HAWAII — Winners of the Hawaii Coffee Association’s 15th Annual Statewide Coffee Cupping Competition were announced during the sold-old 29th Hawaii Coffee Association Conference July 18-20 at the Ala Moana Hotel in Waikiki.
“We are thrilled with this yearʻs turnout and seeing such enthusiastic participation in our diverse range of presentations,” says conference chair Juli Burden of the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center. “This support is a testament to the dedication of the coffee community here in Hawaii.”
Also perking were interactive workshops, lectures and seminars covering everything from organic soil health to caffeinated cocktails. Activities included a green coffee grading workshop and a hands-on exploration of coffee fermentation techniques. Panel discussions delved into the profitability of growing and using coffee and the insights from a grower’s survey on the economics of coffee leaf rust control.
“We expanded our workshop offerings to six unique opportunities to learn from cherry to cup,” added Burden.
Headlining the program was a keynote by Dr. Nora Lapitan of the USDA Agricultural Research Service on “Research for Sustainable Coffee Production.”
The Hawaii Coffee Association and the statewide cupping competition results
A total of 103 entries, up from 68 in 2023, vied in the 15th Statewide Hawaii Coffee Association Cupping Competition. Brittany Horn, HCA cupping committee chair and co-owner of Pacific Coffee Research (PCR), notes the competition’s 51 percent higher turnout is likely due to a positive bounce-back after the 2020 introduction of Coffee Leaf Rust and a high-yield year.
“Additionally, the competition committee brought back the commercial division this year,” adds Horn. “In a similar manner to an auction, the commercial division requires a two-pound sample be submitted representative of a 300-pound lot.”
The annual competition received 20 commercial and 83 creative division entries. The top three scoring coffees of the 103 entries were in the creative division and all hailed from Kona. This division is reserved for smallholder farms with entries under the direct control of owners.
Taking first place was a fruit-dried (natural process), 36-hour anaerobic fermentation Geisha variety with yeast inoculation produced by Geisha Kona Coffee earning a record final score of 87.83 points. Monarch Coffee Farm entered a 36-hour ferment parchment-dried (washed) Geisha variety placing second with a score of 87.40. Uluwehi Coffee Farm received a score of 87.25 with a 100-hour ferment with K1 yeast and fruit-dried (natural process) SL34 variety.
The top 10 highest scoring coffees were recognized and awards were also presented to the top coffees produced in Hawaii Department of Agriculture-recognized growing regions located throughout the islands. Top placing coffees by district were all from the creative division. They included Miranda’s Farms of Ka‘u with a parchment-dried Geisha scoring 85.63 and O’o Farms of Maui earning 84.20 with a pulp-dried (honey-process) Red Catuai variety. On Oahu, Waialua Estate’s 72-hour ferment and fruit-dried Typica earned 83.42. Hilo Coffee Company of the Hawaii region (encompassing Hilo and Puna) scored an 80.63 with their 72-hour ferment Typica and Hog Heaven Coffee’s Typica of Hamakua earned 80.58.
Coffees in the commercial division were bested by Hula Daddy’s of Kona’s parchment-dried and yeast-innoculated Typica with 84.29 points. Kona’s Mauka Meadows’ parchment-dried and 24-hour ferment Typica and Kona’s Kopika Farm’s parchment-dried Red Bourbon tied for second place with a score of 82.63. Ka’u Coffee Mill followed in scoring 81.63 with a pulp-dried Typica. Commercial entrants can be growers or processors with corporate brands and multi-estate coffees being eligible.
“I was so impressed with the top scores from this year’s competition,” noted Horn. “The Top Ten’s average score was an 86.6—up from 85.48 last year—and all coffees in the Top Ten scored over 85 points.”
Kona-based PCR (Pacific Coffee Research [PCR]) organized the competition utilizing a cupping panel composed of local and global coffee professionals led by Madeleine Longoria Garcia, PCR co-owner. “Judges from around the world applied to participate in this yearʻs competition and were invited based on their experience, training and opportunity for engaging with Hawaiiʻs coffee producers,” notes Longoria Garcia.
The panel of sensory judges included:
- Lora Botanova-Production Roaster of Big Island Coffee Roasters, Q Arabica Grader
- Alex Brooks-Independent Consultant, Q Arabica Grader
- Krude Che-Hao Lin-Founder of Taiwan Coffee Laboratory, Q Arabica Instructor, SCA AST, Director with the Taiwan Coffee Association
- Madeleine Longoria Garcia-Co-Owner of Pacific Coffee Research, Q Arabica Assistant Instructor, Vice President of Synergistic Hawai’i Agriculture Council
- Marc Marquez-Director of Coffee Savor Brands, Q Arabica Grader
- Oliver Stormshak-Co-owner, President, and Green Coffee Buyer of Olympia Coffee, Oliver’s Custom Coffee and Moonrise Bakery; Q Arabica Grader
Horn served as head competition facilitator and was assisted by PCR’s Meg Duka and Head Roaster Eric Musil.
The panel employed the standard Specialty Coffee Association’s cupping methodology and scoring format. It is a form of scientific sensory analysis where coffees are evaluated and scored based on a variety of subtle characteristics: flavor, aroma, acidity, aftertaste, body, balance, overall cup experience, presence of sweetness, lack of defect and uniformity.
New Board of Directors and Officers named
The 2024-25 HCA Board of Directors features representation spanning a variety of businesses positioned throughout the coffee supply chain including growers, processors, wholesalers, roasters and retailers.
They include President Bill Dwyer of Kona Mountain Farm, Vice President Fred Cowell of Kona Hills, Secretary Alla Kostenko of A Coffee Farm, Treasurer Abby Munoz of Monarch Coffee, Kimo Falconer of Hawaii Coffee Growers Association, Dave Bateman of Heavenly Hawaiian Farms, Ryson Nakamasu of Honolulu Coffee Company, Donna Woolley of Island Sun, Louis Danielle of Ka‘u Coffee Mill, Bronson Yadao of Kauai Coffee Company, Suzanne Shriner of Kona Coffee Farmers Association, Chris Speere of Maui Coffee Association and Scott Snyder of Royal Aloha Coffee Company.
Conference exhibitors included American AgCredit, Bendig, CFI-Commodity Forwarders Inc, FedEx, University of Hawaii CTAHR, Delta Technology Corp., Gearmore, Gowan, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, IFillCup-IFillSytems, Kokua Analytical, Lind Insurance Services, MTZ Ka‘u Coffee Farms, Nano-Purification Solutions, North Shore Creative Group, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Satake, Simplot, USDA NASS Hawaii Field Office, Veritiv Corp. and Weco.
Sponsors of the 2024 HCA Conference were Kona Mountain Coffee, Simplot, FedEx, Gowan, Gearmore, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, Kauai Coffee, Satake, Savor Brands, American AgCredit, NetaFim, Young Brothers, Wai Engineering, Flavor Waves, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, KTA Super Stores, Cafedak Coda, Honolulu Coffee, Monarch Coffee, Makahiki Farms, Pacific Coffee Research, acoffeefarm.com, Maunawili Coffee, Island Sun Coffee, Technivorm Moccamaster, Try Coffee and Tradition Coffee Roasters.
Complete results for the cupping competition are posted here.
The Hawaii Coffee Association’s mission is to represent all sectors of the Hawaii coffee industry, including growers, millers, wholesalers, roasters and retailers. The HCA’s primary objective is to increase awareness and consumption of Hawaiian coffees. A major component of HCA’s work is the continuing education of members and consumers. Its annual conference has continued to grow, gaining international attention.
Learn more about the HCA here.
