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Queen's Estate Kona Coffee Beans Flavor Profile and Hawaii Green Coffee Bean Grading Standards

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Hawaii Coffee Hawaii is the only state in the United States that grows coffee and is also the only coffee-producing region located in an economically developed country. These coffees are grown on the five main islands of the Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, Hawaii Island, Maui, Kauai, and Molokai. Coffee produced on different islands each has its own unique characteristics. Hawaii has an island climate, which

Hawaiian Coffee

Oahu, Hawaii Island, Maui, Kauai, and Molokai are the five main islands where Hawaiian coffee is cultivated, with each island producing coffee that has its own distinct characteristics. Hawaii has an island climate with minimal temperature variations throughout the year, but significant temperature differences between day and night, along with sufficient cloud cover to shade from the sun. Although the average elevation of coffee growing regions is not particularly high, Hawaii's unique island climate and fertile volcanic soil contribute to the high quality of coffee produced here.

Coffee from Kauai is smooth and mellow, coffee from Molokai has rich body with low acidity, while coffee from Maui has medium acidity but the most intense flavor. Hawaiians take immense pride in their 100% locally grown Arabica coffee beans. Today, most Hawaiian coffee is grown on the Big Island and Maui.

Hawaiian coffee islands and cultivation areas

Hawaiian Coffee Bean Grades

Authentic Kona coffee is indeed a rare treasure, not easily found. According to the standards set by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, coffee beans are classified into four grades based on size, weight, and quality ratio: Extra Fancy, Fancy, Prime, and Grade No. 1 (100% KONA). Type 1 comprises standard coffee beans, including the largest Kona Extra Fancy, followed by descending size grades: Kona Fancy, Kona Select, and Kona Prime.

Type 2 consists exclusively of peaberry beans, including two grades: Kona Number 1 Peaberry and the smaller Kona Peaberry Prime.

However, it's worth noting that with the increasing demand for specialty coffee, Kona coffee prices in the market have risen to rival those of Jamaican Blue Mountain, making high-quality Kona beans increasingly difficult to obtain.

FrontStreet Coffee offers a Kona coffee from Queen's Estate, roasted to a medium-dark level, featuring an overall balanced flavor profile with notes of brown sugar and subtle floral aromas.