Hawaii Coffee Association

Green coffee beans

Verifying Origin

Providing origin confidence for Hawaii-grown coffee.

Relying on the tenets of science, the Hawaii Coffee Association (HCA) has inked an agreement with Oritain to build a statewide “Origin Fingerprint” database to verify the origins of Hawaii-grown coffee.

Our new partnership marks a significant step in deterring counterfeit coffee by protecting the reputation of an important speciality crop.

Hawaii Coffee Association's partnership with Oritain.

Hawaii-grown coffee has earned a world-renowned reputation for its specialty status, farming practices and flavour profile. However, with such a strong reputation brings the threat of substituting coffee from other origins and labelling it as Hawaiian.

The partnership with Oritain marks a significant step in deterring this behavior by protecting the integrity and reputation of Hawaiian coffee beans.

Oritain uses scientific testing to measure a product’s stable isotopes and trace elements and verify its origin. By running this data through statistical models, Oritain can produce an “Origin Fingerprint” that is then used to test subsequent samples as they move through the supply chain.

Any samples that are inconsistent with the Origin Fingerprint are identified as having potentially been adulterated.

Coffee Beans Before Grinding On Table

Traceability like no other.

Oritain’s unique methodology applies forensic science and data to detect naturally occurring elements in a product or raw material. Soil composition, climate, altitude and other environmental factors all reveal the details of a product’s origin - which we call an Origin Fingerprint.

Once we’ve created an Origin Fingerprint, it can be used to audit our clients’ products throughout the supply chain - to clearly differentiate the legitimate from the fraudulent.

Learn More About Our Process