Doctor trades scrubs for coffee shrubs

By Associated Press

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) _ Kona Joe Coffee on the Big Island has spawned a U-S patent, earned a national honor and grown to a 20-acre spread of coffee plants.

Joe Alban has come far since he first planted a couple of acres of Kona coffee tress in his backyard in 1997.

The California doctor had only planned to make the coffee venture a retirement hobby.

Instead his company won the Specialty Coffee Association of America's blue ribbon award in 2001.

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