Aikane Kona Coffee and Arianna Farms Ono Kona Coffee were named Cupping Competition winners as part of the 45th Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival.
Kona Class winner Aikane Kona Coffee took the crown for single estate farms, while the division title for larger farms, the Kona Crown, went to Arianna Farms Ono Kona Coffee, a four time winner in the competition.
The Kona Coffee Cupping Competition spanned two days and included the evaluation of seventy single-estate farms and larger farm entries. Each brew was evaluated through blind tasting with an exacting sniff, slurp, and taste test.
Entrants from single-estate farms are classified under the Kona Classic Division. The Kona Crown Division includes larger farms and professional processing mills, including brands that sell Kona coffee around the world. Rules are the same across the divisions.
In order to participate in the competition, all coffee entered were required to be 100% Kona coffee, grown solely in the Kona district. Law in the State of Hawai’i requires that coffee labeled as “Kona coffee” must be prime grade or higher.
Judges sought out the best flavor profiles, known in Hawai’i as Kona characteristics, which include aroma, body, flavor, acidity, sweetness, and aftertaste.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
Select judges, including industry leaders, made up the Kona Coffee Cupping Competition panel, and included: Yasuaki Kimura, representing UCC Ueshima Coffee Co. Ltd.; Miguel Meza, founder of Isla Custom Coffees; Kyle Evans, head roaster for Honolulu Coffee Company; and Sam Shank, Hawai’i Coffee Company.
“This year, we have more variety with some of the taste profiles we are experiencing. It’s been pretty exciting, especially for some of the judges who don’t get to cup a lot of Kona coffees all the time. They are surprised by the diversity of taste that they get here in Kona,” said Meza. “There’s a variety of altitudes and practices that all lead to very different possibilities of taste.”
Aikane Kona Coffee is a small Kona coffee farm located in Holualoa. The farm harvests and processes its own estate coffee.
Arianna Farms Ono Kona Coffee is a 50-acre farm that stretches across the slopes of Hualalai along Mamalahoa Highway and is named after the farm owner’s daughter, Arianna.
“Congratulations to the winners of this year’s competition. We’re honored to co-sponsor the Cupping Competition with the Ueshima Coffee Company, as the event promotes Hawai’i’s coffee industry and the many small farming operations on Kamehameha’s lands. This event brings together the best tasting coffees of Hawai‘i into one place and allows communities, supporting organizations, and families to engage and enjoy,” said Jamee Miller, Kamehameha Schools West Hawai’i Director of Education Initiatives.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
The Kona Coffee Cupping Competition is sponsored by UCC Ueshima Coffee Co. Ltd. and Kamehameha Schools. Nearly 70% of Hawai’i’s coffee is grown on Kamehameha Schools lands.
This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments
