extremely OT Kona coffee question - YouLookFab Forum

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extremely OT Kona coffee question

Mochi

Veteran

Hubs and I are very very fond of good coffee and I recently sprang for some Kona coffee from Hawaiian Roasters, ordered thru amazon. We love the stuff we get from a small company, Allegro, but it's *#*#*@ expensive. Even the new stuff was. Unfortunately, I just made a cup and it's nothing special. I am officially bummed.

I know there are some people here with Hawaii connections. Anyway if you really love coffee, do you know which brands would be good? They all seem to vary wildly in quality. I'm trying to retain the hope that I can have it all--good coffee, and the occasional pair of new boots. Not to mention, my invalid husband really appreciates having a great cup of joe these days.

(oof, it looks like they even decreased the volume since I last ordered--now $26.00 for half a pound! Highway robbery, but it's sooooooooo goooooood)

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15 replies

Latest reply was from Mochi

Meredith1953

Veteran

I've only had kona coffee when I was actually in Hawaii! $26.00 is definitely highway robbery! My budget will allow Starbucks French Roast purchased through Costco but that's about as high as I go.

Mochi

Veteran

Yeah, I agree. Thanks. We never should have tasted it. I may have a glass of wine or a drink maybe five times a year if that much, but that coffee was really a blissful experience...that I think I can't afford.

April

Veteran

Mochi, at the risk of sounding like a total coffee snob (guilty), can I ask how the coffee was prepared? That can really change the taste.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

My local place. I always get the French Sumatra.

http://www.lighthouseroasters.com/

They only do small batches so it's always fresh.

ETA I found one place in Kona that sold dark roast Kona coffee that I liked. Most Kona coffee was a medium roast, so not my preferred way. Frankly it wasn't worth ordering though for me.

This is another Seattle roaster that gets rave reviews. They mostly do single origin coffee which is roasted to a khaki olive color. It's interesting but quality isn't always predictable. I prefer consistency.

http://victrolacoffee.com/

Mochi

Veteran

One of many advantages of living in Seattle.

I hear you, April. I use a thingy called an Aeropress, and always got wonderful results with the Allegro brand.

I'm hoping alaskagirl sees this. I'm assuming that her having a dog named Kona would count for some big coffee love.

April

Veteran

Hmm. Do you think the Kona you bought was maybe roasted too long ago? If you're in Seattle, you should be able to find a local roaster where you know it was done recently.

Or, seriously, if a half pound of the good coffee costs $26, you might actually save money by investing in a roaster. I'm guessing you could do without the Kona beans if you were roasting and grinding close to brewing time.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

Mochi: Personally, I like this brand http://www.amazon.com/Hawaiian.....ona+coffee
I tried others but always come back to this, its sold at local markets and quite popular. I send it to my mom and she likes it as well

Mochi

Veteran

Thanks for the recs.

I think I should just accept that it's not really a great way to spend money, as pleasurable as it is....

Anonymous

Caffe Umbria gusto creama from seattle is very good- it is a blend but I don't know what beans. I think it used to be better though.

Currently I buy LavVazza (Italian) 100% Arabica

In the last year or two coffee beans went up in price. Arabica beans make a less bitter coffee but are the most expensive. When the price went up American coffee companies started adding more Robusta beans to the blends which is why some coffee started tasteing more bitter. Coffee prices have now come down but I bet the american companies will not be changing back to the better beans- It's all about what they can get away with to make a buck.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I'm so glad I have not developed a love for fancy coffee. I only started drinking it when I had kids (late 30's) and am not particularly picky. I do have fond memories of some Kauai coffee I got (in Kauai) but I'm pretty sure the location made it all that much better. I think the tour mentioned that most "Kona" coffee only has to have a small percentage of Kona beans to be able to use the moniker so that may be why the real deal costs so much to ship from the islands.

Mochi

Veteran

Yep, Jeannie. I rue the day I tasted Allegro. It's 100% Kona (but so is this stuff that just came in today, which I'm not impressed with), and supposedly blends are a pale shadow of what the pure stuff is (I make it sound like a drug, LOL). I wouldn't say I have a vice...maybe that's my problem--I don't have any decent vices so I'm into good coffee. Can't believe I used to drink Dunkin' Donuts!

I am definitely a coffee snob.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I don't have a specific recommendation for Hawaii's Kona coffee, but I will say that I *love* Kicking Horse coffee. I brought some back for my dog trainer guy and he's still asking me about it!

My favourite varieties are:

Kick *ss:

http://kickinghorsecoffee.com/.....cts_id=226

Grizzly Claw:

http://kickinghorsecoffee.com/.....cts_id=223

454 Horse Power:

http://kickinghorsecoffee.com/.....cts_id=218

According to their site, you can order this online from Amazon from the US (I also know you can get it at some Safeway stores as well). I've just been lucky in that my Mom keeps sending it to me or bringing it to me, or I buy some when I get a chance to visit and bring some home.

In the meantime, I do what Meredith does - buy the larger size bag of Starbuck's French Roast at Costco. Thing is? I've noticed recently that the coffee just doesn't taste that great - maybe I got a bad batch of beans or something? Not very happy with Starbuck's lately, to be honest.

Prior to the Starbucks, I was buying San Franscisco Bay French Roast at the local Costco - it was *very* good, and then out of the blue, it wasn't so good for awhile (again, it must be that certain batches just aren't as good as others?) I'm going to buy San Fransisco Bay again, next trip to Costco, as I'm not all that happy with the Starbucks.

In hindsight, the San Fransisco Bay stuff was *really* good for a long time - we loved it. Highly recommended, it's just that I think we got a batch that was kind of "meh" and switched to the Starbucks, which was nice for awhile. I'm going back to San Francisco Bay as of next grocery trip, I think.

http://www.sanfranciscobaycoffee.com/

Hope I haven't confused you with a bunch of suggestions that aren't Hawaii Kona coffee! Ack...

Thing is - we love coffee too

Vix

Veteran

Hi Mochi --

Come sit over with the rest of us who have champagne tastes on a beer budget, ha!

I won't say I'm a coffee snob, but I do appreciate a good cup. When in Hawaii we stock up at the local markets for coffee to use during/after the trip. Am always sad when what we bring back is gone but I do have to save for the next trip!

For a "budget" 100% Kona I like Lion coffee (varieties around $17/7 oz):

http://www.royalkonacoffee.com.....fault.aspx

and have also enjoyed Victoria's rec -- the Hawaiian Isles 100% Kona, ~ 15.45/7 oz:
http://www.hawaiianisles.com/1.....e_c_7.html

You may also want to consider 100% Kauai coffee. Purists may disagree but I say I'm paying for the coffee vs Kona's marketing.

I preferred their Medium Roast -- ~ $1/oz -- which sure beats the $26/8 oz you're facing!

http://store.kauaicoffee.com/1.....views=True

Mama Susie

I don't drink coffee but I remember many of my Hawaii friends drinking Lions Brand and the Hawaiian Isles. It was always always always available at the local Longs and I don't remember it being very pricey.

I may not drink coffee but this post still has me missing Hawaii.

Mochi

Veteran

I've never been to HI and I think I miss it! One of my best friends was stationed there for a few years and I totally had opportunities to visit that I blew off. Blah. (Now she's in Baltimore, which is nice and convenient...but it's not Hawaii.)

Thanks for the recs, Vix. I'll think about Kauai--it could very well be Kona wins at marketing!

Oh, and velvety--your extensive recs are highly appreciated too!