Kauai Coffee Company

This is the first in our series covering the Coffees of Hawaii. We are coffee snobs, and both grow and roast our own beans. But when push comes to shove, we have to buy beans, so we thought we’d literally start with those grown near our own backyard.

Kauai Coffee company is located in Eleele (pronounced L.A. L.A.) near Kauai’s south shore and Poipu Beach. The location was previously that of the renowned McBryde sugar plantation.

By far the largest coffee producer in Hawaii, Kauai Coffee has over 3,400 acres planted where sugar cane previously grew. There is a visitor center on-site where you can taste and purchase a variety of roasted and green bean coffees plus other food and gift items, and a museum where you can see antique coffee equipment and photos.

Kauai Coffee produces only 100% Kauai grown coffees, which are in no way comparable to lower quality and lower cost “10% Kona blend” coffees.

History

In 1987, the first coffee plantings occurred, which then was the largest Hawaii agricultural undertaking in half a century. The plantation was a joint venture between McBryde (owned by Alexander and Baldwin) and Hills Brothers.

Unfortunately, in 1992, Hurricane Iniki destroyed much of the plantation, inflicting an $8.5 million loss. Soon thereafter, Hills Brothers withdrew from the partnership. Nonetheless, the trees were replanted and have been thriving every since.

The end of commercial sugar production here on Kauai came in 1995, but the popularity of unique coffees has encouraged the ongoing success of Kauai Coffee.

Hawaii is the only place in the U.S. where coffee is grown commercially.

Process

Kauai coffee uses a sophisticated and automated production process. Flatland grown Kauai coffee is harvested mechanically while hilly Kona coffee is harvested by hand. The annual harvest begins sometime in October and goes until December, 24 hours a day.

Varieties

Kauai coffee grows 5 varieties of arabica beans:

• Yellow and Red Catuai
• Typica
• Blue Mountain
• Mundo Novo

Prized among all of their coffees are the estate roasted varieties which they produce on-site as well as the peaberry bean variety, which makes up about 2% of the total crop.

Cupping

Kauai coffee is an extremely pleasant everyday coffee, with a significantly lower acidity level as compared with Kona coffee.

Tip

Unfortunately, while it is romantic to buy coffee on your trip to Kauai, you can usually buy Kauai coffee for less money on the mainland. Here are two good sources we’ve found for buying Kauai coffee:

Trader Joe’s

Burman’s Coffee

Lastly, if you are going to be buying Kauai coffee here on Kauai during your vacation, the estate roasted Kauai coffee (especially peaberry), found only at their Eleele location, is great. The Kauai coffee found at the local grocery stores pales in comparison, and often features an overpowering rancidity.