Starbucks Reserve Hawaii Kua Coffee Review
Hawaii has a lot going for it. Add this coffee to the list, because it is just as memorable as the awesome beaches, sunsets, and food.
I grabbed this bag of coffee as soon as I saw the word Hawaii on it. Hawaii’s Kona coffees are globally recognized and are served as higher-tiered coffees in a wide variety of cafes that I have visited.
ABOUT
This is a fully washed coffee, grown on the Bog Island of Hawaii. It is a mix of varietals -Yellow Caturra, Typica, and Red Caturra.
On the back of the Starbucks Reserve card that comes with this coffee, Starbucks includes the following write-up:
“Located on the south side of the Big Island, Ka’u is home to black sand beaches and a close-knit coffee community. After the last sugar plantation closed in 1996, farmers looked to coffee as a new source of livelihood. Despite ideal growing conditions, they initially struggled to step out of the shadow of their well-established neighbor, Kona. The tide shifted in 2007 when two Ka’u coffees placed in the top ten at a global cupping competition. Inspired by the results, local advocates Chris Manfredi hired agronomists and consultants to help small-scale farms succeed. Twelve years and many more awards later, Hawaii Ka’u is a coveted micro-origin.”
REVIEW
This coffee could be considered a dessert item. It is so smooth and sweet - like the perfect bar of milk chocolate or the perfect truffle. It is delicate, it is sweet and incredibly smooth and irresistible.
This is a small-lot coffee - something I love drinking because you know that so much care went into producing it. Similarly, I love micro-lot coffee beans. They are just as delicious as they are rare.
On the card of this coffee, Starbucks indicates that the flavor profile is “creamy and smooth milk chocolate notes with an almond sweetness.” And damn if they are not spot on with that flavor description.
Of all the drinks I made with this roast, a plain espresso shot was by far the most amazing drink. I used my Breville Bambino Espresso machine to create each of the drinks used for reviewing this roast.
Whenever I am in Hawaii, I want to visit this farm. Maybe I will come home with a few dozen bags of this coffee treasure.
Rating: 9.1/10