2009
Gevalia Kaffe
Crown
Kona Coffee Cupping Competition
Official Rules

(1) Only Growers, Millers, Processors and Farmers of Kona coffee are eligible to submit their coffee for contest entry. In addition entrants may enter their own coffee or coffee purchased from other Kona farms. You may enter under either the name of the owner(s) of the farm, farm manager(s) farm name, Mill or Processor name. The Entrants must be located in the District of North, Central or South Kona, Hawaii. One entry per farm, farm name, Mill or Processor. Corporate Brands and multi-Estate Kona coffees are all eligable. Gevalia and the 2008 Judges Panel will be evaluating entries to determine the finest thirty (30) bag (3000lb.) Green lot, representing the Crown "Best of Kona".

(2) Kona Coffee (parchment or green bean) submitted must have been harvested between June 1, 2009, and October 25, 2009.

(3) Entry is open from October 19th, 2009 and ending October 26th, 2009. Entrants must submit for review at their location 4000 lbs. of parchment in a position that can be sampled and tagged by a third party. Green bean entries must be 3000 lbs of state certifiable and sealed bags. An additional twenty (20) lb. sample of green bean must be pulled during inspection at their Mill of choice by the Gevalia Representative and sealed for the Competition. The 20 lb. sample must be submitted by appointment to the designated Gevalia Representative no later than November 4, 2009. Entrants will be contacted after receipt of their entry form to schedule receipt of their entry. Entry forms can be emailed to customerservice@mountainthunder.com or faxed to (808) 325-0069.

(4) A minimum of 4000 lbs of parchment will be sampled by a third party inspector at farmers place of storage. The samples will be milled and roasted in accordance with the rules of the Crown Classic competition . The Preliminary Cupping will be Judged on November 11th during the Kona Classic Competition. The finalist will be notified by phone that evening . The final round of competition will be on Nov 12th between 8:00am and 11:00 am. The Winner Will be announced at 12:00 pm. The winner must contractually mill the 4,000 lbs. to green at Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation at a nominal fee of .25 cents each lb. Winning Coffee must sell through Gevalia's identified broker 3,000 lbs green bean of the sampled lot and certified to State of Hawaii any Kona grade at $12.00 per lb. ($36,000). If the Winner was from a green bean entrant they must agree to sell their 3000lb entry at $12 per lb. ($36,000). Terms of sale will be net 20 days from the date of the cupping Finals. Entrants must pick up their unused, and milled coffee at Mountain Thunder Kona Coffee Plantation Monday through Friday 12.00 pm to 6.00pm from November 15th to November 30th 2009.

(5) All entries will be given a coded number; numbers will be changed after the preliminary competition (November 11, 2009). The samples will be evaluated by the Judges as to meeting the standards and rules of the Competition. Five (5) Finalists will be selected by the Judges. Basic Kona coffee criteria is established by the State of Hawaii Agricultural Grading Standards. They are a minimum moisture content of 9% and maximum moisture of 12%. All entries will be reviewed as to meeting other criteria as established by the Judges. All final decisions will be governed by the 2009 Judges Panel.

(6) The Final Cupping will be conducted Thursday November 12th, 2009. The Second and Third place Winners of the Competition will receive 2009 Ribbons and Signiture Gevalia Gifts. The Winner of the Crown competition will receive a 2008 First Place Ribbon and will have 3000 Lbs. of their coffee sold to Gevalia and enjoyed by Gevalia customers around the World.

(7) Entrants may only enter one Cupping , either the Classic or Crown Competition. The Crown Competition will require at least six (6) entries. In the event that there are less than 6 entries, the remaining Entrants will revert to the Classic Competition .