Pure Kona coffee
If you have never tasted pure Kona coffee, you
should. Most people who get their first sip of this type of
coffee are forever hooked. Grown in Hawaii, Kona coffee has a
unique balance that is simply unbeatable. Grown on the slopes
of Mauna Loa and Mount Hualalai in the north part of the state,
as well as many Kona districts found on Oahu, this is one of
the best coffees known.
Buying pure Kona coffee ensures the best cup of coffee
possible. Although Kona coffee is higher priced than other
coffee blends, it is definitely worth the price. After all,
people from around the globe buy this particular type of
coffee. Because of the growing conditions, which include
beautiful, sunny mornings and afternoons with rain and
humidity, the coffee is unique and flavorful.
The tree on which pure Kona coffee beans grow actually came
from cuttings out of Brazil. The first tree was brought to
Hawaii by Samuel Reverend Ruggles during the 19th century.
Discovering that the weather and soil in Hawaii produced great
crops, farmers begin growing the beans on large plantations.
Today, it is estimated that the area on which Kona coffee beans
are grown is more than 2,300 acres. The cultivation of fresh,
gourmet Kona coffee beans is so successful that some two
million pounds are produced every year.
The blooms of the Kona tree appear every February and March,
which appears as tiny white flowers, commonly called Kona Snow.
Then in early spring, small green berries pop up which by
mid-summer, have turned to red fruit, which look similar to
ripe cherries. At that time, the “fruit” is ready to be
harvested. One of the things that make pure Kona coffee so
exceptional is that each bean is carefully, hand-picked.
Within one day of harvesting the fruit, it is run through a
special type of equipment to help separate the pulp from the
bean. After that, the beans are allowed to ferment for 12 hours
at low elevation and 24 hours at higher elevation. After
rinsing, the beans are spread out on a type of drying rack to
dry out completely, which usually takes one to two weeks. The
dry beans are then stored on parchment. Interestingly, to
produce just one pound of pure Kona coffee, it takes
approximately eight pounds of fruit.
You will even find that pure Kona coffee is classified by
the type of seed. For instance, Type I has two beans per cherry
or fruit, with one side being flat and one being oval. Type II
beans are just one, round bean per cherry or fruit. Then based
on a number of factors to include size, type, moisture content,
purity, and so on would determine further grading. With pure
Kona coffee, you know you are purchasing a higher quality or
grade of the Kona bean.
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