studentGeek Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Texas Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Feb 15, 2004, 11:01pm Subject: Coffee Vacations?
Anyone taken any cool coffee vacations? I'd like to go somewhere where I can learn more about coffee but still have a good vacation (without roughing it ;). There are alot of farms in Hawaii w/rentals and B&B's etc... but it's hard feel confident about the more private spots. I actually like African coffee best but I'm not ready to head that way. I've been checking out Italy too (and of course price is a factor) but I'd be interested in hearing from folks who've been....ideas? Thx
bruce2006 Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2003 Posts: 36 Location: Southern California Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Zaffiro; PID Coffee Gaggia Grinder: DL Rocky Vac Pot: Bodum Drip: no Roaster: iRoast; Z & D; HWP; FR+;...
Posted Mon Feb 16, 2004, 8:16pm Subject: Re: Coffee Vacations?
The best coffee vacation I have taken was to Kona, Hawaii. Saw several coffee farms. Greenwell farms had the best tour. UCC (Japanese) were the friendliest. They had a roaster in their gift shop and served some outstanding espresso. Kona is mostly small growers of a few acres or less. I ate lunch at one restaurant whose coffee was so good I asked the owner where I could buy a pound. He pointed out back to a couple of trees and told me he harvests just enough to serve the restaurant.
I visited Italy a couple of years ago, but there was so much to see there (history and culture) I did not have enough time to spend on coffee. Had many good espressos, but in general it was not as great as I thought it would be. They favor stale coffee. I kind of felt like the kid in the movie 'Breaking Away'. After years of worship, I was just a little let down. Don't get me wrong: they are on a whole different level from what we see here in America. You are not served 4 ounce 'espressos', which is the norm here in the States. The 'barista' in your typical Italian coffee bar is often a middle aged man who obviously takes his job seriously and considers himself to be a professional. Compare that to America. We usually have students working part time pulling the shots. By the time an American 'barista' learns how to run the espresso machine, he or she is ready to move on to McDonalds or Burger King.
I haven't been there, but people rave about Costa Rica as a travel destination with a coffee focus.
malachi Senior Member Joined: 5 May 2002 Posts: 1,758 Location: SFCA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Monster Mia (for now)_ Grinder: Monster Cimballi Junior Vac Pot: Not any more Drip: never Roaster: Ecco, Stumptown, Intelli,...
Posted Mon Feb 16, 2004, 9:35pm Subject: Re: Coffee Vacations?
every vacation is a coffee vacation, right? i'll be in Seattle in May, Vancouver in August... now, i'm sure there are other "reasons" i'm going there, but...
korngold Senior Member Joined: 21 Jul 2003 Posts: 630 Location: Des Moines, IA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Audrey Grinder: Rancilio Rocky Vac Pot: Bialetti Moka Pot (not vac) Drip: Melitta Clarity Roaster: WE Popcorn Pumper/Poppery I
Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 10:15am Subject: Re: Coffee Vacations?
There's always Italy! You could visit the Rancilio company, Illy, and probably 1000 coffee shops while you're there. Plus, there's La Scala, the leaning tower of Pisa, Pompeii, gondolas, and the Uffizi gallery...
Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 6:58pm Subject: Re: Coffee Vacations?
Most of the small farms in Kona will give you a tour if you ask. Lots of opportunities to cup different coffees, in shops and restaurants. I am a biased source as I own a B&B on coffeelands, but I think this is one of the best places in the world to see the fair-trade coffee business in action. If you come Sept-December, we'll even let you pick your own coffee :D
studentGeek Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Texas Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Feb 17, 2004, 7:16pm Subject: Re: Coffee Vacations?
Thx for the info, guys (even though I posted to the wrong forum). I was just checking out the link on the right side of this page: http://www.scaa.org/ titled "Italian Coffee House Tour". Looks interestng but leaning more toward Hawaii even more now. Actually I need to save for a few more months so I am planning for summer.
How many hours of picking pays for the night? ...20 probably :) Thankfully I have a good job...
Kenwood Senior Member Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 84 Location: Phoenix Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Barista Digital Italia Grinder: Solis Maestro Plus Vac Pot: French Press Drip: Cuisinart "Coffee on Demand"
Posted Wed Mar 3, 2004, 9:25am Subject: Re: Coffee Vacations?
At the end of the month, I'm going to Jamaica for a week (JBM coffee) and in May I will spend a week in Kauai (Kona Coffee). I think there's a couple of coffee places to visit.
I plan on bring alot of coffee home with me on both trips. Luckly I have plenty of extra room in my Golf Travel Case.
studentGeek Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 4 Location: Texas Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Mar 3, 2004, 6:53pm Subject: Re: Coffee Vacations?
Cool. After some research it looks like most of the rich coffee area is on the west side of the "big island". But, of course I've never been there so what do I know... I've been chatting with a friend from down there who talks of the different sides of the island affecting the climates (exposure etc..). This affects not only the agriculture but the pricing of accomodations as well. So, I'm still researching. Let us know how it goes...thx
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