The Drink: 100% Maui Red Catuai from Armeno Coffee Roasters
Type: Whole Bean
Overall Rating: 3.75 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs
Normally when I think Hawaiian coffee, I think Kona. Kona might be the rock star of Hawaiian coffees, but it’s just the beginning of the what the island state offers. Tonight, I’m sipping on another coffee from Hawaii called 100% Maui Red Catuai from Armeno Coffee Roasters.
It’s the first time that I’ve tried a Hawaiian coffee other than Kona, but if this is an indication of what else Hawaii has to offer, I think I need to start planning a trip there right away.
The aroma is made up mostly of a mild nuttiness. It’s mixed with subtle hints of grapefruit, butter and a little bit of spices.
In some ways, the aroma reminded me of the Kona, but the taste was significantly different.
It had a bold taste that was mixed with a wine like flavor. This wasn’t the fruity wine like taste that made up the flavors of the Ethiopian coffees that I’ve been tasting recently. Instead it was more like a burgundy wine flavor.
Inside the flavor was also touches of grapefruit, spices and some chocolate.
In some ways, the taste reminded me of the coffees from Indonesia mixed with beans from Africa.
The coffee was exceptionally smooth and had a full body.
Overall, an easy well above average 3.75 on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale. I really liked the different flavors of this coffee and that made it standout.
This is the first of two coffees that Armeno Coffee, a roaster in Northborough, Massachusetts sent me to review. Learn more about them at the Armeno Coffee Roasters website.
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One doesn’t usually expect a Hawaiian coffee to have the kind of full body to be “bold” (though it may have a ton of flavor). Usually it lacks the heavy mouth feel distinctive to say a Sumatra or Aged Sumatra. I too am a fan of the Hawaiian coffees. Starbucks produces two of them – Kona and Estate Kauai (I realize that I’m butchering the spelling here of it).
I went to the Armeno website and it describes this category of coffee as light to medium body.
At $16.95 a pound, that sounds like a reasonable price for this coffee.
Mike, I genuinely am very intrigued by unusual coffees from Hawaii and so I just now purchased a 1/2 pound of the Maui Red to give it a try. They may laugh at the email address of Sbux206ATStarbucksMelodyDOTcom buying a 1/2 of their coffee. I shall report back to you what I think!
.-= Melody´s last blog ..Pour Over brew method coming to a Starbucks near you! =-.
I read their description of it and I was thinking about that as I was tasting it. I felt that it was a heavier body, but of course that was just my opinion. I can’t wait to hear your opinion on it. I hope you don’t mind, I edited your email so no spammers get a hold of it. I’m sure the roasters will look at each other when they see your order!
I haven’t seen any Hawaiian coffee at my local Starbucks locations, I’d love to try their versions, especially the Estate Kauai. After tonight, I feel like I opened up a whole new door to other Hawaiian coffees for myself.
Wow, sounds like quite a complex array of flavors to be packed into one cup! Not too overwhelming? Haven’t tried anything from Armeno. Which blends would you recommend for a bolder palate?
You may want to try the Armeno Black & Tan (bold) or the Sumatra Mandheling French Roast (bolder). I work with the guys at Armeno (in the interest of full disclosure) and the Sumatra French Roast is quite popular.
As a side question – if you don’t mind me asking – any ideas why my gravatar won’t show up on your site? Is your site a wordpress site?
Thanks…
Sorry Mike, think I worked it out… just ignore me…
where’d I put my coffee…
LOL! It looks like you’ve had one of my days. I couldn’t get enough coffee today!
Have always been using the Kona…..after reading your review, it sounds like a lot of flavors packed into a cup…
I love my coffee strong, so does the spicy taste makes the coffee bitter?
Nope, this one was pretty smooth from what I remember.
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