HCA Names Cupping Competition Winners

Top coffee cuppers were named during the 7^th Annual Statewide Cupping Competition at the Hawai’i Coffee Association’s 20^th Annual Conference.

The event included 95 entrants and took place at the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.

Coffee in the cupping competition was evaluated and scored on various characteristics, including flavor, aroma, ‘mouth-feel,’ acidity, sweetness, and aftertaste.

Each entry was from a Hawai’i coffee farm. Two categories, creative and commercial, were in the competition. The commercial division required that entrants had at least 1,000 pounds of coffee that was available for sale.

Hula Daddy Kona Coffee Farm held the top scoring spot with a score of 86.5 in the creative division, while the top scoring coffee in the commercial division was by Moki’s Farm with a score of 84.8.

Other top scorers included: Ka’u District’s A.C. Farm, 85.5; the Hawai’i District’s Accidental Coffee Farm, 85.1; Maui’s Tambra Gardens/Kula Beans, 84.8; and Hamakua’s Hawaiian Rainbow Farms, 84.1.

“I am very impressed with the quality of the coffees coming out of all of the districts. It just keeps getting better,” said David Gridley of Maui, HCA’s Cupping Committee chair. “I applaud all the coffee farmers of Hawai‘i for their remarkable efforts”

A general increase in score was observed by Warren Muller, a veteran cupper, who noted that some of the coffee “just jumped off the table.” Muller believes the higher scores represent a trend that is heading in the upward direction that shows continued improvement with experimentation in new varietals and processing methods.

Aside from the cupping competition, the annual meeting included the election of new HCA board members and officers. Steve Hicks of Greenwell Farms was named the association’s new president while Ralph Gaston of Isla Custom Coffees was named the new vice president. HCA’s new treasurer is Adrian Guillen of Hawaiian Queen Coffee and Gloria Biyen of Royal Kona Visitor Center Mill & Museum will be HCA’s new secretary.

“The conference has given us an opportunity to redouble our efforts and refocus the industry on the finest quality coffee we can produce,” Steve Hicks, incoming President said.

Hamakua farmer Shannon DeMaster tastes coffee berry borer defects in the defect/ coffee quality workshop. Hawai’i Coffee Association photo.

Hawai’i Coffee Association awards dinner. Hawai’i Coffee Association photo.

Hawai’i Coffee Association awards dinner. Hawai’i Coffee Association photo.