Speaking the Language of Coffee

Coffee is more than a beverage—it's a lifestyle with a unique language and set of tools. Whether your New Year's resolution is to explore a new hobby, or you want to elevate your daily brew, understanding the terminology used to identify the plants, processing, roasting, brewing, and tasting processes can deepen your appreciation. 

This guide will take you through the language of coffee term by term, with a special focus on the unique language used at Kauai Coffee.

Coffee Plants and Varieties

You've heard it before—variety is the spice of life—and when it comes to coffee, it's also the foundation of flavor. The coffee you drink starts as a plant, and understanding the language used to describe it can help you appreciate the journey from seed to cup.

Botany Buzzwords

In the world of plants, species and variety are key terms used to classify and identify differences. If you can remember high school biology—species refers to a group of plants that share fundamental traits, while variety describes smaller groups within a species that have distinct characteristics. Coffee is no different. The two most common species of coffee plants grown for consumption are Arabica and Robusta:

• Arabica (Coffea arabica): Known for its smooth, complex flavors, Arabica makes up about 60-70% of the world's coffee production. It grows best at higher altitudes, requires specific climates, and is considered higher-quality coffee.
• Robusta (Coffea canephora): A more resilient species with a higher caffeine content, Robusta is often described as bold and more bitter. It's commonly used in espresso blends and instant coffee.

At Kauai Coffee, we exclusively grow Arabica, and the unique Hawaiian environment makes it the gold standard for smooth, flavorful brews.

Variety Versus Varietal

The word variety describes the specific types of coffee plants within the Arabica species. A varietal refers to the coffee beans produced by those plants. The classification of coffee beans is similar to how wine grapes like Merlot and Chardonnay determine a wine's flavor and character. The same goes for coffee beans.

On our Estate, we grow several distinct varieties of Arabica coffee that thrive in Hawaii's volcanic soil and tropical climate:

• Typica – One of the oldest and most widely recognized Arabica varieties, Typica is known for its sweet, clean profile with bright acidity. It's a foundational variety for specialty coffee worldwide and one of the most common varieties grown on the Kona Coast. We grow Typica on the Kauai Coffee Estate, so if you love Kona Coffee, you will love Typica from Kauai as well!
• Kauai Blue Mountain – A celebrated variety derived from Jamaica Blue Mountain, this plant produces silky, mild coffee with balanced acidity and nutty undertones. Kauai Blue Mountain is grown exclusively on Kauai, making it a true Hawaiian gem.
• Red and Yellow Catuai – Hybrid varieties prized for their compact size and high yield. Red Catuai offers rich, chocolatey flavors, while Yellow Catuai leans toward bright, fruity notes. Both are known for their vibrant profiles and adaptability to Kauai's growing conditions.
• Mundo Novo – A natural hybrid of Typica and Bourbon, Mundo Novo combines the smooth body of Typica with the sweetness of Bourbon, producing a balanced and full-flavored cup.

Coffee Cherry Clarity

Before it becomes your morning cup, coffee starts as a fruit called a cherry. Each layer of the cherry plays an important role in protecting and developing the bean inside. Here's a breakdown of terms you may hear related to coffee cherry anatomy:

• Skin (Exocarp): The outside layer of the coffee cherry, the skin is smooth and firm and turns red or yellow when ripe. It protects the fruit inside and is the first layer removed during processing.
• Pulp (Mesocarp): Beneath the skin is the fleshy pulp, which gives the cherry its fruity flavor and sweetness. During processing, the pulp is removed or dried with the bean.
• Bean (Seed): The heart of the coffee cherry and the part we roast and brew. Each cherry typically contains two beans, which grow facing each other inside the fruit. Occasionally, a cherry produces only one round bean, called a peaberry, prized for its concentrated flavor.
• Parchment (Endocarp): Surrounding the beans is a thin, papery layer called the parchment. It protects the beans during processing and drying and is removed before roasting.
• Silverskin (Epidermis): The final layer is the silverskin, a delicate membrane that clings to the bean even after the parchment is removed. Some of this skin flakes off during roasting, becoming chaff, which is separated before grinding.

Coffee Processing Terms

After coffee cherries are harvested, they must be processed to transform into green beans ready for roasting. Processing methods affect the flavor, aroma, and body of your brew, making them a key part of a coffee's identity. At Kauai Coffee, we carefully select processing methods to highlight the best qualities of our beans.

• Natural Processing – or dry processing, is one of the oldest methods of processing coffee. After the cherries are harvested, they are laid out in the sun to dry with the fruit still intact. The beans absorb flavors from the surrounding fruit as they dry, resulting in a coffee that is often fruity, sweet, and complex.
• Wet Processing – The wet process, or washed process, is the most common method used at Kauai Coffee. In this process, the fruit is removed from the seed with water before drying, resulting in a clean, crisp flavor profile that highlights the coffee's natural characteristics.
• Honey Processing (semi-washed process) – A hybrid between natural and wet processing, the honey process gets its name from the sticky, honey-like layer of mucilage left on the beans during drying. Instead of completely washing away the mucilage, it's partially retained to add sweetness and complexity.

Roasting Terms Every Coffee Drinker Should Know

Roasting transforms raw green coffee beans into the aromatic treasures we know and love. The roast level reveals and emphasizes different flavors and characteristics in your cup:

• Light Roast – Often called city roast, this level preserves the bean's natural characteristics, resulting in bright acidity, floral or fruity notes, and a lighter body.
• Medium Roast – A balanced roast that combines acidity, sweetness, and body.
• Dark Roast – Sometimes called French roast, it is the darkest roast level characterized by bold, smoky flavors. Dark roasts have a heavier body and lower acidity, which makes them a great choice for people who enjoy intense flavors.
• Espresso Roast – While any roast can technically be used to make espresso, espresso roast often refers to beans roasted specifically to highlight the smooth, bold flavors needed for espresso brewing. Espresso roast usually denotes a medium to dark roast that balances sweetness, body, and acidity for a rich, concentrated shot.

At Kauai Coffee, our roastmasters carefully develop roast profiles that celebrate the natural qualities of our Hawaiian-grown beans, offering a spectrum of flavors to suit every palate.

Cupping and Tasting Talk

Cupping is the process of tasting coffee to evaluate its aroma, flavor, and overall quality. It's also a fun and accessible way for beginners to learn the language of coffee tasting. You'll also find many tasting terms on your bags of coffee that describe what you can expect from your brew.

Here are some common tasting terms to know:

• Body – The texture or weight of coffee in your mouth. A full-bodied coffee feels rich and creamy, while a light-bodied coffee is more delicate.
• Acidity – describes the coffee's brightness or liveliness, often likened to citrus or berry notes.
• Flavor Notes – These describe the specific tastes in your coffee, such as chocolate, caramel, or floral.
• Finish – The lingering taste after you swallow, which can range from smooth and sweet to dry and nutty.

Decoding Coffee Labels to Find Your Perfect Cup

When buying coffee, understanding the label can help you make the best choice for your taste and brewing style.

• Single-Origin – Coffee from one region, farm, or estate, like our Kauai Coffee Estate offerings. These coffees are a pure expression of their growing environment.
• Blend – A mix of beans from different origins designed for balanced or specific flavor profiles. The term blend may also mean that there are different roast profiles in the bag. For example, our Holiday Blend is a combination of dark and medium roasted beans from our Estate.
• Coffee Certifications – Look for labels like Fair Trade, Non GMO Project, and Rain Forest Alliance on your bags to ensure you're buying sustainable and ethically sourced coffee.
• Freshness – Always check the best-by date on your bag. It is usually printed on the bottom or back of the bag.

Brew Banter

How you brew your coffee can dramatically affect its flavor, strength, and body. Here are some common brewing methods and terms to help you understand your options:

• Drip Brewing – A popular automatic method where water is heated and dripped over coffee grounds held in a paper or metal filter. It’s convenient, consistent, and ideal for brewing multiple cups at once.
• French Press – Steeps coarse coffee grounds in hot water before pressing them down with a plunger. It produces a rich, full-bodied cup by allowing the natural oils and fine particles to remain in the brew.
• Espresso – A concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under high pressure. Known for its bold flavor and creamy layer of foam (called crema), espresso serves as the base for drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos.
• Pour Over – A manual brewing method where hot water is slowly poured over coffee grounds in a filter. This process gives you complete control over brewing time and water flow, resulting in a clean, flavorful cup.

Keep Building Your Coffee Vocabulary

At Kauai Coffee, we're passionate about crafting exceptional Hawaiian Coffee you can feel great about drinking and sharing with your 'ohana. Whether you're sipping a silky-smooth Kauai Blue Mountain or exploring the bold notes of Poipu Estate, understanding the language of coffee allows you to enjoy it on a deeper level. 

Ready to start your coffee adventure? Explore our collection and discover your favorite roast today.