We doubt you have previously tasted a coffee with this flavor profile. However, the story comes first.

Hate. How many crimes against humanity have come from this? How many millions have died? In 1994, Rwanda was the international face of hate. Genocide nearly destroyed this African nation. Nearly one million ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu were murdered in just 100 days.

 After the civil war, the government called upon the church to lead in reconciliation. The church responded and Rwanda is healing at an increasingly rapid pace. Coffee is playing a leading role. Parts of Rwanda are exceptionally well suited to growing coffee. And, women are in the forefront. The civil war left a population of 70% women and 30% men. Female entrepreneurs are springing up in thousands of tiny businesses. Coffee is just one.

O'Henry's teamed with an organization working in Bukonya that oversees the coffee beans from field to harvest to processing....all the way to the USA. The superb beans and a supportive distribution channel allow high prices being paid to the farmers. The "middlemen" do not participate in this supply chain like most coffees. The extra profits get poured right back into the communities. It's a unique business model.

Now, the flavor profile. We tried roasting the beans at three different levels: light, medium and medium dark. The light won out and here's why. The longer you roast coffee beans the less you will taste of the high notes (bright, crisp, fruity, etc.). The body (viscosity) of the coffee generally increases. It's not right or wrong. It's whatever tingles your taste buds. Bukonya is tangy, a little tart and downright snappy. See if this doesn't un-wrinkle your pajamas in the morning.

We have 280 pounds between our five locations. Let us know if we should consider it again.

           Profiles in Coffee Tasting

           State Spotlight: Kona, Hawaii

Hawaii, its islands made up of endless stretches of sandy beach, surfers catching "gnarly" waves, and volcanic mountains, is also home to a most prized coffee. 100% Kona is a coffee most everyone has heard about, and some will pay a premium to buy.

Grown high up on the slopes of inactive volcanoes, Kona is completely at the mercy of Mother Nature for rainfall. Every spring, during a three to four month period, the coffee trees are in full bloom. When this happens the orchard is said to be covered in "Kona Snow" because of all the white flowers budding. Kona coffee crops are carefully monitored to ensure they grow healthy by the beginning of the fall season.

Fall and winter are harvest time. All of the coffee is hand-picked and sorted. Much attention must be paid to the coffee so that premature beans are not picked. They will be left for the next round of picking. During this time period there are several rounds of picking that occur.

After the Kona coffee has been picked, it is immediately sent to be pulped and processed. The Wet Method is used for cleaning the coffee. (See our blog on Costa Rica to learn in full detail about Wet Method here)

Once the coffee has been dried, it must be graded according to color and size. The beans are laid out on a table that tilts and vibrates. As it vibrates, it separates the beans into high and low quality. They are then put into bags and a stamp records the grade of green coffee inside.

*Do not confuse Kona Blends with the real thing. By law, to be considered a Kona Blend, the coffee only has to include 10% Kona coffee. The majority of a Kona Blend is a mix of Colombian and Brazilian beans. When purchasing Kona make sure it states somewhere on the bag 100% Kona.

The Kona O'Henry's carries is 100% Kona Extra Fancy. It is from the Greenwell Farms Estate. Extra Fancy denotes the very highest grade of Certified Kona Coffee. Our lighter roast develops the inherent, natural sweetness of this bean. Considered to be a coffee in "perfect balance," this Kona is very clean and well-balanced in the cup with hints of baker's chocolate.

About the State: 

Population: approximately one million

Capital: Honolulu

Language: English and Hawaiian

Fact: Since 1959, tourism has been the largest industry for their economy