International Jury Cupping Score
86.28
Region
Kona District,
Hawaii Island
Altitude
1,200 - 1,400 feet
above sea level
Estimated Lot Size
184 pounds (3 bags of 50 lbs, 1 bag of 34 lbs)
Winning Bidder
Brulerie du Quai
This boutique farm high above Kealakekua Bay and Pu‘uhonau O Honaunau (Place of Refuge) was founded by the late Melvelyn Ronett “Roni” Washington. Roni had an MS in Agricultural Economics and was an avid horticulturist whose dream was to farm in the tropics. Her vision came true in February 2015, when Black Rock Farm’s first six acres of Kona Typica were planted. Black Rock dedicates these coffees in Roni’s memory.
The farm’s first harvest was in 2017. In 2019, Isla Custom Coffees’ Miguel Meza began managing the field, and has worked with the pickers to hand harvest ripe cherries to the highest standards possible. Multiple Black Rock coffees have 93+ scores in Coffee Review, all roasted by Meza’s Paradise Coffee Roasters. Four of its coffees are in this auction.
Yeast-Fermented, Aerobic/Anaerobic Natural Typica
This lot was harvested on September 7 — at the peak of the harvest season, when ripe cherries measured an average of 22-23 brix. After harvesting, the coffee cherries were inoculated with a wine yeast selected by Meza to increase acidity and accentuate citrus and tropical fruit notes. The cherries were fermented anaerobically in sealed bags before being brought to neighboring Aloha Hills’ coffee mill. Aloha Hills pulped the coffee and dried it on a patio with mucilage still on the parchment. After resting in parchment for 60 days, the coffee was milled and screened to 17+ size.