A Newbie’s Guide to the Best Hawaiian Kona Coffee
Hawaiian coffee has always been a prized and prestigious commodity. Then you have the best Kona coffee Hawaii produces, which is truly in a league of its own. It’s not an exaggeration to say that once you’ve experienced the best Kona coffee beans money can buy, you may never look at specialty coffee the same way again.
But what is it about the best Kona coffee beans that make them such a prestigious asset? What is it about this one type of Hawaiian coffee that makes it something of a superstar on the global gourmet coffee scene?
For those just now discovering Kona coffee for the first time, here’s a brief overview of this remarkable coffee and its origins:
Producing the Best Kona Coffee Beans
The term ‘Kona coffee’ indicates the region where this Hawaiian coffee is cultivated and produced. True Kona coffee can only be grown in an absolutely tiny region on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. Every aspect of the climatic conditions in this region is unique, having a wide-reaching impact on the flavour and fragrance profile of the resulting specialty coffee. Hence, even if the same plants were grown elsewhere in controlled conditions, the final product would not be genuine Kona coffee.
And this is why the best Kona coffee beans on the market are available in very limited quantities. It’s also why the best Kona coffee Hawaii produces is reassuringly expensive. With a history dating back to the early 19th century, Kona coffee production is ingrained in the history and heritage of this beautiful mountainous region. The actual Kona coffee brand came about in the late 19th century, after which the cultivation and production methods used at the time had stayed in place ever since.
Minimal Annual Output
As Kona coffee grew in popularity, so too did the number of farms producing quality Kona coffee beans. Over the decades, approximately 800 independent Kona coffee farms have so far been established across the region. Nevertheless, the combined total output on an annual basis is no more than around 2 million lbs. This may sound like a lot of gourmet coffee, but it’s worth remembering that, for instance, the Dominican Republic produces more than 100 million lbs each year.
The scarcity and exclusivity of the best Kona coffee beans are amplified by the fact that the coffee production region itself cannot be extended or further developed. Quite simply, the Kona coffee production industry has long-since reached its limits, in terms of both size and output. Hence, there will never be a time when there is certainly a huge surge in output from these traditional Hawaiian coffee farms, meaning the best Kona coffee Hawaii produces will and always be a prestigious and pricey commodity.
Nevertheless, treat yourself to even a single sip of quality Kona coffee and you’ll instantly know it’s a price well worth paying.
To order your fresh roasted Kona coffee from Hayman's online store click here. At our speciality coffee store, the best Hawaiian coffee is available as unroasted coffee beans / raw coffee beans (for home roasting), roasted whole bean coffee, roasted ground coffee, Nespresso compatible pods*, and coffee pods compatible with Keurig K Cup coffee makers (incl. Keurig 2.0 models)**!
* Nespresso® is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., unrelated to Hayman®. Our espresso pods are not created or sold by Nespresso®.
** Keurig and K-Cup are registered trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. unrelated to Hayman®. Our pods are not created or sold by Keurig®.
