Hawaii Coffee

A Cornucopia of Coffee in the Hawaiian Islands

When it comes to Hawaii coffee most people think immediately of Kona Coffee, and for a good reason. Kona coffee is considered to one of the world’s top gourmet coffees and has a rich tradition with its many family-run coffee farms and with coffee trees now more than a century old.

Many of the Kona coffee farmers are fifth-generation descendants of the pioneering Kona coffee farmers still working on the Kona farms today.

Kona is located on the southwestern side of the Big Island of Hawaii, and Kona coffee is one of the world’s top-ranked specialty coffees, distinguished for its simple yet rich flavor, typically light, delicate and mild with a complex aroma and taste.

An Overview of Coffee Growing in the Hawaiian Islands

In addition to Kona there are now other areas of the Big Island beginning to produce substantial amounts of coffee. Some of these are demonstrating great potential to equal or exceed the quality of the Kona coffee beans.

These other Big Island coffee growing regions are located in Puna, Hamakua, Hilo and Kau and are mostly family owned and operated coffee farms.

On the other Hawaiian Islands there are also numerous coffee farms including two very large, mechanized coffee plantations, one on Kauai and one on Molokai. Another substantial coffee plantation is located on Oahu and covers about 180 acres overlooking the north shore of that island.

Kona Coffee Sets the Standard

Since the late 1800s coffee has been cultivated in the Big Island’s Kona region along the lower slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanoes.

There are more than 650 independent coffee farms in the Kona region and they are located at elevations ranging from 500 feet to 3,000 feet above sea level. The Kona Coffee Belt, as it is often called along with Kona Coffee Country, is only about one to three miles wide but stretches for about thirty miles in length.

What is so Great About Kona Coffee?

A fine cup of Kona coffee is very clean and also well-balanced. Kona is typically medium-bodied and quite cheerful in its acidity, very bright, yet classically balanced and often displaying some spicy as well as buttery qualities with subtle winey notes, intensely aromatic, and with an excellent finish.

Coffee Plant Varietals of the Kona Coffee Growing Region

Most coffee grown in the Kona Coffee Belt is of the Typica varietal (Coffea arabica var. typica). There is also a relatively small amount of Blue Mountain coffee that is grown in Kona. These plants are the coffee plant varietal Coffea Arabica var. blue mountain which is traditionally grown in Jamaica and marketed as Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.

A fine Blue Mountain coffee displays a classic mild flavor and is well-balanced with a slightly sweet taste and a bright to vibrant acidity. The brewed Blue Mountain coffee has very little bitterness and its sparkling aroma exhibits sweet herbal and nutty overtones.

It remains to be seen whether the emerging Blue Mountain coffees of the Kona region will meet the quality standards of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee grown in Jamaica.

Every spring the Kau region holds the Kau Coffee Festival, and every fall the Kona region hosts the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival. All year around you can enjoy Kona Coffee Farm Tours.

For more information see: Big Island Coffee; Kona Coffee; Kau Coffee; Puna Coffee; Hamakua Coffee; Hilo Coffee; Oahu Coffee; Maui Coffee; Molokai Coffee; Kauai Coffee; Hawaii Coffee Grading; Hawaii Coffee Facts; Hawaii Coffee History – Kona Coffee History; Kona Coffee Farm Tours.

Hawaii Coffee and Espresso Brewing Tips

For tips on brewing the perfect cup of Hawaii coffee see our section titled All About Coffee including tips on Coffee Brewing. You can also see coffee flavor profiles of Gourmet Coffees and instructions on preparing the gourmet Espresso Drink Recipes.

See detailed definitions of coffee terminology in the Coffee and Espresso Glossary.  History buffs will love the World’s Best History of Coffee.