Updated
20 questions, answered
We have grouped 20 questions into six topics: Ka’u coffee itself, our products and grades, buying and delivery, brewing and storage, cascara tea, and the farm and our companies. If your question is not here, please contact us.
About Ka'u Coffee
What is Ka'u coffee?
Ka'u coffee is coffee grown in the Ka'u district on the southeastern side of Hawaii Island. It is known for a rich aroma, a refined sweetness with little bitterness, and a soft body. Every bean Hawaii KAU Coffee sells is grown and processed at one farm, Kau Ocean Vista Coffee Estate in Pahala, Ka'u, owned by John Ah San.
How is it different from Kona coffee?
Both are grown on Hawaii Island, but the land is different. Kona has poor, rather dry soil that made harvests difficult, while Ka'u sits on a vast lava plateau and is one of the few places blessed with good soil. Farm owner John Ah San started out expecting the same taste as Kona, but because the soil and climate differ, the coffee turned out to be something else entirely, and tasted better than he expected. See our page on Ka'u vs. Kona for a fuller comparison.
What does it taste and smell like?
A rich aroma, a refined fruitiness and sweetness with little bitterness, moderate acidity and a soft body. Farm owner John Ah San describes it as a very mild, pleasant coffee with the flavor of fruit. We sum it up in one line: coffee, from bitter to sweet.
Why is it rare?
Because it comes from a small area, the Ka'u district of Hawaii Island, and the quantity grown is tiny compared with the major coffee-producing countries. On top of that, Hawaii KAU Coffee sells beans from a single farm, Kau Ocean Vista Coffee Estate. Very little of it reaches Japan, which makes it a rare coffee there.
Is it 100% Ka'u coffee, or a blend?
It is 100% single-origin Ka'u coffee, not a blend. Both Peaberry and Extra Fancy use only beans grown at Kau Ocean Vista Coffee Estate in the Ka'u district of Hawaii Island.
Products and Grades
What is the difference between Peaberry and Extra Fancy?
The shape of the bean and the sorting standard. Peaberry is a rare round bean that forms when a cherry grows a single seed instead of the usual two. Extra Fancy is the top grade of flat beans, selected for their large size and thickness. Both are 100% Ka'u coffee.
What do "No1 grade" and "No2 grade" mean?
They are the grade labels used in the product names at our online shop, NN DRINKS. No1 grade is Peaberry and No2 grade is Extra Fancy. The three products are Hawaii KAU Coffee No1 Grade Peaberry 100 g, No2 Grade Extra Fancy 100 g, and No2 Grade Extra Fancy 1 kg (the shop lists them in Japanese).
Buying and Delivery
Where can I buy it?
From the Ka'u coffee pages of the NN DRINKS online shop, which ships within Japan only. The three products are Extra Fancy 100 g, Peaberry 100 g and Extra Fancy 1 kg; check the shop for prices and stock. Taxpayers in Japan can also receive it as a Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) gift from Shinjuku City, Tokyo.
Do you ship overseas?
No. The NN DRINKS online shop delivers within Japan only. Businesses outside Japan that would like to carry our coffee are welcome to contact M.G.K. Inc., our distributor in Japan, through its inquiry form.
Can I get it through Furusato Nozei (hometown tax)?
Yes, if you are a taxpayer in Japan. Hawaii KAU Coffee roasted beans, 200 g Extra Fancy, are a Furusato Nozei gift from Shinjuku City, Tokyo (item code 0131-001-S06, donation JPY 18,000, provided by M.G.K. Inc.). Apply through portals such as Furusato Choice or Rakuten Furusato Nozei. The beans ship at room temperature about 30 days after payment is confirmed. Details are on the Japanese page.
Do you sell wholesale or to businesses?
Yes. We welcome wholesale inquiries from businesses. We do not, however, wholesale to sole proprietors or companies that sell online only, and trading is subject to review. Please send your inquiry through the contact form of M.G.K. Inc., our distributor in Japan.
Brewing and Storage
What is the best way to brew it?
We recommend a French press, which is what farm owner John Ah San uses. A paper filter absorbs the coffee oils, which carry much of the aroma; a French press lets you drink them, giving a fuller body and a rounder taste. See our How to Brew page for the steps.
What water temperature should I use?
Aim for 93°C (about 199°F). Our articles use 93°C, often cited as the ideal temperature for coffee.
How coarse should I grind the beans?
Grind to suit your equipment. For a French press, which we recommend, use the coarseness specified in your press's instructions. Steps and quantities are on our How to Brew page.
How should I store the beans?
Beans usually release their gas 3 to 5 days after roasting, which is when they brew a clear cup. After that the beans keep breathing and the flavor changes day by day. Coffee farmers commonly store beans in a zip-top bag with the air pressed out, at room temperature.
Cascara Tea
What is cascara tea?
Cascara tea is a tea made from the dried pulp and skin of the coffee cherry, the fruit of the coffee tree. It is also called coffee cherry tea, and in coffee-growing countries such as Colombia it is known as cascara tea. The seed of the cherry becomes the coffee bean and the skin becomes the tea, so one tree gives both coffee and tea.
What does cascara tea taste like?
Fruity and sweet, with a grape-like flavor. It also has the color and tartness of hibiscus tea. Dried cascara looks like raisins, and both its look and its taste are unlike Japanese green tea or black tea.
How do I brew cascara tea?
Heat water to 93°C (about 199°F), pour 250 g of water over 5 to 18 g of cascara, and steep for about 4 minutes. Then strain out the cascara and drink the tea. Miyuki Lee of Kayama LLC prefers it a little stronger: let it rest about 5 minutes after pouring, or simmer it.
The Farm and Our Companies
Where is the farm?
Kau Ocean Vista Coffee Estate is just outside the town of Pahala in the Ka'u district on the southeastern side of Hawaii Island (P.O. Box 503 Pahala, HI 96777). It sits on a lookout about 350 meters above sea level with a view over the Pacific. Export from Hawaii is handled by Kayama LLC in Pahoa, Hawaii Island, and planning, promotion and operations in Japan by M.G.K. Inc. in Chuo-ku, Osaka.
Who do I contact for press, media or PR inquiries?
Please use the inquiry form of M.G.K. Inc., our distributor in Japan. Start your message with "Hawaii KAU Coffee – Press" and include your outlet, the nature of the story and your deadline. Our staff will get back to you.
Still have a question?
How to use this page
| Group | Questions | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| About Ka’u Coffee | 5 | Definition, Ka’u vs. Kona, taste, why it is rare, 100% Ka’u coffee |
| Products and Grades | 2 | Peaberry vs. Extra Fancy, what No1 grade and No2 grade mean |
| Buying and Delivery | 4 | Online shop, shipping within Japan only, Furusato Nozei, wholesale |
| Brewing and Storage | 4 | Recommended method, water temperature, grind size, storing beans |
| Cascara Tea | 3 | Definition, taste, how to brew |
| The Farm and Our Companies | 2 | Where the farm is, press and PR contact |
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