the case with Coffee Review's latest revisiting of Hawaiian coffees.

First disappointment: A rather lackluster collection of coffees from the famous Kona growing region, with only one of the twenty-two 100% Kona samples we collected attracting a rating of 90 or better: the Bayview Farm 100% Kona Peaberry Medium Roast at 92. (When we cupped Konas in February of 2002 the average was considerably better.) Three dubiously named "Kona Blends," which typically contain only 10% actual Kona coffee, were even less inspiring, though one Kona-style blend, the Surf City Hawaiian Blend (20% Kona) impressed with a rating of 91.

Second disappointment: Virtual disappearance from the mainland market of "other island" Hawaiis, those often interesting coffees produced by large, innovating farms on other islands outside the famous Kona growing district.

The Kona Disappointment

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Kona bashers, those coffee professionals who resent Konas for what they feel is a disconnect between Kona's very high prices and (for them) ordinary cup, will doubtless feel justified by this month's results.

But I'm not a Kona basher. I enjoy the classically delicate, cleanly fruity, floral Kona cup, and I admire the passion, tradition and backyard creativity of the many small Kona growers. And as far as price goes, I would prefer that other growers in the world get paid more for their coffee than Kona farmers getting paid less...More articles about Coffees in Coffee Review

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Casteel Coffee

Casteel Coffee in Evanston, Illinois is the quintessential small-batch retailer." -Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

Casteel Coffee is a small batch specialty coffee roaster. We focus on providing customers estate quality coffees roasted fresh daily by our expert roastmaster.

Casteel Coffee was begun in Evanston, Illinois in January 1993. The owners are husband and wife team Adam and Carol Bezark and roastmaster Lee Casteel. Our company strives to provide customers with high quality arabica coffee roasted daily in one of our two small batch roasters. Roastmaster Lee Casteel has been roasting coffee since 1987. With his hands on approach to roasting and attention to detail, Lee is able to bring out the subtle characteristics unique to each variety of coffee. Our coffees have been recognized by industry experts both locally and nationally.

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About our coffee

Bean quality

Since great coffee starts with great beans, all our beans are high quality specialty grade arabica coffees. Since 1993 we have worked with some of the most respected bean brokers in the country. These coffee experts play an integral part in selecting and acquiring some of the finest coffees available from many different coffee growing regions around the world.

Freshness

"Coffee is, after all, perishable. It begins to go stale as soon as it has been roasted,
and within weeks roasted beans will lose their flavor."
- Tim Castle, The Perfect Cup

In order to ensure freshness, we roast our coffees six days a week in small batches and track our roast dates. Consequently, we rarely sell beans more than three days old. There is NO substitute for freshness..More articles about Coffees in Casteel Coffee

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Caribou Coffee

Here at Caribou Coffee, we believe this to be true: that if passion, hard work, and excellence go into an endeavor, the outcome will be a quality experience, and therefore rewarding.

In 1990, during an adventure through the Alaskan wilderness, our founders journeyed to the top of Sable Mountain. After a strenuous climb, they reached the summit and were rewarded with a sensational view: the boundless mountains, a clear blue sky, and a herd of caribou thundering through the valley.

That was truly the “aha” moment.

The breathtaking panoramic view became the entrepreneurial vision for Caribou Coffee — a company that believes excellence is a product of hard work, and that life is too short for anything else. This vision serves as a guide as we strive to create a special experience for you here at Caribou...More articles about Coffees in Caribou Coffee

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CoSIC, the pan-European Coffee Science Information Centre, was established in the UK in 1990 by ISIC, the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee.

During the last decade there has been an increase in consumer awareness of diet-related health issues and as a result of this trend many popular foods and drinks have come under scrutiny, including coffee. CoSIC was set up to work with independent scientists to develop factual overviews of the large, and often conflicting, volume of data concerning coffee and its effects on health.

Through the collection of experimental data and contact with researchers, CoSIC assesses all the on-going and past medical research on coffee and caffeine being undertaken around the world. It maintains and regularly updates a scientific database that now comprises thousands of published research studies.

The aim of CoSIC is to provide accurate, balanced and consistent information to all audiences across Europe who have an interest in coffee, caffeine and health. The primary objective is to bring balance to the coffee and health debate....More articles about Coffees in cosic.org