Manny Ochoa and Christine Colmane, co-owners, Buddha’s Cup took first place at the 2010 Gevalia Kona Coffee Cupping Competition held at Keauhou Beach Resort. Buddha’s Cup is a 24-acre farm with approximately 6 acres planted in Kona coffee and is located at the 2,300-foot elevation in Holualoa.
2010 Cupping Winner
“Being the winner is good! It makes all the hard work and dedication to growing Kona coffee pay off. We grow and process our coffee in the old style including drying our coffee in wood,” Manny said happily, but humble. “Our farm has been in the finals for the past eight years. Last year after placing in the finals yet again, one of the judges gave me some advice and here we are today.”
Second place was awarded to Kuaiwi Farms, a 100% certified organic Estate coffee located in Captain Cook. Third place was awarded to Brazen Hazen Kona Coffee, located in Holualoa.
Sixty Kona coffee farmers submitted entries into this year’s Gevalia Kona Coffee Cupping Competition. Sixteen entries advanced to today’s final round.
Each coffee farm submitted a 50-pound sample from which five pounds were actually entered into competition. To be eligible, the coffee submitted must have been harvested in Kona. The Gevalia Kona Coffee Cupping Competition is a blind tasting. Once the entry is accepted, it is simply assigned a number to protect its anonymity. These numbers are changed midway into the cupping, between the preliminary and final rounds, to keep the judges’ palates alert throughout the competition.
The coffee samples, both green and roasted, are placed on a long table for the judges to independently evaluate. The judges look for high marks in these six categories: fragrance, aroma, taste, nose, aftertaste and body.
Gevalia Kona Coffee Cupping Competition
First Place Winners
2010 Buddha’s Cup
2009 Wolf Farms
2008 Hoshide Farms
2007 Kona Old Style/Kuaiwi Farm
2006 Pearl Estate Organics
2005 Rancho Aloha
2004 Lafayette Coffee
2003 Kona Coffee & Tea Co.
2002 Koa Coffee Plantation
2001 Wood Captain Cook Estate
2000 The Other Farm
1999 Dragon Roast Coffee
1998 Brockston Gate Estate
1997 Terry Fitzgerald Estate
1996 Keokea Kona Farm
1995 Kona Kulana Farms
1994 Perry Estate Farms
1993 Keopu Mauka Lani Plantation
1992 Kona Kulana Farms
1991 Wailapa Farms
1990 Island Girl Coffee
1989 Wailapa Farms
1988 Faye Takashiba
1987 Tojiro Motoki
Contact Manny Ochoa, Buddha’s Cup 808-756-3580 or visit www.buddhascup.com .
Filed under: Agriculture, aloha, Announcements, Big Island, Environment, Food & Drink, Hawaii, Kona, Tourism Tagged: | 2010 Gevalia Kona Coffee Cupping Competition, Buddha's Cup, Gevalia, Kona coffee
