Kauai Coffee Brewing Method Guide

Hawaiian coffee is known worldwide for its unique flavor and distinct aroma. Our tropical climate, warm temperatures, abundant rainfall, and rich volcanic soil provide the perfect conditions for growing exceptional coffee. But that isn't all it takes to make a delicious cup. Knowing how to grind and brew your Hawaiian coffee at home can make a huge difference in the overall taste, texture (mouthfeel), and aroma you experience. So, find out how to make the best cup of Kauai Coffee you've ever tasted with our complete brewing method guide.

Brewing Coffee

All you need to make a great cup of coffee at home is beans, water, filtration, and time. However, using different tools and methods will produce different results. From pour over to French press, automatic drip to espresso, let's take a look at the recommended grind, tools, and filtration required for each and how the brewing method will change the characteristics you experience in each cup.

Automatic Drip

The convenience of automatic drip coffee makes it one of the most popular at-home coffee brewing methods in the US. With the turn of a dial or flip of a switch, you can have a piping hot and delicious cup in a matter of minutes.

How it works

Automatic drip coffee makers can vary greatly, but most include a water basin, heater, filter, and carafe. Brewers should fill the water basin with the recommended amount of water, add a paper or reusable filter to the cone or basket-shaped holder at the top of the machine, and fill the filter with the recommended amount of ground coffee for the number of servings being prepared. We recommend two heaping tablespoons or coffee scoops of ground coffee for every six ounces of water.

Once the water, filter, and grounds are in place, you can place the carafe below the filter and turn on the coffee maker. In a matter of seconds, you should hear the water heat up, saturate the grounds, and drip fresh coffee into the carafe.

Recommended grind

A medium grind with the coarseness of Kauai beach sand is the best choice for automatic coffee makers.

Results

Because most automatic drip coffee makers utilize paper filters, the resulting cup should have a crisp and clarified texture. To avoid a papery quality or taste in your coffee, wet your filter with warm water before adding your ground beans and brewing.

Recommended Kauai Coffee

Any Kauai Coffee will taste great brewed in an automatic drip machine, but our 100% Kauai Coffee Medium Roast is superb. So, if automatic drip coffee is your convenient morning go-to, take it to the next level with 100% Kauai Coffee.

AeroPress

An AeroPress coffee maker is a compact and versatile tool that can prepare concentrated coffee akin to espresso, cups resembling pour-overs, and even French press coffee. Since many AeroPress brewers use it to make espresso, we will detail its use for that preparation.

How it works

The AeroPress combines the paper filtration of a drip machine with the immersion of French Press and the pressure of an espresso maker in a small and convenient plastic cylinder.

To make an espresso-style shot, brewers should insert the plunger into the top of the cylinder just enough to create a seal. Then, place the cylinder and plunger upside down on the counter with the open end up. Add a heaping scoop of ground coffee to the open cylinder and fill it with boiling water. Let the coffee steep for a few minutes in the water, then gently stir. Next, add a moistened filter paper round to the filter basket and screw the basket into place on top of the coffee-filled cylinder.

Now for the fun part. Place your mug on top of the filter basket and flip everything over together, so the plunger is on top. Press the plunger firmly and evenly to express the coffee out of the filter and into the mug.

Recommended grind

Like an espresso machine, using finely ground coffee in your AeroPress will achieve the best results.

Results

With a bit of practice, you'll have a silky-smooth shot of coffee in your mug you can drink on its own or use in your favorite preparation. Add a little water for an Americano or steamed milk for a latte.

Recommended Kauai Coffee

Poipu Estate Espresso Roast - Delicate but deep aroma, floral, with a well-rounded, full body that adds to the buttery mouthfeel.

Cold Brewing

Cold brew is coffee made by steeping coarse ground coffee beans in cold water for 12-16 hours.

How it works

The steeping process takes much longer than a typical cup of coffee prepared with a hot-water method such as drip, espresso, or French press because cold water requires more time to extract flavor from the grounds than hot water. We recommend starting with a ratio of approximately 3/4 cup of coarse ground coffee for every 25 ounces (about 3 cups) of cold, filtered water. Make a whole pitcher of cold brew coffee with the recipe found here or on the Kauai Coffee Cold Brew Bag.

Recommended grind

Using coarse ground coffee is the best choice for cold brewing. You'll get a consistent, extra smooth cup with delicious flavor and unique aroma.

Results

Because of the increased steeping time, cold brew coffee is generally described as smooth, mellow, and low in acid. However, cold brew coffee is also highly concentrated and best enjoyed over ice with milk, water, or other additions to dilute.

Recommended Kauai Coffee

100% Kauai Coffee Cold Brew - coarse ground and made for cold brewing

Espresso Machine

For many coffee drinkers, espresso is the ultimate expression of coffee perfection. Yet even though it's widely consumed in the United States and worldwide, much confusion exists about what it really is.

How it works

An espresso machine uses steam or pumps to force hot water through a densely packed puck of finely ground coffee. There are a variety of machines you can use to create a delicious espresso at home. However, they do come in a wide range of sizes and price tags, so finding the best one will take some time and research. If you'd like to make espresso without investing in an at-home machine, try a Moka Pot or AeroPress. These tools allow you to make espresso at home with tools you already have, like a stovetop or kettle.

Recommended grind

Finely ground coffee is the key to espresso. Did you know you can order your 100% Kauai Coffee to be custom ground just the way you like it? If you don't have a grinder at home, select the grind option you'd like before adding your coffee to the cart. We offer whole bean (not ground), auto drip, coarse, cone fine, espresso, and Turkish grinds.

Results

The resulting beverage is a concentrated coffee with a thicker and smoother mouthfeel than coffee prepared with other methods. It is also characterized by a dense layer of foam called crema that sits on top of the coffee. The crema is created by tiny air bubbles that result from forcing hot water through the tightly packed coffee and mixing with the soluble oils that the ground beans contain.

Recommended Kauai Coffee

Any 100% Kauai Coffee can be brewed with an espresso machine. Some of our favorites include Peaberry Dark, Blue Mountain, Mundo Novo, and Poipu Estate.

French Press

The French press method is a simple way to brew coffee by steeping coarsely ground coffee in hot water for several minutes, then pressing it with a plunger to separate the coffee from the water.

How it works

A French Press coffee maker is a simple tool that consists of a glass, aluminum, or plastic pitcher with a fitted plunger lid. A French Press is an immersion brewer, which means the ground coffee you add to it is fully submerged in water and steeped - just like hot tea. In fact, a French Press brewer is also an excellent tool for steeping loose leaf tea.

To make French Press coffee, add the recommended amount of ground coffee to the pitcher and pour in just enough hot water to saturate the grounds. You should start to see some bubbles form and pop as the grounds expand. After 30 seconds to a minute, slowly fill the pitcher with water until you reach the fill line or about one inch below the top. Let the coffee steep for a few minutes, and then gently stir. Next, place the lid on top of the pitcher and slowly press the plunger to separate the grounds from the water.

Recommended grind

Coarse ground coffee is the best choice for French Press.

Results

French Press coffee can have a heavier mouthfeel and more full-bodied flavor than other preparations. We recommend trying it black before adding your favorite additions to see how delicious it can be on its own, and how the flavors change and bloom with milk and sugar.

Recommended Kauai Coffee

Any 100% Kauai Coffee is an excellent choice for French Press brewing. Some of our favorites include Rooster Alarm, and Kauai Sunrise.

Pour Over

Pour-over brewing is another popular method, which involves pouring hot water over ground coffee in a filter placed over a carafe or mug.

How it works

The first thing you need to make pour over coffee is a dripper with a filter that sits atop a vessel. From single-cup drippers to 8-cup carafes, there are many options to explore. Once you find your preferred tool, you're ready to experiment. First, wet your filter and place it on top of the dripper. Next, add your ground coffee to the filter and slowly pour hot water over the grounds in a circular motion for about 30 seconds. Then, let the water percolate through the coffee, and repeat the process four times until your water is gone. The whole process should take about three minutes.

Recommended grind

It is best to use a medium-coarse grind for single-cup pour overs and something slightly coarser for multi-cup pour overs.

Results

The pour over method allows for more control over the brewing process and can result in a brighter and more complex cup of coffee.

Recommended Kauai Coffee

Try one of these 100% Kauai Coffees for the perfect pour over – Kalaheo Estate, Kope Olenalena, McBryde Estate, Acaia

In conclusion, Hawaiian coffee is known for its unique and delicious flavor. Different brewing methods will develop the characteristics and flavor notes you experience in each cup in exciting and different ways. Whether you prefer a simple drip brew or a more complex espresso, there is a method to suit every taste. Browse our entire collection of 100% Hawaiian Coffee now.