As an avid coffee enthusiast, I regularly seek out local flavors and styles whenever I travel. Sometimes I become such a fan of these novel coffee experiences that I insist on shipping some back home. All around the world, there are exotic, fabulous coffees that are commonly grown at high altitudes in high humidity with a naturally occurring afternoon mist. Some of the more exotic go through preparation extremes before the final product is ready to be devoured by the public. Seeking out the best cup of coffee in the world can be a daunting, but rewarding task.
One of my personal favorites is Kona coffee. Authentic Kona coffee is only grown on the slopes of Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the rich volcanic soil within the Kona districts (North and South) on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kona coffee is regularly mentioned among the best the world has to offer with its subtle flavor and rich aroma. Kona growers follow strict standards to label their coffee the true “Kona” brand. Each February and March the Kona “cherries” are picked by hand by the 600 family coffee growers who reside on the island.
Crossing the globe to the Caribbean is another personal favorite coffee that is grown on the mountain slopes of Jamaica. Known as Blue Mountain Coffee, this brand is famous for its sweet flavor, lack of bitterness, and intense aroma. The Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica rigorously protects the brand and enforces what can be called Blue Mountain Coffee. True Blue Mountain Coffee is limited to coffee produced within the parishes of Saint Andrew, Saint Thomas, Portland, or Saint Mary at an altitude between 3000 and 5500 feet.
Other excellent coffees worthy of mentioning among the world’s best can be found on the African continent in the country of Kenya. The Kenyan coffee industry has developed a unique auction system that ensures the Kenyan grade uniformity. The buyer who bids the highest price for the coffee lot at the auction wins the lot – this keeps out insider deals and middlemen. Before the auctions are held, samples are distributed to the authorized exporters for evaluation purposes. The best grades are grown on the mountain slopes of Mt. Kenya. The highest grade of Kenyan coffee, AA, has a sweet and fruity taste to it, light body and wonderful aroma with little bitterness.
One of the more exotic coffees regularly judged to be one of the world’s best, and most expensive is Indonesian Kopi Luwak. This variety is also grown on mountain slopes in Southeast Asia, but is distinct from other coffees in how it is processed. Kopi Luwak coffee beans are only roasted after being digested by palm civets, a small mammal similar zoologically to the North American raccoon. Sweet ripe coffee cherries are part of the natural diet of the palm civets. The final Kopi Luwak product is extremely rare, only 100 – 300 kilograms are produced a year, and is famous for its natural chocolaty flavor and incredible complexity.
Finding that best cup of coffee really depends upon individual taste. The first step to finding it is adventuring away from Starbucks to the regional coffee producers around the world. Don’t be afraid to try exotic coffee brands and don’t be shocked at the high prices these coffees command.
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