Is Kona Coffee from Hawaii Expensive? Where to Buy Kona Coffee & Does It Taste Good?

Why Is It So Hard to Find Hawaiian Kona Coffee in Large Quantities? Is Kona Simply Too Expensive?

Kona coffee has been cultivated without interruption in the Kona region since the early 19th century, and only coffee grown there may be called "Hawaiian Kona Coffee." Kona beans are usually sold as single-origin coffee in 100-bag lots. They are also frequently blended with beans from elsewhere in the world, and any blend containing Kona is labeled "Kona Blend" on the package. The trouble is that the Kona content of those blends can be very low: in Hawaii the minimum standard for a blend to carry the "Kona" label is only 10%. Unless you are in Kona itself, then, a truly 100% pure Hawaiian Kona bean is hard to come by.

Name Origin

Kona is an Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) grown on the main island of Hawaii. It takes its name from its main growing area, on the slopes of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanoes in the southern and northern Kona districts of the island. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world today, and only coffee produced in the Kona district may bear the name "Kona Coffee."

Appearance

Hawaiian-grown Kona beans have an almost perfect appearance — uniform and neat in shape, exceptionally full, and with a bright, glossy luster. Because they grow on volcanic soil under dense, careful cultivation, each bean can be called a pampered "noble lady": beautiful, plump, with baby-soft skin.

Flavor

Rich and aromatic, with a smooth, mellow mouthfeel, notes of cinnamon spice, and a balanced, moderate acidity. Smooth and full, with an enticing nutty fragrance. Hawaii is often hit by tornadoes, yet its climate is genuinely well suited to coffee — ample rainfall and sunshine, with no risk of frost. These natural advantages let Arabica in the Kona region crop abundantly and at high quality, and give the coffee a richer flavor.

Growing Environment

Kona coffee grows on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano on the southwestern coast of Hawaii. Its flavor resembles Central American coffee rather than Indonesian coffee.

Cultivation Method

Kona has always been farmed on a family model. At first only men were allowed to work the coffee plots; later, women joined as well.

Optimal Roast Level: Medium to Dark

History

In 1813 a Spaniard first planted coffee in Manoa Valley on Oahu — today the site of the main campus of the University of Hawaii. In 1825 a British agriculturist named John Wilkinson transplanted coffee from Brazil to Chief Boki's plantation on Oahu. Three years later an American missionary, Samuel Reverend Ruggles, brought cuttings from Chief Boki's garden to Kona. That coffee descended from the earliest Arabica trees to grow on the Ethiopian plateau, and to this day Kona continues that noble, ancient lineage.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Kona's characteristic move is to be blended — which is exactly what FrontStreet's espresso blends are built for. These three are worth trying:

FrontStreet Premium Blend — suited to home and office use and to specialty neighborhood cafés. It combines washed Colombian beans with Brazil semi-washed beans for nutty, dark-chocolate, and caramel notes and a comfortable bittersweet balance. With milk it makes a silky latte with stable latte art, and it also layers beautifully in a Dirty.

FrontStreet Classic Blend — the go-to for beginners learning latte art and for cafés aiming at a premium position. A medium-dark espresso recipe of three origins, inspired by the classic "Mamba" pairing of Mandheling and Brazil, with a touch of Robusta added for aroma and crema, so even a first-timer at home can pull an espresso topped with golden crema.

FrontStreet Black Cocoa Blend — suited to all kinds of cafés, bakeries, and beverage shops as well as home machines. Yunnan washed smallholder beans meet Brazil semi-washed beans, with the ripe-plum acidity of a nutty profile; ground, it releases creamy chocolate and cocoa-cookie aromas. Balanced in the cup with a golden, glossy crema — a strong choice for shops and homes alike.