Wild Ass Coffee
We found the Wild Ass Coffee at the Donkey Balls store in Kainaliu. Donkeys were used extensively in Kona Coffee farming before the advent of the coffee jeeps and there are still wild herds of donkeys running around the island. Hence the donkey and ass theme.
These beans are really thoroughly graded – uniform in size. Really nice medium roast that brings out some minerality There is nothing on the bag to indicate where this coffee comes from. I expect it is not an estate product and comes from a variety of farms from the South of Keauhou to Kealakekua, but the is just an educated guess.
Uniform, if small, beans and a really nice roast that isn’t going to step on the flavors of the coffee. We found this enjoyable. The one rip-off here is that they sell you 7 oz in a bag that you expect to be 1/2 lb. for $20. The bag does say 7 oz on the label but still this is taking some advantage through not-quite-dishonesty. If you are heading up to the Belt Road and passing through Kainaliu, the Donkey Ball Store has this coffee and several others.
On a side note, in the town of Kainaliu there is a music store with some beautiful Koa Wood Taylor Guitars. Just sayin’. Also a previously owned store with LOTS of men’s Hawaiian shirts.
Donkey Ball Store
79-7411 Mamalahoa Hwy
Kailaliu, HI 96750
808-322-1475