An internationally recognized panel of judges sniffed, slurped and tasted their way through 50 entries during this year’s Kona Coffee Cupping Competition on Wednesday at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay. They spent the day cupping entries looking to crown two Kona coffee farms that stand out with the perfect “Kona characteristic” today.
An internationally recognized panel of judges sniffed, slurped and tasted their way through 50 entries during this year’s Kona Coffee Cupping Competition on Wednesday at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay. They spent the day cupping entries looking to crown two Kona coffee farms that stand out with the perfect “Kona characteristic” today.
The Kona Coffee Cupping Competition has two divisions — Classic and Crown. Classic competition entries are a large selection of single estate Kona coffee farms. The Kona farms competing in the Crown division are large farms and professional processing mills. Entries in this year’s competition range from large commercial growing operations to tiny boutique farms.
Kona Coffee Council, an organization of Hawaii farmers who grow, process and sell Kona’s world-famous coffee, are charged with producing the competition. The event, sponsored by UCC Ueshima Coffee Co. Ltd and Kamehameha Schools, is part of the 44th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival.
Beginning at 9 a.m. today, the cupping action heats up once again at the resort as judges cup their way to the final five.
The entries moving into today’s finals include: Fike Farms, Hula Daddy Kona Coffee, Kainaliu-Kona Coffee, Keke Lani Estate, Kona Aroma, Kona Gold Rum Co., Lehuula Farms LLC, Malia Ohana Farms, Mauka Meadows, Moki’s Farm, Mountain Thunder Coffee, Naturescape Holdings, Pau hana Estate LLC and Princess Radha Farm.