Kona coffee is the variety of coffee which has its roots in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island in Hawaii. It has been one of the most-loved coffees on the market for years now. One should always buy freshly roasted beans for the best coffee and should grind them at home. Making a great cup of Kona coffee is easier than you might think. Here are the basic steps you need to follow to brew a cup of Kona at home.
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Preserving Freshness
Coffee sometimes loses its flavor once it is roasted. The elements that play a role in the longevity of flavor are air, moisture, heat, and light. You should always store your coffee in a closed, air-tight container. This prevents the coffee beans from going stale and stinking. We do not recommend that you keep the coffee in the refrigerator or freezer.
Moisture may also develop around the beans and destroy their delicate oils, which is another important reason to keep coffee in an airtight container. Kona comes in small batches contained in sealed bags to keep its aroma alive.
Grinding
Selecting the right grind of Kona for your machine is very important. You can use your kitchen coffee grinder to enhance the real experience of a great cup of brew. Grinding the beans too fine will cause over-extraction of the flavor and you will get a bitter brew. Grinding too coarse will give you a watery coffee with very little flavor. It is recommended that you grind only enough for each cup that you brew.
Brewing Proportion
For Kona, go for one, rounded measure (or two tablespoons) of freshly-roasted beans for each cup of water. You can always adjust the water to your preferred taste.
Water
Filtered water is preferred for brewing Kona coffee (or any other coffee, for that matter). Coffee is 98% water, so you cannot underestimate the role of water in this drink. Never use extremely hot water for brewing; instead, use half-boiled water to bring out the coffee’s full range of flavor.
Equipment
Cleaned brewing equipment will always give you a better cup of coffee. Any leftovers from the previous brew will only make your coffee bitter.
Drip and Filter Method
This is the most popular method of brewing Kona coffee. Either paper or metal filters are placed in a cone that the coffee and hot water drip through. Most machines have an automatic system to perform this function.
Plunger Coffee
This is a popular method used by many coffee lovers to make their favorite cup. Water is boiled and then left to cool down before being poured over medium- or coarse-ground coffee. It is then left to stand for three or four hours before the plunger is pressed to separate the grounds from the liquid.
You can have the most expensive coffee beans on your shelf, but it’s what you do with those beans that makes all the difference.
Coffee coffee coffee! Nothing quite like a nice hot cup of joe in the morning 🙂 my name’s Nicole but on here I like to go by Java Jane. I am an avid coffee drinker and writer about all things Java related (and I’m not talking about programming for the millionth time!). Thanks for checking out my blog and always remember to stay grounded!