Kona Coffee from the Island of Hawaii

Kona coffee is some of the finest coffee grown in Hawaii

Blue Horse Kona Coffee Farm, Kealakekua,HI

Travel to the tropical Kona Coast on the big island of Hawaii and you will find a 20 mile stretch of small family coffee plantations that grow some of the finest coffee on earth. Kona coffee bushes thrive on the cool slopes of the Mauna Loa Mountains, which are rich in volcanic soil and enjoy morning sun and afternoon cloud cover. This growing environment gives Kona coffee an advantage over any other coffee grown in other parts of the world. Coffee trees normally bloom in late autumn, with harvesting continuing until late winter.

The finest Kona coffee is called “Peaberry”. This top of the line coffee bean is formed when the coffee flowers fuse together, forming only one bean in the coffee cherry. This natural process gives the Peaberry Kona Coffee the most concentrated flavor and makes up only approximately 5% to 10% of the total coffee harvest.
The different grades of Kona coffee in descending order are extra fancy, fancy, No. 1 and prime. All Kona coffee beans are hand picked, pulped, sun dried, hulled and then roasted according to the results desired and the different amounts of moisture in the coffee beans.

Kona coffee is quite expensive, selling for up to $20 per pound. There are coffee companies who try to take advantage of the Kona name by labeling their coffee as “Kona Blend”, “Kona Style” or “Kona Roast” and these practices seem to be driving the price upward.

Kona coffee has a unique flavor and is recognized as one of the world’s classic single origin coffees. Brewed Kona coffee is well balanced, with great body and good acidity, without being over powering. It is a robust coffee with earthy characteristics and flower-like notes.

Savvy coffee drinkers say the closest coffee to Kona is the Jamaican Blue Mountain variety. Hawaiian grown coffee is the only American coffee in the world that is grown by American farmers.

If you intend to purchase Kona coffee, pay careful attention to the label. Some coffees may be labeled “Kona Coffee”, but are actually a “Kona blend”. These coffee beans may contain as little as 10% real Kona beans, mixed with lower grade coffees from Central America, Brazil or other coffee growing areas. Make sure you are buying 100% Kona Coffee, grown on the big island of Hawaii.

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