What’s Really Brewing in Hawaii’s Coffee Fields these days?
Can You Believe This? Hawaii’s Prized Kona Coffee Fields Have Become a Target for ICE
You’d think the rolling, sun-drenched hills of Hawaii’s Big Island, where some of the world’s finest coffee beans are born, would be a place of peace. But recently, I stumbled across a story that left me stunned.
Kona coffee farmers, many of them family-run, have found themselves under the scrutiny of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Yes, in paradise, immigration raids are making it harder not just to harvest coffee, but to protect the culture behind it. Workers are scared. Farmers are scrambling. And the future of one of America’s most beloved coffee origins? Uncertain.
I’ll admit, it hit me hard. Not just because I’m a coffee lover, but because I’m part of this wild, beautiful, passionate coffee community. Maybe you are too.
And it got me thinking about everything we don’t see in our morning cup. The stories. The hands. The rituals. The roots. So today, I want to take a moment to sip a little slower and share a few things I’ve learned on my own coffee journey, things that might just make your next brew even better.
The Beans Know Their Story. Do You?
I still remember my first experience roasting a small batch of beans at home. It wasn’t fancy, just a hand-me-down popcorn popper, a metal colander, and an open window (because let’s be real: smoke happens). But oh, the magic of watching green beans turn golden, then rich brown. Hearing the “first crack” was like meeting a friend for the first time. You just know.
That moment taught me something I’ve never forgotten: coffee is alive with story. Not just the drink, but everything that comes before it. From the pickers in Colombia to the soil in Ethiopia to the trembling hands of a first-time home roaster in the U.S., it’s all connected.
So next time you brew, ask yourself:
Where did these beans come from? What journey did they take to get here?
It’ll change the way you drink coffee. I promise.
A Customer's Ritual That Stuck With Me
One of my favorite parts of working in the coffee space is hearing people’s rituals. A longtime customer of mine, let’s call him James, once told me he never starts his day without a “gratitude brew.”
Every morning, before the emails, before the chaos, he grinds his beans (light roast only!), heats his water to exactly 202°F, and takes five minutes to list three things he’s grateful for while the coffee blooms.
At first, I thought: That’s cute.
But one morning, after a particularly rough week, I tried it. And you know what? That gratitude bloom made the coffee taste… better. Fuller. Like it was hugging me back.
Try it. Rituals are powerful.
Three Simple Tips for a Better Brew
Now, I’m not here to overwhelm you with “coffee snob” advice. But if you’re ready to level up your daily cup without getting lost in a sea of gadgets, here are three easy wins:
Grind just before brewing.
Oxygen is coffee’s enemy. Freshly ground beans hold on to their aroma and flavor longer. Invest in a burr grinder if you can.Use filtered water.
Coffee is 98% water. If your tap water tastes a little off, so will your brew. A simple Brita filter can work wonders.Mind your ratios.
The golden ratio: about 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces of water. Play with this until it tastes right to you, there’s no one-size-fits-all.
Why Community Matters Even If It’s Just You and Your Mug
When I heard about what’s happening in Kona, I felt powerless at first. But then I remembered something: every purchase, every sip, every story we share is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in.
You may not own a coffee farm or a café. But you’re still part of this story.
So whether you’re brewing a single cup on a quiet morning, hosting coffee tastings with friends, or just geeking out over beans on Instagram, you’re building a community. And in today’s world, that matters more than ever.
So here’s my gentle ask:
Next time you brew, take a moment. Think of the farmers, the roasters, the baristas, the rituals. Think of Kona. Think of James and his gratitude mug. And then, enjoy your cup like it means something.
Because it does.
