Kona Coffee Beans: History, Flavors & Brewing Tips

Coffee pour with heart

Kate McDonnell for Coffee Affection on the history of Kona Coffee.  Join us on our Big Island Circle tour and sample delicious Kona Coffee at our stop at the Premium Kona Coffee Farm.

Kona coffee is one of Hawaiʻi’s most famous products — after macadamia nuts and pineapples, of course. But what’s so special about these beans, and why are they so expensive?

We’re taking a closer look at Kona coffee, from where it grows to what it tastes like. We also have recommendations for where to buy your first bag!

WHERE DOES KONA COFFEE COME FROM?

All Kona coffee grows on Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, on the slopes of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Volcanic soil is full of nutrients, and the climate in Hawaiʻi is especially well suited for coffee growing. To be considered Kona coffee, the beans have to be grown in the specific Kona region, which is an area about 30 miles long and 1 mile wide. Just like Scotch has to be made in Scotland, Kona coffee has to grow in Kona! This limitation is part of the reason why Kona coffee only makes up about 1% of the world’s coffee.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Coffee first arrived in Hawaiʻi back in 1817, but it didn’t take hold until a few decades later. In 1873, Kona coffee garnered its first awards at the Vienna World’s Fair. Twenty years later, a man named Hermann Widemann introduced coffee plants from Guatemala to the islands. To this day, those beans — called Kona typica — are the most popular type of coffee in Hawaiʻi!

Fast forward to the 20th century, and Kona coffee begins to gain a specialty foothold. Army coffee purchases in World War II combined with crop-destroying frosts in Brazil to drive up Hawaiʻian coffee prices. From the 1980s on, Kona coffee has been known as a gourmet specialty bean — and priced accordingly.

WHY IS KONA COFFEE SO EXPENSIVE?

Kona coffee typically costs between $20 and $25 per pound, which is quite a bit more than coffee from most of the world. Part of the reason for this is that labor costs are higher in Hawaiʻi than in countries like Costa Rica or Ethiopia. The growing conditions in Hawaiʻi are unique, which means coffee flavors you won’t find anywhere else. And the very small Kona region means that production is limited. If you remember your econ 101, when supply is low, prices usually go up!

All of that and these beans also have a special allure, much like Jamaican Blue Mountain or Kopi Luwak coffee. Before third-wave coffee came on the scene, Kona was one of the first specialty coffees known for being gourmet and worth seeking out.

WHAT DOES KONA COFFEE TASTE LIKE?

High-quality Kona coffee isn’t overly complex and has a light, bright flavor with a hint of acidity. You may notice wine-like or even spicy notes, and there’s a powerful, rich aroma.

SHOULD YOU TRY KONA COFFEE?

We’re always fans of trying something at least once. If you have room in your budget, picking up a bag of Kona beans can be a fun treat. But before you buy, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting real Kona coffee. Stick with trustworthy companies based in the Kona region!

We recommend Hawaiʻi Coffee Company’s Royal Kona, a 50-year-old coffee company with a coffee mill in Captain Cook, Kona. The company offers 100% Kona and 10% Kona blends so you can choose the beans that fit your budget and tastes. You can even buy a decaf 10% Kona!

FINAL THOUGHTS

We hope this comprehensive guide helps you understand all the hype around Kona coffee. It’s a specialty bean grown in a small, volcanic region of Hawaiʻi. You can expect a bright, smooth flavor and a very impressive aroma. Just be prepared to pay quite a bit for this unusual coffee — whether or not you opt for private reserve or peaberry versions!

 

Share:

More Posts

Great Tour Guarantee

At Kailani Tours, our top priority is delivering unforgettable Big Island experiences. We’re confident that you’ll find our tours enriching and well worth your time. If for any reason you feel otherwise, please tell us. We’ll make it right, whether that means inviting you on another tour, issuing a refund, or providing a voucher for a future visit. Your time is precious, and we’re honored that you choose to spend it exploring the Big Island with us.

Here’s what we cannot guarantee:

You will see active lava flows

Mother Nature has her own schedule, and while we wish we could promise a spectacular lava show, it’s truly up to the forces of the earth.

You’ll have full access to every part of the parks.

Volcano National Park areas are subject to closures based on safety assessments by park officials. As always, safety is our top priority and we can easily adapt our itinerary to make sure you get the best experience possible.

You’ll experience perfect weather

The Big Island’s weather can be as unpredictable as it is beautiful. We can’t guarantee sunshine and clear skies every day, but the dynamic weather is part of the island’s charm.

We value your decision to discover the Big Island with us, and we’re committed to making your tour a highlight of your Hawaii visit.

FREE CANCELLATIONS

With Trip Protection (Highly Recommended)

For a small fee (15%), Trip Protection allows you to cancel or reschedule your tour at any time – for any reason – up to 1 hour prior to trip departure. You will be reimbursed for the FULL amount of each ticket, less the cost of trip protection and processing fees. 

You may opt in or opt out of Trip Protection at the time of booking, either online or over the phone.

Without Trip Protection

You may cancel or reschedule your tour up to 48 hours before your tour’s scheduled departure to avoid fees or penalties. 

Refunds are not possible within 48 hours of your tour’s departure time, however, we will make every effort to accommodate rescheduling your booking to another date, if you so desire.

Please Note: Our tours operate rain or shine, though itineraries may be adjusted in response to severe weather conditions. Access to certain parts of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, including during events like active lava flows or eruptions, may be restricted or closed by park officials without notice. In such cases, Kailani Tours does not offer partial refunds for any part of the tour affected by these restrictions.

With our vast experience navigating these occasional closures, you can trust that we will make the absolute most of your day with us, no matter the conditions.

Lowest Price Guarantee

We guarantee the absolute lowest price on all experiences we sell. If you find the same product cheaper within three days of booking or while you’re in your destination, we’ll refund the difference.

It’s Easy To Do: 

Gather your information

Assemble your Kailani Tours receipt and the proof of the lower price you found.

Send it to us

Email [email protected] with the documents, your name, and your home address. 

We’ll review 

We’ll examine your materials and get in touch as soon as we can. 

Receive your refund 

If everything checks out, we’ll refund you the difference between the two prices.