by David R. on Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:43 pm TomC wrote:Any "Kona" traps to avoid while there? I'd like to be a more informed buyer, than your typical tourist that proudly boasts of his fancy Kona Coffee, only to have some sub-par blend at a huge mark up.
Since you won't be in Kona, I don't know if the term applies. Most of the Hawaiian coffee you find in stores (especially groceries and drug stores, but true for coffee shops too) will be stale and/or inferior grade; for decent quality local beans you are probably better off buying mail-order. I think Kaanapali farms maintains a shop in Lahaina where you can buy beans, but I'd be surprised if the shop prices aren't higher than their mail order prices even including shipping. There are a couple of cafes on Maui (including a Honolulu Coffee Company branch), but I've never had an espresso at any of them that could hold a candle to (say) a random Peet's. What I suggest is relax, order your espresso iced (preferably outside with the ocean in view somewhere) or forgo it entirely for tropical drinks. Maybe visit the coffee farm in Kaanapali, though honestly the ex-sugar farms like this one and the ones on Kauai and Molokai are flat and kind of boring.
I kind of hate writing this, but we really don't do a good job of making our coffee industry a draw for tourists (the way we do, or at least used to, with pineapple and sugar). They do a better job on the Big Island, but if you do find yourself over there your time would be better spent checking out the caldera, which is spectacular and unique.
