Bonita’s Pavaraga Hawaiian Coffee & Café offers up a cup of coffee for $250, $100, and others in the range of $5.
Pavaraga is based out of Hawaii. It is sold in high-end stores like Bloomingdales and Neiman-Marcus. The coffee can also be bought at the Bonita location.
“Pavaraga is a family, they have been around well over a century,” said Pavaraga’s manager Jose Troche.
“We cater to prime ministers, former President Barack Obama and celebrities. It was served at President Obama’s State of the Union in his first term,” Troche claims.
“So for the $100 cup – that is our specialty – Kona Civentino,” he said. “Cat poop coffee. We let animals feast on the coffee beans and a day or so after, we collect the droppings.” A breed known as a civet cat is used.
The two most expensive coffees have two different methods of preparation. One is the animal-processed coffee and the other is aged.
“The process through the stomach leaves a very distinct flavor,” said Troche. “The $250 – it’s called Grand Cru. It’s aged for 10 years. It’s very unique. It’s intense. Once it’s brewed, every 15 minutes it changes flavor.”
“When you first try it it has a rich, bold taste. Once you let it sit, it changes to a tart flavor like a fruity flavor. We’re known for our Hawaiian craft coffee,” he said.
A less expensive cup of coffee is also available.
“We sell coffee for $5 or $6 depending on the size,” he said. They offer creams like almond, coconut and haupia (a sweet coconut cream) in addition to traditional creams.
Customers Mary Hamilton and Myra Houillion did not buy the three-figure coffees but purchased other menu items.
“I think they forgot the decimal point,” said Hamilton.
“Does it come in a gold cup?” Houillion asked. “If it was very good I’d be tempted to buy it.”
Another location to sample the expensive cups of coffee or other food items will open in Pacific Beach.
“We opened the Bonita branch in August of 2015,” said Troche. “We have a location opening up in Pacific Beach later this summer.”
