Kona Coffee: Prized Coffee from Hawaii

Kona Coffee is a prized coffee from Hawaii. It is valued for its mild, subtle, yet complex flavors. Kona Coffee is grown in the Kona District of the Big Island of Hawaii, where the climate and soil are ideal for coffee production. The beans are hand-picked and processed using traditional methods, which results in a high-quality coffee with a unique flavor.

Who was the First Person to Grown Kona Coffee in Hawaii?

The first person to attempt to grow coffee in Hawaii is the horticultural experimenter don Francisco de Paula Marin. Marin introduced numerous plant species to the Hawaiian Islands.

Coffee beans and plant cuttings from Brazil were originally brought to Oahu in 1825. By 1828, Kona coffee beans were growing successfully on the Big Island, proving to be an extremely successful agricultural product and cultural phenomenon. By the 1850s, Kona Coffee was recognized as a brand. In the late 1800s, the Brazilian plants were replaced with Guatemalan coffee plants from which today's crops are descended.

Between 1885 and 1925, nearly 180,000 Japanese emigrated to Hawaii and many of them in search of autonomy found their way to the coffee farming industry on the island of Kona. The coffee farming industry was rejuvenated by the arrival of the Japanese coffee farmers. They planted hundreds of acres, restored old fields and improved the process of coffee drying and implemented new technologies. The Japanese, giving up on returning to Japan, stayed in the area and influenced and were influenced by the culture.

If you are ever on the Big Island of Hawaii, be sure to visit the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, the only living history coffee farm in the nation to have a rich immersive experience of the history of Kona coffee farming. 

Why is Kona Coffee So Special?

Kona Coffee beans have been praised as being special by none other than Mark Twain. In 1866, he stated that "Kona Coffee has a richer flavor than any other, be it grown where it may and call it by what name you please."

The farm where we purchase our Kona Coffee beans is world-renowned and grown exclusively on the slopes of two volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii. To be called “Kona Coffee,” the coffee must be grown in a small area on the West Coast of the Big Island. The Kona Coffee growing region is about fifty square miles and is farmed largely by small landowners.

The volcanic soil and western slopes of the Kona Mountains provide shelter and fertile lands. The weather is a beneficial factor in coffee growth, the sunny mornings combined with light afternoon rain provides natural irrigation. These conditions come together to create a bold coffee with a heady aroma, beautiful vibrant flavors. Our Master Coffee Roaster John Weaver delicately roasts these special Kona Coffee beans so they realize their optimum flavor. Medium-bodied with a sweet finish. This is a beautiful coffee, you will be pleased with the flavor profile and the smooth, clean finish.