Where To Discover Fresh Hawaii Kona Coffee Beans
Kona coffee beans, are one of the most exquisite and magnificent coffee beans known to man. This bean happens to be produced on the hills of Mauna Loa and Mount Hualalai, within the northern part of Hawaii islands, along with several districts found on Oahu.
You can be sure to get the tastiest coffee when you purchase gourmet coffees like Kona blend. You pay more for Kona coffee but the quality and taste is worth a few extra bucks. After all, people from around the globe buy this particular type of coffee. There are different growing conditions like sunny mornings and afternoons that have humidity and rain. Although this is beautiful, the coffee is always flavorful and different.
Cuttings from Brazil were transplanted and used to grow the trees from which we get our gourmet Kona coffee beans today. Rev. Samuel Ruggles is credited with bringing the first tree to Hawaii, way back in the 19th century. Finding the perfect soil and weather combination in Hawaii, farmers soon expanded and started growing abundant crops on large plantations. Today, it is estimated that the area on which Kona coffee beans are grown is more than 2,300 acres. Kona coffee cultivation is now so successful that about two million pounds of the beans are harvested per year.
Blooms of tiny white flowers known as Kona Snow appear every February and March. Then in early spring, small green berries pop up which by mid-summer, have turned to red fruit, which look similar to ripe cherries. After that, you will be able to pick your fruit.
By hand-picking every coffee bean, the freshness of gourmet Kona coffee is ensured.
Within 24 hours of the fruit being harvested it is put through an apparatus that separates the pulpy matter from the bean itself. The beans will ferment. Let them set for a half-day at low altitudes, and a full day at higher altitudes. After the beans have been rinsed off lay them out on a drying apparatus to completely dry out which will take one to two weeks. You will have to be certain that your beans are dried and stored on parchment paper. Interestingly, to produce just one pound of fresh, gourmet Kona coffee, it takes approximately eight pounds of fruit.
If you pay attention to the characteristics of the Kona coffee seeds, you will be able to pick out the the fresh, gourmet Kona coffee. For example, Type I contains two beans for each cherry or fruit, one edge is flat and the other edge is oval. You will find Type II beans in fruit such as cherries. After that, the beans undergo further grading based on several criteria, including size, type, bean moisture levels and purity. A better version of the Kona bean is evident when purchasing gourmet Kona coffee. So to insure you get the very best cup of coffee possible always try to obtain the kona bean and brew the coffee in a French press coffee maker.