The Coffee Review lab has smelled like a candy store for the last few weeks — a Willy Wonka factory for grownups. Of the hundreds of coffees we cup every year, a growing percentage of them are natural-processed. In the wine world, the word “natural” doesn’t mean anything in particular, is more of a marketing term designed to imply minimal intervention in the winemaking process. In coffee,
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Kona Natural Espresso
Produced by Karen and Lee Patterson, of Hula Daddy Farm, entirely of the Kona Typica variety of Arabica, and processed by the natural anaerobic method (whole fruit is fermented in hermetically sealed vessels before drying) with the addition of wine yeasts during fermentation. Hula Daddy is a boutique coffee producer with farms at the 1,400- and 2,500-foot levels of the Mount Hualalai volcano near
Pointu Laurina
Bourbon Pointu, botanical name var. Laurina, is a natural mutation of the famous Bourbon variety, first selected on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. The Bourbon Pointu is famous for its natural low levels of caffeine, bean shape (small and tending to be pointed at the ends, hence “pointu”), and pungently fruit-toned, Bourbon-like cup. This version was produced in Kona and is a dry-processed or
Darker-Roasted Coffees: Not Just Old-School Anymore
Every few years, we at Coffee Review like to survey the dark roast landscape. Dark-roasted coffee is a daily staple for some coffee drinkers and anathema to others. But there appears to be a sweet spot that appeals to a wide range of coffee-drinking styles that’s not too light and not too dark, making equal space for those who drink their coffee black and those who doctor
Karen J Kona Red Bourbon Natural Anaerobic
Produced entirely from trees of the Red Bourbon variety of Arabica and grown on Hula Daddy’s higher elevation farm; processed by the natural anaerobic method. This presentation of the coffee is named for co-owner Karen Paterson, whose middle name is Jue and whose favorite coffee is the Red Bourbon. Hula Daddy is a boutique coffee producer with farms at the 1,400 and 2,500-foot levels of the Mount
An In-Depth Look at the Top 30 Coffees of 2021
Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2021 represents our ninth annual ranking of the most exciting coffees we tested over the course of the year. This annual effort supports our mission of helping consumers identify and purchase superior quality coffees and, in the process, helping drive demand and increase prices to reward farmers and roasters who invest time, passion and capital in
Shop the Top 30 Coffees of 2021
Coffee Review‘s mission is to help consumers identify and purchase superior quality coffees and, in the process, help drive demand and increase prices to reward farmers and roasters who invest time, passion, and capital in producing high quality coffee beans. Many of our readers seek out highly rated coffees for their own enjoyment or as thoughtful gifts for coffee lovers. Coffees that appear
Espresso
Produced by Lee and Karen Paterson of Hula Daddy. A combination of washed and natural-processed coffees. Hula Daddy is a boutique coffee producer with farms at the 1,400- and 2,500-foot levels of the Mount Hualalai volcano near the northern end of the Kona growing district, five minutes above the town of Kailua-Kona. Visit www.huladaddy.com or call 888-553-2339 for more information.
Kona Mocca®
Mocca (also spelled Moka and Mokka) is a rare variety of Arabica that apparently originated in the Reunion Islands as a mutant of the great Bourbon variety. This Mocca was processed by the natural method (dried in the whole fruit). This unusual coffee with its tiny beans and striking cup is available only on the Hula Daddy website through their allocation list. Hula Daddy is a boutique coffee
Karen J Kona Red Bourbon
Produced entirely from trees of the Red Bourbon variety of Arabica and grown on Hula Daddy’s higher elevation farm; processed by the washed method (fruit skin and flesh are removed from the beans before they are dried). This presentation of the coffee is named for co-owner Karen Paterson, whose middle name is Jue and whose favorite coffee is the Red Bourbon. Hula Daddy is a boutique coffee
Holiday Coffee
A blend of coffees from the Hula Daddy farm, a boutique coffee producer and roaster with farms at the 1,400- and 2,500-foot levels of the Mount Hualalai volcano near the northern end of the Kona growing district, five minutes above the town of Kailua-Kona. The coffees in this blend were produced at the higher elevation Hula Daddy farm. Available only by phone at 808-327-9744 or by email at
Laura’s Reserve SL34
This exceptional coffee was selected as the No. 20 coffee on Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2021. SL28 and SL34 are varieties famous for producing the great classic coffees of Kenya. The trees that produce this particular coffee were formerly thought to consist of the SL28 variety, but have now been determined through genetic analysis to be SL34. It is a limited-edition coffee only
100% Kona Bourbon Pointu Laurina
Bourbon Pointu, botanical name var. Laurina, is a natural mutation of the famous Bourbon variety, first selected on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. The Bourbon Pointu is famous for its natural low levels of caffeine, bean shape (small and tending to be pointed at the ends, hence “pointu”), and pungently fruit-toned, Bourbon-like cup. This version was produced in Kona and is a dry-processed or
Kona Mocca®
This exceptional coffee was selected as the No. 5 coffee on Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2021. The coffee earned the highest rating in a cupping of coffees from roasters in North American beach and coastal communities for Coffee Review’s April 2021 report. Mocca (also spelled Moka and Mokka) is a rare variety of Arabica that apparently originated in the Reunion Islands as a mutant
Celebrating the Top 30 Coffees of 2020
Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2020 represents our eighth annual ranking of the most exciting coffees we tested over the course of the year. The Top 30 celebrates and promotes coffee roasters, farmers, mill operators, importers, and other coffee industry professionals who make an extra effort to produce coffees that are not only superb in quality but also distinctive in
Kona Mocca®
This exceptional coffee was selected as the No. 6 coffee on Coffee Review’s list of the Top 30 Coffees of 2020. Mocca (also spelled Moka and Mokka) is a rare and famous variety of Arabica that reached Kaanapali, Hawaii from Brazil. Current thinking in the technical coffee community is that it originated in the Reunion Islands as a mutant of the great Bourbon variety, although it closely resembles
Holiday Coffee
A blend of coffees from the Hula Daddy farm, a boutique coffee producer with farms at the 1,400- and 2,500-foot levels of the Mount Hualalai volcano near the northern end of the Kona growing district, five minutes above the town of Kailua-Kona. The coffees in this blend were produced at the higher elevation Hula Daddy farm. Visit www.huladaddy.com or call 888-553-2339 for more information.
Laura’s Reserve SL34
SL28 and SL34 are varieties famous for producing the great coffees of Kenya. The trees that produced this coffee were formerly thought to consist of the SL28 variety, but have now been determined through DNA analysis to be SL34. It was grown at the higher elevation Hula Daddy farm and processed with the fermentation step conducted “dry” (no water added to the tank) using commercial yeast. It is a
Karen J Kona Red Bourbon
This coffee tied for the third-highest rating in a cupping of “desert-island coffees” submitted by roasters for Coffee Review’s May 2020 tasting report. Produced entirely from trees of the Red Bourbon variety of Arabica and grown on Hula Daddy’s higher elevation farm. This presentation is named for co-owner Karen Paterson, whose middle name is Jue and whose favorite coffee is the Red Bourbon. Hula
Buy Coffee E-Gift Cards
One of the best ways you can support coffee companies and their employees during the COVID-19 crisis is to simply purchase their coffee. Better yet, you can purchase e-gift cards, which provides immediate cash support. If possible, buy gift cards in excess of your immediate needs. Perhaps get an early start on your holiday gift shopping with some special stocking stuffers. On behalf of the
