Greenwell Estate Kona Coffee, reviewed

One of the most memorable coffee experiences I’ve had was going out to visit the Greenwell Plantation on the big island of Hawaii. Not only did I get to taste coffee cherries right off the tree, but I got to taste some of my favorite Kona coffee in one of the freshest batches you can get. I got this batch of Greenwell Estate Private Reserve Kona Coffee from Sea Island and I have to say that they make very quick work of the shipping and – aside from the lovely Hawaiian weather – you’re not missing anything by making the coffee at home and not traveling out to the plantation.

The Greenwell Estate coffee is earthy, sweet and tangy. It is really rich tasting and full bodied, and actually reminds me a lot of red wine, although probably better. I’d make this a daily brew if only I could pick it up at my local store, instead of having to have it shipped!

For other fans of Kona coffee, I previously bought green beans from Greenwell Estate and roasted them at home with good results. A fun project if you have the time and outdoor space!

Starbucks socks

Spotted in Seoul: Starbucks socks. I’m pretty sure that the company did not license these, but they’re very cute. I didn’t buy them at the time. I kind of wish I had, though!

Coffee Jelly Caramel Frappuccino from Seoul

I have to say that I was a little bit surprised that there wasn’t anything too exotic on the menu at Starbucks in Seoul, Korea, where I was last week. Not that I was expecting to see a kimchi-flavored frappuccino, or anything like that, but I did hope that there would be something to make me say “wow!” other than the Seoul City Mug I added to my collection. The closest I came was with a Coffee Jelly Frappuccino. This is essentially a regular frappuccino with a whole lot of coffee-flavored gelatin at the bottom of the drink. It’s a lot like having an espresso-flavored jello shooter. The flavor is excellent and it really did a lot to improve the overall coffee flavor of the caramel frappuccino I ordered it in.

The only small criticism I would make is that it was disconcerting to suck up firm jello through a straw. It came out in squiggy lines that reminded me a bit of gummy worms (but tastier)! Still, the flavor gets two thumbs up. I just might try it with a spoon next time.

Trader Joe’s Joe Coffee

Trader Joe’s Joe Coffee appears to be the supermarket chain’s new house blend. It’s not a stretch to guess this, given the name, but another tell-tell factor is the price. This 14-oz can was just $3.99 (at my local TJs, prices may vary). Their coffees are usually a good deal, but this is easily the most affordable option on the shelf. As the house blend, Joe’s is designed to appeal to as many coffee drinkers as possible. It’s a medium-roast coffee, with a medium-low acidity and a medium body. There are notes of  chocolate and some woodsiness, but it’s overall just a very smooth and drinkable cup that isn’t entirely remarkable. That’s not a bad thing! It means that it hits its mark as an everyday coffee that will appeal to a wide audience  – and at the price point it’s at, the potential audience is pretty big.

New Caledonia Coffee, reviewed

New Caledonia coffee comes from – you guessed it – New Caledonia, in Island in the South Pacific. These beans came from the Domaine de Kouandji estate. Like some other pacific island coffees, this one is fairly rare, with production of just 1000 kg per year, and it has some very unique qualities to it. The first thing you’ll notice is that the beans are very small, almost half or 1/3 of the size of your average coffee bean. Another distinctive feature (one that you might not notice) is that this coffee is very low in caffeine content, less than half of the average for other Arabica varieties at about .6%.

The coffee itself is very interesting. It has a creamy, hazelnut note to both the smell of the beans and to the body of the coffee, reminiscent of very milky chocolate or gianduja. There is also a little bit of an herbal note to its finish, and since the coffee is very smooth and light bodied, it comes close to a mellow, lingering black tea finish. It also has some sweet notes in it, like dried fruit. It’s extremely drinkable black and seems like a good choice for a breakfast coffee, where it won’t be paired with foods that may overpower it.