What's the Best Roast Level for Hawaiian Coffee? Introduction to Hawaii's Makapueo Owl Farm

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Hawaiian Kona Coffee: Island Paradise in Every Cup

Hawaii is a beautiful island with abundant resources, cultivating many fruits, cocoa, hazelnuts, and coffee. Among these, coffee commands the highest price and provides farmers with the greatest harvest. Hawaii began cultivating coffee as early as the 18th century, with most plantations located on Kauai Island and the Big Island of Hawaii. The ideal island climate, fertile volcanic ash soil, and meticulous processing methods result in Kona beans that are exceptionally uniform, complete, and free from defects and chipped beans. However, limited cultivation area and expensive American wages keep Kona bean prices consistently high. Yet the perfectly clean Hawaiian Kona beans, filled with unique tropical fruit aromas, are irreplaceable by any other coffee.

Compared to Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, both varieties share mild, pleasant acidity and delicate fruit flavors with tender sweetness. However, Kona beans' rigorous quality control and advanced low-temperature storage facilities ensure consistently high-quality beans without negative reviews, unlike Blue Mountain coffee which occasionally receives mixed evaluations.

Ideal Growing Conditions

Hawaii features an island climate with minimal temperature fluctuations throughout the year but significant day-night temperature differences, complemented by sufficient cloud cover to shield from direct sunlight. Although coffee-growing regions aren't particularly high in altitude, Hawaii's special island climate combined with fertile volcanic soil produces coffee of exceptional quality.

Small Farm Excellence

Premium Hawaiian Kona primarily comes from small coffee farms, with annual production not exceeding 150 bags (each bag weighing 100 pounds or approximately 45 kilograms). The varieties are special traditional strains that cannot be cultivated at low mountain elevations—they are high-altitude hard beans. Most farms operate coffee shops selling their homegrown beans, attracting tourists visiting Hawaii who seek out these destinations for deeper travel experiences and to support farm income. Naturally, only excellent coffee beans can attract tourists to make these special purchases.

Makapueo Farm: The Owl Farm

Makapueo Farm features an owl pattern on its bean bags, earning it the nickname "Owl Farm." Located on the western coast of the Big Island, Makapueo Farm is a coffee plantation with typical Hawaiian Kona growing conditions: bright sunny mornings, cloudy and misty afternoons with rain, and cool, gentle breezes in the evening. The coffee grows in mineral-rich volcanic ash soil—ideal conditions for coffee cultivation.

Makapueo Farm produces Extra Fancy grade Kona, which is specially selected. Each bag of Hawaiian Kona carries grade labeling to clearly inform consumers which farm produced the beans and their specific grade level.

Kona Coffee Grading System

Kona coffee beans are primarily graded by size and divided into four levels: the highest grade Extra Fancy, Fancy, Prime, and Gr. No.1. They are also classified as Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 consists of standard coffee beans, including the largest Kona Extra Fancy, followed by decreasing size grades: Kona Fancy, Kona Select, and Kona Prime.

Type 2 is exclusively for peaberries (small round beans), including two grades: Kona Number 1 Peaberry and the smaller Kona Peaberry Prime.

Tasting Notes by Roast Level

Light Roast - End of First Crack (City): After grinding, elegant and fresh osmanthus and tea flower aromas emerge. When brewed, jasmine flower notes appear. The cup maintains Kona's traditional clean, fresh, hard texture without impurities or defects. The initial green citrus acidity is beautifully bright and vibrant but transforms into mango and lychee sweetness after a moment. As the coffee cools slightly, the entire milky aroma clings to the mouth, continuously enhancing Kona's creamy fragrance. The vanilla-sweet aftertaste lingers in the mouth and nasal cavity, swirling like butterflies dancing among flowers, encouraging one to set aside studies and relax.

Medium Roast - 60 seconds after First Crack (Full City-): When the ground coffee is opened, vanilla and muskmelon aromas emerge. When brewed, the coffee's maple syrup sweetness brings happiness. The cup is balanced, warm, elegant, and full-bodied—neither heavy nor complex. The sun-drenched sweet and sour orange flavors shine brightly. The aftertaste is a smooth sweetness that slides down the throat, then surges back up with each breath, keeping the sweetness constantly present.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. Online services are also available. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473