Introduction to the Three Main Native Coffee Varieties and the Flavor Profile of Hawaii Kona Typica Coffee

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Introduction to Three Major Varieties and Derivatives of Coffee: Hawaiian Kona Coffee

According to the scientific biological classification system, coffee belongs to the Plant Kingdom, Rubiaceae family, Coffea genus, and Coffea species. Species is the basic unit of plant taxonomy, divided into categories based on the inherent characteristics or properties of plants, typically with stable genetic traits. There are clear boundaries between species, which often reproduce independently without intermixing. The coffee plant is further divided into three different species based on its characteristics (each species contains different varieties).

Three Major Coffee Species

1. Arabica - Approximately 70% of total world production
2. Robusta - Approximately 30% of total world production
3. Liberica - Minimal production

Kona Coffee: A Derivative of Arabica

The famous Hawaiian Kona coffee is a derivative of the Arabica species - specifically the Typica variety.

Hawaiian Coffee Characteristics

Hawaii Island has low elevation and limited topographical diversity, making it an indisputable fact that Hawaiian coffee flavors are relatively mild. It wasn't until California entered the coffee production business that Hawaiian coffee became the only coffee produced among the 50 states of America.

Additionally, Hawaii serves as both a producer and consumer of specialty coffee. In other coffee-producing countries, locals typically consume lower-quality coffee, usually commercial-grade, but Hawaii is different. The most widely cultivated coffee variety in Hawaii is Guatemala Typica, known as Kona Typica on the islands, with the local market consuming predominantly Arabica coffee.

If you see a bag of 100% Kona coffee anywhere, you might notice it's significantly more expensive than most mainstream coffees. In Kona, farm workers' wages range from $200 to $300 per day, while a farmer in Guatemala doing the same work earns only $3 to $6. Labor costs create price differences between coffee regions. Due to the extremely high production costs of Hawaiian coffee, the retail price of 100% Kona coffee exceeds $30 for 12 ounces.

Importantly, Hawaii as a coffee-growing region is not influenced by the world commodity market, which determines prices for commercial-grade coffee. While fluctuating market prices depend on global supply and demand mechanisms for commodity Arabica coffee, they also affect specialty coffee producers. Therefore, growers also hope to sell their products at more profitable prices.

Kona coffee is cultivated on the western side of the Big Island in the Kona district, initially planted in the 1820s. Kona coffee is grown at elevations between 300-1000 meters, making it a low-elevation coffee growing region compared to other coffee-producing countries. However, compared to other Hawaiian islands, the Kona region is already considered high-elevation. Due to its relatively superior coffee growing conditions, Kona coffee offers unique flavors and excellent layered complexity in taste.

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