My local health food store always has coconut for sale and for weeks I've been tempted to buy one but I didn't know how I'd get it open. I had read a machete was required, and well, I am fresh out of machetes. However, a few weeks ago I remembered a small hammer we picked up last year. I figured we could use that. By "we" I mean my husband, because I tried to hammer that thing apart, but it just wasn't happening. Anyway. Cooking with fresh coconut is like making your own fresh soup broth or tomato sauce. Once you try the final product, no substitute will taste as good as the homemade version.