85	Nescafé Nestlé Beverage Division, Glendale, California Kona Blend, Special Reserve Light Roast, Whole Bean Roast: Medium Review Date: March 2002 Origin: Kona growing region, "Big Island" of Hawaii, other unspecified origins Price: NA

Blind Assessment: Gently and sweetly acidy with crisp, pear-like fruit tones that round toward sweet cocoa in the finish. The cup is shadowed by an underlying astringent bitterness.

Notes: Sold whole-bean in a 10-ounce valve pack; 75 cents per ounce. The package tells us that this blend "Contains no less than 10% Kona coffee," a discouraging admission that is true for almost all Kona blends. To its credit, Nestlé prints a "best by" date on the bottom of the package (very rare in the coffee industry). To the supermarket chain Albertson's debit, the sample I picked from the shelf was still available for sale over two months past the Nestlé "best by" date. Visit www.nescafeusa.com or call 1-800-637-8531 for more info.

Who Should Drink It: A blend with some genuine Kona character, despite the limited amount of actual Kona in the package and the bothersome hint of bitterness.

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