Tommie Springer

If one were to think of Hawaii, the first thing that would pop into their heads would be the beach, or surfing, or maybe getting a tan. Although coffee isn’t always at the very top of people’s list (except maybe if you were a coffee connoisseur), coffee is still one of the things that Hawaii has become known for over the years. Hawaiian coffee has earned a reputation as one of the world’s finest and most flavorful coffees… or was it Kona coffee they were talking about? Is Hawaiian coffee and Kona coffee the same thing?

Many people believe that when they purchase coffee with the word “Hawaiian” on the label, they are actually purchasing Kona coffee. In fact, imitation Hawaiian coffees were being sold and became a problem for a while, confusing consumers. In order to appreciate truly remarkable coffee, one must know that there is a big difference between Kona coffee and other types of Hawaiian coffee.

Hawaiian coffee is simply coffee from any of the certified islands of Hawaii. Hawaiian coffee comes from the islands of Molokai, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, or Kona, or could also be composed of a combination of coffee from any of the mentioned districts. Other types of Hawaiian coffee are packed in a lavish manner and are given interesting names, however, these are still not genuine Kona coffee beans.

Since the 1800’s, Kona coffee has been cultivated on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii, along the slopes of the volcanoes Mauna Loa and Hualailai which ranges from an elevation of about 500 feet to 3,000 feet high. Although other areas of Hawaii produce coffee beans as well, the Big Island is the only area where Kona coffee beans are grown and these beans cannot be labeled as Kona if they were grown in any other area. The Kona Coffee Belt, as this area is known, is approximately 30 miles long and 1 mile wide. The Big Island is made up of sunny mornings, rainy afternoons and temperate evenings, conditions which are extremely ideal for producing great coffee. These conditions and the extra care and hard work that Kona farmers put in are just some of the reasons why Kona coffee beans are among the most superior and are the most preferred beans among coffee lovers.

Kona coffee beans are classified into the grades Extra Fancy, Fancy, Kona#1, Premium and Prime, with Extra Fancy being the highest classification and Prime being the lowest. Kona coffee which falls below the grade of Prime is also, at times, classified as Hawaiian coffee.

While many coffees have a strong, bitter flavor and leave an aftertaste in the coffee drinker’s mouth, Kona coffee is quite light and mild in flavor, without leaving an aftertaste. The coffee is both aromatic and smooth, making Kona synonymous with exceptionally great coffee.

So the next time you hear someone order Hawaiian coffee, ask that person if they wanted to order the world renowned coffee, or if they simply wanted to have a cup of coffee made of Hawaiian coffee beans.