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Kona Coffee with Original Hand Crafted Coffee Latte Art

Last week I blogged about a guy who invented a way to rig up a coffee latte art printing machine with free directions. Although it was an innovative technological invention, personally I love things that are handcrafted and show the art and originality of the artist or crafts person. The handmade touch is something I appreciate because we make our living from our hands. For our business we produce handcrafted soy candles, beeswax candles, natural soaps, and solid perfumes. For my artwork, I enjoy painting and drawing.

Traditional latte art refers to patterns made in the foam topping espresso drinks. A barista (expert in coffee preparation) may have a signature latte art design or style which can take her or him years to master.

Check out this coffee latte art site where baristas from around the world share their ephemeral coffee creations in a cup of coffee. There are dozens of coffee latte art designs with many different themes. Besides hearts, leaves, foliage, and abstract designs, there were also several animal faces (the monkey shown here is my favorite), and a galaxy theme complete with moon, sun, stars and  planets.

WikiHow has directions with photographs on how to make coffee latte art. You can also see several coffee latte art making videos on YouTube.

You may not always be able to make your cup of coffee look this good, but you are in control when it comes to how good your coffee taste. For guaranteed wonderful coffee, try our 100% pure Kona coffee direct from the Big Island where we live.

Read more information about Kona coffee and Kona coffee recipes.

Can Your Kona Coffee Latte Do This?

Baristas with signature garnishing techniques to create hearts, swirls, and other simple designs with stir sticks and cream in cups of hot coffee latte, will seem like practitioners of a quaint art form if this invention takes off. See the best examples of coffee latte art.

A man named Oleksiy Pikalo invented a machine that he calls a Latte Art printing machine, AND he gives free online directions to build your own coffee latte art printing machine. Using an old flatbed plotter he bought from Ebay, a book on inkjet applications, and edible ink, he was able to create any image he wanted to  see in his latte coffee cup.

Besides the simple directions which is mostly about the items you will need, he has a couple of videos showing his patent pending invention in action. One video shows how he created the coffee latte art image above which shows a King saying, "Can your latte do this?"

The other video shows his coffee latte printing machine making an impressive Starbucks coffee logo on top of the layer of foamed milk in the coffee cup.

Related Articles you may be interested in:

Starbucks Coffee in Hawaii and Kona Coffee

Kona Coffee Recipes and Kona Coffee Information

How to Store Instant Coffee-The Best Way Depends On...

The main reason people use instant coffee is for its convenience and speed of preparation. Add a spoonful of instant coffee into hot water and it dissolves instantly so that in seconds you have a cup of hot coffee ready to drink. Of course you want to keep your instant coffee fresh and close by on hand, but what is the best way to store instant coffee? I will get to the answer soon.

Instant coffee has a long shelf life and could last past the expiration date on the container if it is kept in optimum conditions. The shelf life of instant coffee is longer than that of coffee beans, and  even longer than for ground coffee. Time is the enemy for coffee beans and ground coffee beans because they lose flavor as the coffee essential oils evaporate over time. Instant coffee does not have this problem due to the manufacturing process of dehydrating coffee into granules or powder form.

Instant coffee does however have a different enemy and its name is Humidity. Instant coffee will quickly spoil if not kept dry. When this happens you will see the instant coffee grains stick together and start turning into a gooey mess, and it won't taste the same, meaning it will taste terrible.

Instant coffee usually comes packaged in glass jars, vacuum packed resealable bags, and tins. You may need to transfer your instant coffee to a smaller air-tight jar with a screw top lid as you use more coffee and the volume of instant coffee goes down, while the air in the empty space of the bottle increases. When this happens there is a chance of introducing more humidity into the container's environment.

Always remember to tightly cap or close the container after taking a portion of your instant coffee out.
Another tip is to always use a clean and dry spoon when measuring out your instant coffee.

How to Store Instant Coffee

Instant coffee was made to be stored pretty much anywhere. This usually means in the pantry closet, kitchen counter top, or dining table. This way of storage works for most dry environments. When we lived in California and even Honolulu, Hawaii--we had no problem with our instant coffee going bad.

However, if you live in an area with high humidity, such as the east side of the Big Island, Hawaii where we now live, than I recommend that you store your instant coffee (tightly capped) in the refrigerator. Other people may insist that you do not need to store instant coffee in the refrigerator and that it defeats the purpose, but they probably live in a dry area so that don't know any better.

If you want to give or drink the best tasting instant coffee, give our 100% pure Kona instant coffee a try. Our freeze dried instant Kona coffee is highly aromatic with a smooth flavor. It is much harder to find pure Kona instant coffee--the majority of Kona instant coffee is actually a blended Kona coffee product of 10% Kona coffee beans and 90% cheaper inferior beans. The price may be cheaper but it does not taste the same.

Check out our Kona Coffee blog category where we have Kona coffee recipes using brewed coffee and instant coffee, & other interesting things about Kona coffee.

Kona Coffee Farmers Don't Kill Elephants

Kona coffee farmers in Hawaii don't kill elephants--easy to do since Hawaii does not have any wild elephants--but coffee growers in Sumatra do kill elephants.

I saw this story on ABC news today about elephants in Bukit Barisan Selatanit, a national park on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The news reporter went there is search of the 'lost herd', an elephant herd that used to be 60 strong, but now is only a group of 4 struggling elephants due to the lost of their wild habitat.

Although this national park is a protected forest, much of it has been burned and cleared to grow Robusta coffee beans. (Robusta coffee beans are commonly used in America and Europe to make instant coffee.) As the elephants habitat shrinks, more leave the forest and trample crops like coffee, so the farmers kill them.

The Nestle corporation buys 40 percent of their coffee beans from coffee growers in this region to make their Nescafe brand instant coffee.

"How does a coffee producer in Europe or North America know that the coffee they're buying hasn't come from here? They don't," said Tomasek. "And that's actually the root of the problem."

A Nestle spokesman told ABC News, "It might come -- we have no way of knowing -- from illegal sources. Law enforcement is not our task. … We are working with local farmers to increase output from legal, existing plantations."

Tomasek said that "a consumer can have absolutely no confidence in what they are purchasing."

We are proud and confident to offer pure Kona instant coffee and 100% Kona coffee beans online. Coffee grown in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, USA, does not harm any indigenous wildlife. Kona coffee is also a fair trade coffee meaning growers are paid a living wage for their labor. This makes Kona coffee is an environmentally friendly and socially responsible coffee, so you can feel good while you drink delicious 100 percent pure Kona coffee.

Remember to buy 100 percent Kona coffee and not a Kona blend with only 10 percent Kona coffee beans and 90 percent coffee beans from who knows where--Sumatra?

For Kona coffee recipes and Kona coffee information, read our Kona Coffee blog category.

Hawaiian Gingerbread Kona Coffee Cookie Recipe

Try this holiday gingerbread cookie recipe with a touch of aloha from the Big Island, Hawaii via the addition of Kona coffee--for a flavorful twist on an old favorite. Also don't forget to check out our other Kona coffee blog posts for interesting Kona coffee articles and more Kona coffee recipes (link below).

Hawaiian Gingerbread Kona Coffee Cookie Recipe

3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 Tablespoon instant Kona coffee granules
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses

Mix flour, salt, baking soda, spices and instant coffee. Beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in molasses. Add flour alternately with milk in three additions. Form into two balls, place in bowl, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll out and cut into bear or other shapes with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Cool. Decorate as desired.
Yield: 24 small bears

This recipe is from the Kona Coffee Cookbook--Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

For the best tasting 100 percent pure instant Kona coffee, and ground Kona coffee, visit us at Hawaii Vacation Gifts, your online Hawaii Gifts Store

See all of our Kona coffee recipes and other Kona coffee related posts.

Hawaiian South Kona Coffee Eggnog Recipe

Get into the full swing of the holiday season by adding a little Kona coffee pizzaz to your holiday eggnog this year!

Hawaiian South Kona Coffee Eggnog Recipe

3 large eggs
1/2 cup Kona coffee liqueur
1/2 cup macadamia nut liqueur
1 tablespoon freeze dried Kona coffee granules
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
ground nutmeg to taste

Separate the eggs. Beat yolks until thick and lemon colored. Gradually beat in sugar. Stir in liqueurs. Cover and chill for several hours. Just before serving dissolve coffee granules in milk and stir into mixture. Whip cream. Beat egg whites until soft stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream and egg whites into mixture. Serve in punch cups and garnish with nutmeg.

This recipe is from the Kona Coffee Cookbook--Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

If you need authentic 100 percent pure Kona coffee freeze dried granules or Kona coffee and other Kona coffee gifts and gift baskets, please visit us at Hawaii Vacation Gifts.

For more Kona coffee recipes and information, visit our Kona coffee blog category.

Super Easy Delicious Kona Coffee Milk Shake Recipe

Try this super easy and delicious milk shake made with pure instant Kona coffee granules (instead of brewed Kona coffee) for more undiluted Kona coffee flavor.

Kona Coffee Milk Shake Recipe

2 cups milk
2 Tablespoons instant Kona coffee granules (freeze dried)
3 cups vanilla ice cream

Mix all ingredients in a blender and whip until thick.

From the Kona Coffee Cookbook--Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

If you are lactose intolerant, substitute milk and ice cream with dairy free versions.

It is actually harder to find Kona instant coffee that is 100 percent and not a blend--made with only very little Kona coffee in it. Happily, we sell the best all 100% Kona instant coffee.

See our Kona coffee blog category for more Kona coffee related articles and recipes.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee Pumpkin Soup Recipe

It is October and the Fall Season is here announced by pumpkins beginning to fill the aisles of the supermarkets in Hawaii. (I would love to buy a large pumpkin for $5.00 like in the photo!) As the days and nights get chillier, a steaming bowl of this delicious pumpkin soup with a Hawaiian twist, is sure to get rave reviews. If you need some authentic Kona coffee shipped to you direct from the Big Island, we can help!

Kona Coffee Pumpkin Soup Recipe

2 lbs. fresh pumpkin, peeled and cubed
2 cups fresh brewed Kona Coffee
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 quart chicken stock
2 cups cream or half and half
1 pinch nutmeg
2 pinches of allspice
Salt and Pepper to taste

Boil pumpkin in chicken stock until very tender. Puree in blender or in food processor. Put back into sauce pot and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

From the Kona Coffee Cookbook, by the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

Kona Coffee Jello Dessert Recipe

This recipe calls for instant coffee. To make it taste truly spectacular, start by using pure 100 percent premium kona instant coffee (available online).

Kona Coffee Jello Dessert Recipe

5 pkg. unflavored gelatin
1 cup water
3 1/2 cups hot water
4 teaspoons Kona instant coffee
1 can (14 ounces) Borden's Condensed Milk

Dissolve gelatin with 1 cup of water. In a separate bowl, combine the hot water and instant coffee, and then add the gelatin mixture stirring well. Add the condensed milk, and mix all ingredients thoroughly.

Pour into a well oiled (PAM spray recommended) 8" X 8" pan and chill in the refrigerator till firm. Cut into 2" X 2" square pieces. Makes 16 pieces.

100 Percent Pure Kona Instant Coffee Now Available!

Our 100 percent pure Kona instant coffee (freeze dried) is finally available again!! We have been waiting patiently since last Christmas when we sold out of the instant Kona coffee and the manufacturer had stopped selling it. There was none to be found online or off. We had a few customers waiting for us to locate another supplier because they said the 100 percent pure instant Kona coffee was the best instant coffee they had ever tasted! We shipped their orders out a couple of weeks ago and you can see what they said about the new Kona instant coffee in our "Testimonial Tuesday" feature.

When people hear the word "instant coffee" most immediately think "Yuck." However you don't have to sacrifice flavor for convenience if you start with using only premium Kona coffee beans. Our Pure Kona instant coffee is highly aromatic with a smooth flavor. Do not buy a Kona coffee blend with 10 percent Kona beans and 90 percent mystery beans, it is not the same, they are just using the reputation of Kona coffee to sell an inferior blended product.

The beverage known as instant coffee is made from brewed coffee beans that are dehydrated into granules or powder. If kept dry is has a superior shelf life to natural coffee, ground coffee is especially susceptible to flavor loss due to the coffee essential oils evaporating over time.

The best site for everything you ever wanted to know about Instant Coffee can be found at Wikipedia.

Kona Coffee Flan Dessert Recipe

This kona coffee dessert looked so good I had to share it with everyone.

Kona Coffee Flan

1/2 gallon whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 sticks cinnamon
2 whole eggs
4 each egg yolk
1/3 cup brewed Kona coffee
1 Tablespoon coffee liqueur

Makes 10 servings

In saucepan, heat the milk, cinnamon and sugar over low heat. Simmer and reduce by 1/2. Discard cinnamon stick. Place the reduced milk mixture, eggs, yolks, coffee, and Kona coffee liqueur in a food processor and blend
thoroughly. Strain.
Preheat oven to 300. Lightly grease ramekins. Place 2 tbsp. caramel into bottom of each ramekin (to make caramel, place 1lb sugar and 1 cup of water in heavy saucepan. Cook til mixture is a deep golden brown). Fill with 4 oz.
of milk mixture. Place ramekins in hotel pan. Pour enough water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake at 300 until set (about 20 minutes), but still slightly soft in the center.

By Maria 'ZeZe' Gonzalves
2003 1st Place Professional Dessert
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

For great tasting 100% Kona Coffee shipped directly from the Big Island to your doorstep, come visit us at Double Brush - Hawaii Gifts, Candles and Soap.

Read more about Kona Coffee in our Kona Coffee Category.

Go on a Big Island Hawaii Kona Coffee Adventure

Are you a coffee lover or are you with someone who is? On your next vacation trip to the Big Island, plan on spending some time getting to know the Kona region and tasting the coffee it is famous for. There are over 4,000 acres of prime Kona land in coffee production, owned by about 750 coffee farms!

To narrow down your kona coffee search and begin your adventure, you need a treasure map that shows you where all of the valuable cups of Kona coffee are located. Lucky for all of us, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival produces such a map. You can probably pick one up at your Big Island hotel's concierge's desk, or download the PDF version directly from the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival.

These Kona coffee farm locations are not as generic looking and convenient as a Starbuck's drive thru window, but I did say it was an adventure:) If you can, rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle for the day instead of driving your nice clean rental car. Some of these farms are located on true country roads, meaning unpaved dusty or muddy (depending on the weather) pot holed roads. Also not all of these rural area roads may be marked, so be patient and allow for plenty of time, and bring your cell phone in case you get lost.

It really does make sense to call ahead because things can change from the time of printing, such as hours and days of operation. You can also ask about road conditions and some places may take, and even prefer if you made an appointment.

If you take your Kona coffee country driving tour during the spring, you will see millions of tiny white fragrant coffee blossoms laden on the coffee tree branches. The Big Islanders call this beautiful sight "Kona snow."

If you come during the months of August to March, you will see red ripe "cherries" growing from the coffee trees -- within each cherry fruit hides a prized coffee bean. This harvest period depends on rainfall but this is the general picking time. The green coffee fruits do not ripen at the same time, and only the red cherries are picked by hand -- a process which takes several months.

Almost all of the coffee farms are run by families or small business owners, so you can get a real feel for the coffee farmer's way of life and pride that goes into their product. Taste free samples of coffee grown from the farm you are visiting, and learn what makes Kona coffee taste so good. Most importantly, don't forget to buy a couple bags of Kona coffee to take back home!

For more kona coffee related posts visit our kona coffee blog category.

Kona Coffee Sucks & Is Over-Rated

If you tried Kona coffee from Hawaii before and you think it sucks, more than likely you drank a Kona coffee blend. Companies cash in on the hard earned reputation of pure Kona Coffee by using the name Kona and selling it as a blend with only 10% Kona coffee beans, and 90% mystery (cheap imported) beans.

Adding the 10% disclaimer label doesn't always protect the kona coffee name as some restaurants and hotels serve a blended kona coffee but call it kona coffee.

The hardworking Hawaii coffee farmers in Kona are trying to change this with current legislation that in order to sell a Kona coffee blend, it has to be at least 75% kona instead of the current 10%. This would support the Hawaiian coffee farmers and Kona's reputation.

This has been an ongoing battle between the people farming as a way of life, versus companies who have a vested interest in the production of blended products. Using less kona coffee while using the kona name means higher profits for the companies but at the consumer's expense. Get what you think you are paying for.

To support the farmers and find out more information visit the Kona Coffee Farmers Association

And if you are in need of some good PURE Kona Coffee, try our Farmer's Choice brand at Hawaii Vacation Gifts.

Starbucks Coffee in Hawaii & Kona Coffee

There are how many Starbucks in Hawaii and their best seller IS NOT Kona Coffee?

The first Starbucks coffee store opened at Kahala Mall in Honolulu on the island of Oahu on December 12, 1996. Their opening day sales broke the previous worldwide opening day record, and they still hold the title! This is quite a feat considering there are more than 11,000 Starbucks locations worldwide with annual revenue of about $6.4 billion dollars. (Business 2.0 Oct. 2006 issue)

Hawaii java junkies have now brought up the Starbucks Coffee Store count in the islands to 66 (updated to 79--see below) stores. For locations on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai, visit starbucks hawaii

According to the manager at the local Hilo Starbucks, in the Hawaiian islands the best selling coffee is NOT Kona because of the expense, and it is not offered in their stores everyday. Only at the Kona Starbucks location is it brewed and sold everyday.

If you are in need of a good cup of reasonably priced pure kona coffee, try our Farmer’s Choice brand, direct from the Big Island where it is grown, and delivered fresh to your doorstep.

UPDATE:  July 17, 2008

Starbucks will close five stores in Hawaii -- three on Oahu and one each on Maui and the Big Island -- as part of its recently announced initiative to shut down 600 under-performing stores across the country.

The Hawaii stores are at Waiakea Center in Hilo, Maui Marketplace in Kahului and in Honolulu at 120 Sand Island Access Road, in the Victoria Ward Center and at the Hokua condominium at 1288 Ala Moana Blvd.

The closures will begin this month and continue through the first half of fiscal 2009.

On July 1, the Seattle coffee giant (Nasdaq: SBUX) said it would close 600 "underperforming" stores in the U.S. Approximately 70 percent of them opened since the beginning of fiscal 2006, Starbucks said.

With the closures, there will still be 79 Starbucks coffee shops in Hawaii, where the company employs about 1,600 people.  BizJournals.com