What is a Kona coffee?
Kona coffee is just Arabica coffee that is grown, harvested, and processed in the Kona area. The Mona Loa and Hawaiian Mountains are in the northern and southern corner districts of Hawaii’s main island. Simply put, they derive their name from the region in which they grew up.
Only beans grown in this region can be dubbed ‘Kona’ but as you can see, the industry is full of flaws and scams that are hard to catch unless you know What to look for.
What Does Kona Coffee Taste Like?
The best Kona coffee has a unique, amazing flavor profile and aroma which is why it’s on the world coffee map.
As always, the taste of your coffee will be affected by the roast, the brew method, and freshness. But if you do the right thing with your Kona beans you can expect to taste hints of brown sugar, milk chocolate, honey, and a hint of a bright fruit flavor. In general, it’s described as bright, crisp, and clean. Expect a very pleasant, lingering aftertaste, with hints of nuts and citrus on your pallet.
The Aroma is one you’ll never forget; a unique, sweet mix of aromas that’s reminiscent of caramel, butter, cocoa, or fruit.
It’s not so much the flavor, the aroma, or the aftertaste alone, but the combination of all 3 which make Kona so unique, addictive, and beautiful.
Why Are Kona Beans Famous?
It takes many small miracles coming together for gourmet coffee to develop the flavor profile found in the best Kona coffee beans.
In certain conditions, the coffee plant focuses its energy on creating quality seeds to maintain the species. At this developmental stage, the acids and sugars of the beans have more time to develop.
Kona is one of the few origins in the world where all the above, plus volcanic soil, high farming standards, and coffee-friendly local laws, combine to make it a unique place.
It doesn’t stop there.
The harvested beans are sorted (from most premium to lowest quality) as Type I (highest grade), Type II, and Type III, depending on factors that affect quality.
Here are further classifications of each type:
TYPE I: Kone Extra Fancy, Kona Fancy, Kona Number 1, Kona Select, Kona Prime.
TYPE II: Peaberry Number 1, Peaberry Prime.
TYPE III, also known as Triple X.
Doesn’t Type I have awesome classification names? It’s also essential to mention that Type III aka Triple X isn’t even recognized as Kona coffee. This is due to a high bar for Hawaiian quality standards!
What Does 100% Kona Taste Like?
I have a simplified system when it comes to tasting coffee beans. It consists of three things: intro, body, and taste.
With that said, if you’re looking for a general description of Hawaiian Kona, here it is:
- The flavor profile is clear and without particularly “strong” unpleasant bitterness.
- It has a light-to-medium body, depending on what you’re used to (I find it to be perfect). The finish is lingering, clean, and pleasant.
All in all, I would describe it as an aromatic, sweet, complex cup of coffee.
The Best Kona Coffee Brands From Hawaii 2022
Below is a rundown of the best Kona coffee brands originating from or sourced from the Big Island, ranked from best to great alternatives. Part of the ranking forms by how they move across brew methods and how versatile they are to prepare.
Now let’s go through this list so that you can choose to get some of the best legit Kona coffee for your own brewing pleasure.
Kona Coffee Tri-Pack Extra Fancy – Medium Roast
Koa Coffee was a mom and pop size business in 1997. Since then, they have been providing standard fried coffee to winemakers around the world.
This tri-pack of Kona extra fancy grade from Koa coffee has a clean flavor profile, sweet, and near-zero bitterness. With a medium body that works well in black but is also great with milk. If you want to enjoy its complexity, try it as a pour-over or in a French press.
I recommend this pick for those who are still deciding on their favorite type of Kona coffee. This is a field trip of extra fancy standard beans from medium-light to medium-dark roast.
Speaking of, 1 out of the 3 packs included in this bundle is the award-winning Private Reserve Kona Coffee. According to Forbes and I agree, this was “Best in America” at one point; and I agree – the private reserve beans are my favorite. While this is 100% pure Kona Coffee, it’s Koa’s secret blend (not a ‘blend’ with little real Kona) of different Kona coffee beans.
Royal Kona Decaffeinated 100% Kona Coffee — Best Deca
If you’re looking for a good cup of decaf Kona-style coffee, you may appreciate the Royal Kona 100% blend. This flavorful coffee is roasted by the sun and is made in small batches on a single Hawaiian estate. The limited roasting process ensures that only the finest beans make it into each bag.
The care and dedication translate into a smooth taste and a robust flavor that lower-end coffees can’t quite compete with. Unfortunately, the coffee does leave a regrettably bitter aftertaste that is unusual for a product of this price.
Landor Hawaiian Kona Coffee Medium Roast Whole Bean
The Hawaiian Kona Coffee is a single-source product made of pure Arabica beans. Subtlety is a blessing and a curse with this coffee. On the one hand, the mild flavor means a relaxingly mellow drinking experience. On the other hand, the taste can come across as almost muted, especially when compared to some of the other products on our list.
However, there is a good deal of value to this blend. This is one of the most affordable options on our list, making it a good option for people who’ve been intimidated by the price tag of our last two coffees.
Cameron’s Light-Roast Kona Blend (Ground)
You probably noticed that many of the options on this list are very expensive. Because of the way that Kona beans are grown and harvested, it can be hard to get a good deal, which is what makes the Cameron’s Coffee Bag such an enticing opportunity.
This affordable coffee is carefully roasted to maximize the taste factor in each reasonably priced cup. The carefully selected beans are roasted in a sustainable facility to reduce emissions.
The taste is not quite as sophisticated as some of the other options. However, you may be willing to forfeit a little complexity to enjoy a delicious, affordable product.
