What is Kona coffee and why is it so expensive?

If you call yourself a true coffee lover, you've probably heard of Kona coffee. But what makes this coffee so special and, let's be honest, why is it often so pricey?

In this article I am going to tell you everything about Kona coffee. Such as the origin of this special coffee, why this coffee is now so expensive and I will also give you some tips to prevent you from accidentally buying 'fake' Kona coffee.

So read on

The Origin of Kona Coffee

The history of Kona coffee begins in 1817, when horticulturist Don Francisco de Paula Marin first attempted to grow coffee beans in Hawaii.

Yet it wasn't until 1828 that Samuel Ruggles successfully introduced coffee to the Big Island. Hawaii was a major sugar exporter at the time, so coffee was not immediately the top priority.

After Ruggles' first successful planting in Kona, sugar plantation owners switched to coffee.

Unfortunately, bad weather and pests destroyed most of the Big Island's coffee in the 1850s.

In 1892, coffee production resumed thanks to Hermann Widemann, who introduced a Guatemalan coffee bean that became known as Kona Typica.

This variety is now the preferred bean on the island.

Kona Typica did not flourish immediately after its introduction. The global coffee crash of 1899 caused coffee prices to plummet due to oversupply.

This led plantation owners to switch back to sugar.

During World War II, the demand for coffee increased again, causing coffee farmers in Hawaii to continue their work.

In the 1960s, the Big Island experienced record coffee numbers and a tourism boom, leading to labor competition for Kona coffee farmers.

Coffee's popularity fluctuated in the 1970s and 1980s, but Kona coffee came out stronger. Yet Kona coffee is not without scandals.

Between 1993 and 1996 , coffee trader Michael Norton sold cheap coffee as 100% Kona coffee.

This led to strict certifications by the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture to ensure legitimacy.

Cultivation and Harvesting

What makes Kona coffee so special? It all starts with the unique location and production processes.

Kona coffee is grown only in the Kona Coffee Belt, located on the Hualalai and Mauna Loa mountains in the North and South Districts of Hawaii.

These mountainous areas have rich volcanic soil full of nitrates, phosphates, iron and manganese, which promote plant growth.

Volcanic soil is beneficial for Kona coffee beans because it is new soil that has recently emerged from the ground, rich in necessary nutrients and minerals.

The western side of Kona is ideal for coffee growing because of its sunny mornings, mild nights and afternoon rains.

The western slopes and daily clouds provide sufficient shade to protect the coffee plants from excessive solar heat.

In addition, these slopes provide excellent drainage, so that the crops do not drown in the rain.

During the harvest season, from August to December, the coffee beans are picked by hand and carefully processed.

After removing the pulp, the beans are washed and fermented, then dried and polished to be ready for roasting.

Each process is done with care to ensure the coffee is of high quality and meets State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture standards.

The Unique Flavor Profile

When you 're just starting out with specialty coffee, these terms may be a bit abracadabra, but I'm going to give it a try anyway.

Kona coffee is known for its smooth, rich flavor with hints of nutty aromas and a silky body.

This unique taste is due to the climate, volcanic soil and careful cultivation methods.

The coffee bushes thrive on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano, where a combination of sunny mornings, foggy afternoons and cool nights provide ideal growing conditions.

Careful hand picking and the traditional drying process give the beans their characteristic flavor profile, which makes Kona coffee such a unique coffee.

Why is Kona coffee so expensive?

So why is Kona coffee so expensive? This has to do with several factors:

1. Limited Production : Kona coffee comes from a small, specific area, making production limited.
2. Labor Intensive Processes : From hand picking to careful fermentation and drying, each step requires a lot of labor.
3. Certification and Quality : Strict certification processes and quality control ensure that only the best beans reach the market.

Due to the Norton scandal in the mid-1990s, a collection of farmers, retailers and processors in Hawaii who grow, produce and sell Kona coffee came together to form the Kona Coffee Council (KKC).

The main goal is to ensure that Kona coffee buyers receive pure 100% Kona coffee, and not cheap blends with Kona product labels.

The KKC represents the interests of Kona coffee farmers and promotes the sale of pure Kona coffee while pursuing legislative protections for the brand name.

With so many protections and quality assurance standards, it's no wonder Kona coffee is one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

Production also plays a significant role in costs. Because the coffee beans are picked by hand, harvesting Kona coffee is a labor-intensive process.

In the coffee industry, farmers use machines to shake coffee trees to release both ripe, overripe and unripe beans, which can make a cup of coffee taste bitter instead of mild or sweet.

In Kona, farmers pick only the best red coffee beans from the same trees for several months.

They also sort them by quality or size and dry the processed beans. Farmers and retailers can roast the beans and hand-pack them for sale.

For their work, farmers and workers receive higher wages than coffee workers in Ethiopia or Guatemala, two of the world's leading countries in coffee production.

It can cost as little as three cents per pound to pick coffee beans with machines, but in Kona the cost can range from 75 to 85 cents per pound.

In the Kona region, buyers can get beans straight from the trees for about $8 per pound. This price does not include labor.

Once you factor in farmland, labor, gas, electricity for roasting, marketing and taxes, the price for 100% Kona coffee can range between $45 and $60 per pound.

Kona coffee is also one of the rarest coffee varieties in the world . It only accounts for about 1% of the industry's coffee, which increases demand and price.

Tips for when you want to buy Kona coffee

If you want to enjoy a cup of Kona coffee, keep these buying tips in mind to avoid getting ripped off and ending up with a fake "Kona blend":

• Only purchase coffee labeled as " 100% Kona Coffee " (anything otherwise may contain only 10% real Kona coffee).
  
  
• Spend a little more for the bags labeled " 100% Estate-Grown or Single-Sourced Kona Coffee ." These labels mean that all coffee beans are grown, sorted and roasted on the same farm. They have the purest taste and the best flavor profile.
  
  
• If you're lucky and get the timing just right, you can enjoy one of the rarest coffees in the world: " 100% Peaberry Kona Coffee. " Made from a special coffee bean that makes up only a fraction of a total coffee harvest, peaberry coffee is the "champagne" from coffee.

Peaberry coffee beans

Whether you are a coffee lover or just enjoy a good cup of coffee in the morning, real Kona coffee is a must-try.

Rare and uniquely delicious, it deserves its title as one of the best coffees in the world.

Conclusion

Kona coffee is not just any cup of coffee. It's an experience, a journey through Hawaii's rich history and unique landscapes, captured in every sip.

This coffee grows on the volcanic slopes of the Kona region, where the soil and climate are perfect for growing extraordinary coffee beans.

The high price reflects the care, attention and quality ensured at every stage of production, from picking the best beans to their careful roasting.

Are you ready to treat yourself to this exclusive and sustainable coffee? Try Kona coffee and taste the difference!

Experience the subtle nuances and rich aromas that make this coffee so special, and be transported to the paradise islands of Hawaii with every sip.