Hawaiian Coffee: Everything You Need To Know (Part 1)
Truth is, Hawaii isn’t the first place that springs to mind when discussing quality coffee. That is, unless you’ve experienced the best Kona coffee Hawaii produces personally. If so, you probably understand and appreciate the hype pretty well!
In any case, we thought we’d celebrate the gift of Hawaiian coffee by dedicating a couple of posts to this often-overlooked producer. For anyone looking for a good excuse to pick up a bag of the best Kona coffee beans money can buy, feast your eyes on the following for a taste of what’s on offer.
Fast Facts About Hawaiian Coffee
- Hawaii is the only state in North America with a commercial coffee production industry
- Despite its relatively tiny size, there are close to 800 established coffee farms in Hawaii
- The biggest coffee growing district in Hawaii is Kona – famed for its exclusive beans
- Coffee is grown at higher elevations in mountainous regions for improved flavor
- Much of the profits generated by Hawaii’s coffee farms are comprised of sales to tourists
Revered Cultivation Conditions
The main reason Hawaiian coffee tastes so fantastic is because it is grown in unique soil. Kona coffee is cultivated in volcanic soil with a massive mineral content, which nurtures strong and healthy coffee trees.
In addition, heavy and prolonged rainfall gives the trees the moisture they need to thrive, while the shade provided by the clouds prevents damage through over exposure. Basically, all of these elements come together to create the perfect conditions for cultivating coffee of unbeatable quality.
None of which would be possible at lower elevations, or with trees planted in different types of soil.
Hawaiian Coffee Tasting Notes
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a seasoned coffee connoisseur to get a kick out of the best Kona coffee Hawaii produces. Just a single sip and you instantly know what all the fuss is about.
Kona coffee is renowned for its crispness, cleanness and complete lack of bitterness, with fantastic notes of milk chocolate, sweet brown sugar and floral honey. There’s also a lingering fruity sweetness in the mix, which complements the lightly syrupy body for a truly exquisite experience.
Other Hawaiian coffees have their own unique flavor profiles – some with prominent floral flavors, others much fruitier or with chocolatey characteristics. Suffice to say, all well worth trying out to see which works for you.
A Word on Blends
One brief but important note – anything labelled a Kona coffee ‘blend’ is best approached with caution, as most tend to contain no more than 10% Kona coffee. In which case, you’re not going to be able to taste or appreciate it at all.
Nevertheless, you could still be expected to pay a pretty penny for the privilege. Always remember that unless it says 100% Kona coffee on the packaging, that’s not what it is.
Stay tuned for the second half of our two-part guide to all-things Hawaiian coffee, coming soon…
At Hayman’s online coffee store, you will find the best coffee beans in the world, including the best Kona coffee Hawaii produces. Click here to order today, we offer free worldwide shipping!