Similar to the famous quality of Champagne wine grapes found in the Champagne region of France, the Hawaii Coffee Company 100% Kona coffee beans can only be found in a region of
Hawaii which is located on the slopes of both Hualalai and Mauna Loa, North and South Kona Region of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Sugar cane was a main farming staple in the Hawaiian islands from the beginning, which ultimately used up the critical minerals and other nutrients required for high-quality coffee bean farming.

Kona region is the only location where Hawaiian regulations allow it to be called Kona coffee because of the nutrient rich soil that produces a unique high-quality coffee with a specific aroma found only in the Kona coffee belt. Many other scrupulous coffee businesses outside of the region tried to use the Kona name, which now is difficult because of strict laws.

The Hawaii Coffee Company grows a variety of Kona coffee beans, (Lion Coffee, Royal Kona Coffee, and Royal Hawaiian Coffee) each with its own specific Kona flavor, and can be marketed if it passes the specific state-regulated quality standards required for the label to called Kona coffee (premium grade and above).

In Hawaii in order to have the ‘Kona Coffee’ label on a coffee bag, 100% of the coffee must be pure and grown in the Kona coffee belt with an above quality level, of an arabica coffee variety. This is strictly regulated and enforced by the state of Hawaii.

What’s Different About Hawaii Coffee Company?

The region in which coffee grows affects the flavor, body, and aroma of the beans. Sun, rain, soil and altitude shape the specific profile of each coffee bean.

Hawaii Coffee Company understood that many critical requirements like magic must come together for this special premium coffee to create the flavor profile found in the best Kona
coffee beans.

Kona premium coffee achieved its fame for special beans based on perfect microclimate conditions, but it’s the only coffee farming in the coffee belt of the world where manual processing and hand-picking procedures are labor-intensive. In order for the Kona bean to be picked, it has to be ripe, pulped, dried, and hulled.

As part of improving the unique coffee beans, the Hawaii Coffee Company, focuses its energy on creating quality seeds to maintain and improve the premium type of beans. At
this stage, the flavors and sugars in the beans have additional time to develop for the following reasons:

– Weather conditions with over 300 sunny days per year followed by afternoon rains which creates the perfect shade and enriches the soil required for that perfect coffee bean.

– Beans can mature slowly to capture more flavor and aroma.

– The volcanic-rich soil is infused with a variety of nutrients.

– Kona farmers are Skillful and experienced, in the hand process of the coffee beans prior, and post-harvesting

Hawaii Coffee Company region, has a huge advantage being one of the few single-origin coffee growers in the world where all the above, plus the enriched soil, high farming standards, and coffee protective local laws, combine to make it an almost perfect coffee growing environment.

They manually sort out the harvested coffee beans (from most premium to the lowest quality) as Type I highest quality Type II, and Type III, based on the strict quality requirements.

Subscribe to Aloha Break

A coffee subscription is an automated service which simplifies the shopping coffee process, and never allows the consumer to run out of coffee. The service provides additional discounts rather than ordering one-time delivery. Hawaii Coffee Company is one of the coffee roasters offering an auto-delivery subscription service.

The online process to subscribe is simple for the consumer, and Hawaii Coffee Company will deliver coffee to your door at the specified interval you prefer.

Customers can place the order for the delivery based on how much coffee the household consumes, and pick one of the choices for the delivery interval which include, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly and the customer can also specify the amount of coffee to be delivered. Amounts can be adjusted at any time.

If you like to get bulk orders of coffee at your door, and you’re a fan of Kona coffee and want to save, you would prefer this program.

Is it Worth Paying Higher Price for Kona Coffee?

Kona coffee in a 100% pure form (not blend) can be pricier than other coffee. Because of the very high demand, Kona roasters can afford to pay the higher processing costs.

Compared to the coffee farmers in other parts of the world, coffee farmers in the Kona region are paid higher wages.Coffee farming in the Kona region is very labor-intensive which carries a high cost for its specific process.

The illustrations showing the Kona region is only a 30 square miles section of Hawaii. Coffee grown in this region is the only one allowed by law to be labeled Hawaiian Kona coffee. Coffee is grown in other parts of Hawaii, and the coffee is very good, but it will not have the specific taste and flavor that makes Kona coffee special and unique.

Kona coffee output is relatively smaller from this small region which creates a large demand worldwide. The supply and demand market for the Kona coffee makes it even more exclusive in the coffee industry.

I do not believe Hawaiian Coffee Company is overpriced. The other coffee roasters are underpriced because they have cheaper processes, and pay their workers less.

I believe the reason is that:

The retail price of the Kona coffee is pricier than other coffee producers because their costs to produce this unique coffee is much higher

It provides Kona growers the ability to pay their farmers and pickers a higher fair wage and in turn, the workers maintain high-quality processes because they’re happy, loyal, and proud. Everybody wins, the roasters, farmers, and coffee lovers, enjoying every cup of Kona coffee.

That’s why Hawaiian Coffee Company provides the best value that workers deserve. It makes sense that in return the workers pursue quality and distinction to get fair trade wages for
their efforts.

Kona Region in Hawaii

The largest coffee growing district in Hawaii is the Kona region which is where the world-famous Kona coffee is produced.

The other coffee regions outside Kona produce good coffee products, but not at the level of quality in flavor and taste. Many tourists that visited Hawaii and had various types of coffee, Kona was their preferred choice.

When buying Kona coffee, it’s best to avoid blends from other countries that claim 10% Kona coffee. You cannot be certain what quality the other 90% of coffee beans are. So basically, you probably will not taste the true Kona coffee if you go with blends unless it’s from a reputable Hawaiian roaster.

My litmus test for 100% Kona coffee is for the price to be more than $20/pound. Anything below that price is a red flag that it may not be 100% Kona.

Kona coffee is a Hawaiian experience for every tourist that visits the Big Island. It’s a big deal for the locals as Kona is a proud tradition known for its uniqueness.

Kona coffee is farmed on the slopes of two volcanoes: the Mauna Loa and the Hualalai located in the Kona region. Similarly, at an elevation ranging from 600 to 2,500 feet under perfect micro-climate conditions.

Hawaii Coffee Company is the leading supplier of coffee to island hotels, restaurants, and retail stores, and the rest of the world. The main labels that represent Hawaii Coffee Company include:

• Royal Kona Coffee

• Royal Hawaiian Coffee

• Lion Coffee

Kona Coffee Beans Grading Scale

Hawaii regulators pass coffee through rigorous testing through the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDA). All the Kona coffee beans are carefully inspected and graded based on their moisture content, shape, bean size, and flaws compared to perfect bean expectation.

The quality scale ranges from Extra Fancy to Number 1 to Peaberry to Prime in high to low-quality order. Prime is the lowest grade on the quality scale, and Extra Fancy is the top (and most expensive)

The price of 100% Kona coffee varies with the highest quality beans reaching higher prices based on the Hawaii regional grading scale that all Kona coffees must go through. To be labeled as Kona coffee the bean has to come from the Kona belt, but it must also be graded and certified (which adds extra costs in labor).

This is why based on the grading scale, you can find 100% Kona beans for $25-$35 a pound as well as the highest quality Kona beans that can reach over $100/lb.

When shopping for Kona coffee, make sure it’s 100% Kona pure coffee and you are getting what you actually expect and, check the grade scale to understand what kind of price range you
should pay. It’s a bit of checking, but its worth it. Even if it’s a Kona blend, you should check to make certain the coffee bag contains at least 10% pure Kona coffee.

How is Hawaii Coffee Company Different?

Hawaii Coffee Company located in the Kona coffee belt of Hawaii, has a perfect microclimate which gives true Kona coffee beans their specific and unique deep flavor and aroma which makes it special.

Some roasters tried unsuccessfully to copy the success of this Company’s coffee and process in other parts of the world. But here is why I believe this is a premium specialty coffee that never disappoints:

• The micro climate weather in the Kona region of Hawaii is great for farming coffee, due to continuous sunny conditions, followed by everyday shade from daily rainy clouds in the afternoon.
• This company’s coffee benefits from the rich, volcanic soil that is rich in natural minerals.
• The workers are highly skilled and having higher knowledge of processing the beans post-harvest is important.

Based on consumers feedback, genuine 100% Kona coffee from Hawaii Coffee Company has a unique aroma and flavor every time they drink it. To me, it tastes a bit of honey, chocolate, brown sugar, and some fruitiness.

After drinking this coffee, I would describe the top notes of Kona coffee as light and fresh, with a profile of sweet citrus and nuts. For me as a coffee lover who has stomach issues, Kona coffee is healthier because it has low acidity, and it has a very smooth flavor and a sweeter taste.

Popular Flavored Coffee

Hawaii Coffee Company produces various flavored coffees that are high in demand and well-liked. They use a blend of local fruits and nuts like coconut, pineapple, and macadamia nuts infused into the Kona coffee and it receives high praise from coffee lovers who enjoy flavored coffee.

The coffee beans are lightly roasted to achieve the right taste for each flavor, based on the company’s strategy to infuse the
unique flavors of Hawaii into a morning cup of coffee.

The Takeaway

For coffee lovers and coffee aficionados, I recommend trying this unique specialty coffee.

I also strongly recommend that if you want to purchase 100% Kona coffee, it should be from Hawaii, check the label from manufacturers outside of Hawaii, unless you want a blend that contains 10% Kona coffee or less.

Also, at the higher prices premium Kona coffee goes for, it pays to:

• For maximum freshness, buy in small batches
• Buy it as roasted beans to grind yourself at home, only the amount you want to brew
• Try different roasts to find the beans that are your best flavor fit.

If you have any comments, please leave them below, I’d love to hear from you. If you’re a coffee lover and a dog lover check this lovely dog feeder out.