How to Buy Hawaiian Coffee: What Do the Labels Mean?

You’ll rarely find the best Kona coffee Hawaii produces in a standard store or supermarket. Quality Hawaiian coffee is a commodity you have to track down, due to its scarceness and exclusivity.

Though once you’ve tried the best Kona coffee beans first-hand, you know exactly what all the fuss is about.

Even so, there’s no shortage of different types of Hawaiian coffee beans up for grabs. Precisely why you’ll find a variety of different badges, markings and claims to fame on the label.

Making sense of it all can seem a little daunting at first. But once you’ve narrowed it down to what really matters, you know exactly what you’re looking when presented with a bag of Hawaiian coffee.

100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee

For example, a bag of the best Kona coffee beans can only claim to be 100% Kona coffee if it is indeed that. Be mindful of the fact that where the label simply states ‘Kona Coffee’ it is highly unlikely its composition is pure Kona. 100% pure Hawaiian coffee is a highly prized and revered export, marketed as just that - 100% pure. It’s also by far the trickiest type of Hawaiian coffee to track down, and the most expensive.

10-20% Hawaiian Coffee 

This is where a beady eye pays dividends, as it’s perfectly legal to market a bag of coffee beans as “Hawaiian Coffee” with very little in its makeup. In fact, legislation states that simply by comprising 10% Hawaiian coffee, it’s fine to market a bag of blended beans as Hawaiian coffee. It needs to state somewhere on the label that it’s a blend, and include the rest of its composition in the list of ingredients. Though this will, of course, be nowhere near as prominent as the “Hawaiian Coffee” emblazoned on the bag.

Rainforest Alliance Certified 

This indicates that the producer of the coffee beans is committed to reducing waste, combating pollution, minimizing water use and protecting the landscape against soil erosion. All exceptionally important causes and the mark of a producer who knows nothing matters more than the environment.

Fair Trade Certified

Goods that are Fair Trade Certified come from producers who guarantee to pay fair wages and generally support the communities they operate in. They are independently inspected and audited on a regular basis, in order to ensure they uphold the highest standards and make an ongoing contribution to the wider community.

If in Doubt…

One of the most important characteristics of quality for coffee connoisseurs is traceability. This means being able to trace every product back to its origins, so you know exactly what you are looking at and exactly where it came from.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the quality, authenticity or origins of any coffee product, be sure to raise them with your preferred seller before ordering. 

Particularly if looking to pick up the best Kona coffee beans money can buy, you need to know that’s exactly what you are getting.

At Hayman’s online coffee store, you will find the best coffee beans in the world, including the best Kona coffee Hawaii produces (i.e. 100% pure Kona coffee, not blended with lower quality coffee). Click here to order today, we offer free worldwide shipping!