Hawaii's Kau coffee joins ranks of elite

By Sean Hao
Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i coffees ranked among the top brews in the world in a recent international competition. The state's high ranking may not be surprising. Rather, what's raising eyebrows is where the coffee was grown — the Big Island's Ka'u region. Ka'u coffees ranked sixth and ninth in a major annual international taste test in Long Beach, Calif., in May.

Here are the best specialty coffees in the world, according to the Specialty Coffee Association of America's 2007 cupping contest:

1. Hacienda La Esmeralda, Panama

2. El Injerto, S.A., Guatemala

3. DeliCafé S.A., Costa Rica

4. Jesus Mountain Coffee Co., Nicaragua

5. Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, Ethiopia

6. Ka'u Farm & Ranch Co. LLC, USA (Will & Grace Rising Sun)

7. Carmen Estate, Panama

8. Café Importa, Colombia

9. Ka'u Farm & Ranch Co. LLC, USA (Aroma Farms)

10. Volcafe Specialty Coffee, Ethiopia

11. C.I. Racafe & Cia S.C.A., Colombia

12. Café de El Salvador, El Salvador

More >>

Drink Up: Cold-brewed Iced Coffee

Serves: 2

Time: 5 minutes, plus 12 hours' resting

1/3 cup ground coffee (medium-coarse grind is best)

1 1/2 cups water

Milk (optional)

In a jar, stir together coffee and 1 1/2 cups water. Cover and rest at room temperature overnight or 12 hours.

Strain twice through a coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve or a sieve lined with cheesecloth. In a tall glass filled with ice, mix equal parts coffee concentrate and water, or to taste. If desired, add milk.

Note: To make hot coffee, dilute concentrate one-to-one with water and heat in the microwave.

-- The New York Times