While watching the newest coffee ad on TV, Heidi, with a sudden surge of interest, wants to make a research on most popular types of coffee in the world. She's aware that there are many delicious types of coffee in the world and she remembered that her mother once told her the three best coffee she has tasted are: Hawaiian Kona Coffee, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and Kopi Luwak.
Her boyfriend, Dean, is also a coffee addict and he will celebrate his 24th birthday next week. For this reason, Heidi wants to give him the best coffee in the world. But what will she give him? Is it the Hawaiian Kona Coffe? The Jamaican Blue Mountain? Or the Kopi Luwak? With these questions in mind, she hurriedly turned-on her laptop computer and search for several information in Google.
Basic Information About Hawaiian Kona Coffee
While reading, Heidi learned that Kona Coffee came from the well-cultivated slopes of Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. During the nineteenth century, Samuel Reverend Ruggles introduced this crop to the tropical region of Kona before it became a huge item in the coffee world market on 1899. Recently, there are at least six hundred farms of Kona Coffee worldwide and an average Kona farm has an area of five acres or 20,000m².
There are two types of Kona Coffee. According to Wikipedia, the Type 1 refers to the two beans per cherry and one surface is flat surface while the other side is oval. Examples of these are: Kona Extra Fancy, Kona Fancy, Kona Number 1 and Kona Prime. The Type 2 Kona bean has a round shape per cherry or also called as peaberry. Examples of this type are: Peaberry Number 1 and Peaberry Prime.
When the Kona plant grows, it produces small white flowers that cover its tree. These white flowers are called as Kona Snow. Truth is, the Kona plant will start to bloom during February and March. The green berries will appear in April and in late August, the red fruit or “the cherry” will be fully developed and ready for harvesting. For the record, a Kona Tree can produce 20-30 pounds of cherry.
The Fermentation Period of Kona
Heidi is hopping from one website to another, trying to skim other important details about the fermentation of Kona Coffee in Hawaii. At last, she found one and it goes like this.
The process of fermentation largely depend on the temperature, usually twelve hours if the elevation is low and if the elevation is high, the fermentation process will take twenty-four hours. Drying the beans will take seven to fourteen days and the optimal moisture level must be between ten to thirteen percent. In fact, one pound of roasted Kona coffee requires seven to nine pounds of cherry and by the way, a hundred pounds of cherry can yield at least twelve pounds of roasted coffee.
Purchasing Kona
Now that Heidi has gathered the basic information about Hawaiian Kona Coffee, she typed in “Buy Hawaii Kona Coffee” in the Google search box and click on the very first website in front of her.
After reading the article, she learned that a 100% Pure Kona Coffee is hard to find that's why; it is really pricey. In eBay, a 1lb. pack of farm roasted Kona Coffee will cost $29.95. From what she read, Heidi has also a warning for everyone. The term “Kona Blend” is different from “100% Kona Coffee.” Just to be sure, everyone should look for the authentic label “100% Kona Coffee” upon purchase.
Heidi yawns for a while then glanced at her wrist watch. It's already nine o'clock and her eyes are already tired and wants to sleep. This is fun to read but I need to sleep, she said to herself, better continue this tomorrow.
The next day, Heidi continues her readings after eating her breakfast. She is already done with Hawaiian Kona Coffee and what comes next? Of course, the favorite of her mom, the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee.
From the wonderful island nation of Jamaica, there lies the 7, 500 feet Blue Mountain. The Blue Mountain is located between Kingston (south) and Port Maria (North). These three mountains are the highest peaks in the Caribbean. That's why; the climate is cool and the soil is abundantly rich. For this reason, the Blue Mountain is also the ideal home of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee: The Introduction
Heidi is smiling while reading the Blue Mountain article. Her imagination gone wild upon learning that Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is one of the most desired coffees in the world. In fact, many people want to taste the delight of this Blue Mountain due to its mild flavor. That means, the flavor is not too strong and this is probably the reason why its beans are also used for Tia Maria Coffee Liqueur (an alcohol drink).
What's great about this stuff is, the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica is really the one who guards the coffee farm during the cultivation period. Based on a source, there are three types of coffee plants in the Jamaica Mountains. Those plants that are cultivated at elevations between 3,000-5,500 feet are called Jamaica Blue Mountain while those that grown at 1,500-3,000 feet elevations are known as Jamaican High Mountain. Jamaica Supreme is the plant that are located below 1,500 foot elevation.
The Screening Theory and The Rate of Blue Mountain
It was believed that the higher the altitude, the better-tasting coffee is produced. Indeed, “various dimensions are used to sort the beans by size.” But due to small geographical location, the supply of Blue Mountain Coffee is still limited. That's why; it remains very expensive.
When Heidi is researching for the prices, she found out that on the average, it's $26 - $40 to a pound. In eBay, a 16oz of Blue Mountain Coffee beans costs $39.95 but good for fifty cups already.
“Holy Cow,” she exclaimed after reading the information page on eBay. “But I think it's really worth the price. Perhaps, Dean will like this. Hmmmm.... better read the last one on my list- the Kopi Luwak.”
While scanning through the pages of Wikipedia, Heidi finally found what she's really looking for- the Kopi Luwak. According to Forbes magazine, Kopi Luwak is by far the most expensive coffee in the world due to its limited supply. A recent survey shows that “only 1,000 pounds or 450 kg at most make it into the world market each year.”
The Origin of Kopi Luwak
Heidi seems shocked while reading the information about the origin of Kopi Luwak. Actually, Kopi Luwak came from coffee berries and these coffee berries are eaten and stayed inside the digestive tract of an Asian Palm Civet. The Palm Civet is a cat-sized omnivore mammal commonly found in Vietnam and eastern part of the Philippines.
When the palm civet eats the forage, their digestive tract will only digest the outer part. In fact, the enzymes inside the stomach of this palm civet breaks down and gives off the forage's bitter but unique taste. As a result, when this palm civet defecates, the bean is still covered in layers and can still be used for human consumption after thoroughly washed.
This is the reason why it's called Kopi Luwak. Kopi is an Indonesian term for coffee while Luwak refers to this Asian Palm Civet.
The “Very” Expensive Rate of Kopi Luwak
There's no need to doubt that Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world. As a matter of fact, some coffee houses are selling it by cup and it costs $300 or more. In some countries like Peter Jones in London's Sloane Square, they mix Kopi Luwak and Blue Mountain for £50 or $99.00 USD per cup. This coffee is called Caffe Raro.
Heidi clicks on another link, KopiLuwakOnline.com and the regular price of a Kopi Luwak is $89.99. There are special offers that cost $74.99 and there's also shipping special rates to any destinations inside United States. Because of the price, many people say, “The coffee isn't so spectacular that it's truly worth that amount of money.”
Heidi's Big Choice
Heidi can't really figure out what type of coffee she will be purchasing for her boyfriend, Dean. The Kona Coffee in Hawaii seems affordable compared to Jamaican Blue Mountain and Kopi Lutaw but Blue Mountain and Kopi Lutaw, although expensive, are both rare in quality compared to Hawaiian Coffee.
Yet, she has a great idea. She must go for the unique and what she thinks is the best item for Dean. He's usually drinking coffee while listening to rhythm and blues.
Can you guess it?
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