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In a red-painted colonial village center, Parker Square, next to the Waimea General Store, this café offers coffee and lunch items with an exceedingly laid-back, friendly staff. They have a few outdoor café tables for two in front and several indoor tables. They also offer French press specials of Hawaii's finest, plus some pretty amazing coconut macaroons. This café sources their coffee from local estates who roast - or from the nearby Hilo Coffee Mill (who themselves aggregate from local estates). For their espresso, they offered a Hawaiian-only blend from boutique roaster, Cass Coffee of Hilo. Using a two-group La Cimbali M30 Classic, and demonstrating good tamping, and thorough group flushing with hot water, they pull an espresso shot with a pale, even, slightly textured crema of a modest thickness. The barista will drink the other half of a double shot if you order a single. It is what you'd expect from an espresso made exclusively with Hawaiian beans: very bright and little body, heavy on the high notes, but no bass. Flavorwise, it is pungent with a flavor of some tobacco and a not unpleasant touch of ash. Served in classic brown Nuova Point generic knock-off cups. Apparently, here they know a guy who travels the Big Island "tasting espresso like a sommelier" whom we need to meet.
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