The Big Island of Hawai'i is home of some of the most well known and notable coffee companies of the islands. Today we will explore some of them and what they are doing to better Hawai'i's coffee scene!
Big Island Coffee Roasters
Big Island Coffee Roasters was founded in 2015 by Kelleigh and Brandon and since then they have brought popularity to Puna Coffee. Their Puna Pink Bourbon was the first and only Puna Coffee to receive the Grand Champion in the Hawai'i Coffee Association Statewide Cupping Competition. Since their founding, Big Island Coffee Roasters have become one of the most recognized and awarded brand in Hawai'i! Big Island Coffee Roasters are listed among the best coffee roasters in the U.S. by Forbes, Thrillist, Food & Wine, Good Housekeeping, Spruce Eats, and Honolulu Magazine. They are also earned the 2021 Good Food Award for Espresso Bites, 2023 Progressive Grocer's Impact Award for environmental and social efforts, Best Specialty Coffee Roaster from the World Coffee Innovation Awards, and the Fastest Growing Hawai'i Company from Pacific Business News.Pacific Coffee Research
The Pacific Coffee Research is women owned and founded by coffee professionals who wanted to change the Hawai'i coffee industry through education, collaboration, and support services. They provide education and skills training to many different coffee professionals ranging from baristas, roasters, producers, and everyone who wants to learn more about coffee. Pacific Coffee Research is also an SCA Premier Training Campus and amongst their team there are experienced coffee trainers and authorized SCA trainers. Pacific Coffee Research was awarded with two 2023 Good Food awards in Coffee for their Aloha Star (Kona) and Wood Valley (Ka'ū) coffees.
Savor Brands Coffee Director Marc Marquez participated in judging for the 2023 Statewide Cupping Competition with other Q-Graders as they cupped coffees at Pacific Coffee Research's facility in Kona.
White Nene Coffee Roasters
White Nene Coffee Roasters was founded by Mark Kove who is the owner, head roaster, and latte art instructor. White Nene Coffee Roasters wanted to progress Hawai'i's specialty coffee community by being open, approachable, and transparent as prioritizing relationship is what coffee is about. Mark Kove has won White Nene Coffee Roasters the 2023 Hawaii Regionals Roasting Champion and is a 2023 US Roasting Finalist.
Coffee Director Marc Marquez with Mark Kove at the 2023 US Roasters Competition at the 2023 Portland SCA Expo!
Special thanks to our friends at Pacific Coffee Research and Big Island Coffee Roasters for their participation in the 2024 Pono Collective.
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