Rare origin · grown in the usa

Kona & Hawaiian Coffee

Hawaiʻi is one of the few places in the United States where coffee is grown commercially. Kona, on the slopes of the Big Island’s volcanoes, is its most famous region.

Altitude
500–3,000 ft
Harvest
August–January
Varieties
Kona Typica, Red Catuai, Red Bourbon
Usual process
Washed
Rarity index
93/100

Carried by 23 of 312 US roasters we track

On Roasterland
7 coffees · 7 roasters

In the cup

Clean, sweet and gentle

Smooth and low in bitterness, with milk chocolate, macadamia-like nuttiness, brown sugar and soft tropical fruit.

Milk chocolateNuttyBrown sugarTropical fruit

Taste profile

SweetnessHigh
AcidityMedium
BodyMedium
BitternessLow

From our tasting of every coffee from this origin on Roasterland. Each coffee page has its own profile.

Hawaiʻi, side by side

Same origin, different small roasters. Each roasts it its own way.

About the region

Coffee on a volcano

Kona’s small family farms sit on the slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa, where morning sun and afternoon cloud cover protect the trees. Most farms are only a few acres and pick by hand.

Labor and land cost far more in Hawaiʻi than in other coffee countries, which is why genuine Kona is expensive. Read labels closely: “Kona blend” can legally contain as little as 10% Kona.

Roasters who roast Hawaiʻi

Armeno Coffee Roasters Northborough, MA Big Island Coffee Roasters Hilo, HI Hilo Coffee Mill Mountain View, HI Kona Coffee & Tea Kailua-Kona, HI

If you like Hawaiʻi, try

AmericasJamaicaMild · Sweet · Nutty · Floral AmericasPanamaJasmine · Bergamot · Stone fruit · Tea-like AmericasCosta RicaHoney · Brown sugar · Orange · Red apple

Questions about Hawaiʻi

What does “100% Kona” mean?
Every bean was grown in the Kona district. A “Kona blend” only needs 10% Kona coffee under Hawaiʻi law.
Does Hawaiʻi grow coffee outside Kona?
Yes. Kaʻū, Maui, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu all grow coffee, and Kaʻū in particular has won major awards.