What Makes Kona Coffee so Special? - Everything You Need to Know

Real Kona coffee is valued worldwide for its rich taste and pleasant aroma.

Coffee trees grow on the cool slopes of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa mountains in fertile volcanic soil and cloud cover in the afternoon. Grown in this unique environment, Kona coffee has a distinct advantage over coffee grown in other parts of the world. Coffee trees usually bloom after a dry winter in Kona and are harvested in the fall. Coffee grown in the northern and southern regions of Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii is the only coffee that can truly be called "Kona Coffee."

Kona coffee is hand-picked, ground, dried, and peeled prior to grading. Coffee grinders sort coffee beans in different degrees according to size and shape. Peaberries are on top. Pepper seeds are formed when one side of the flower fuses with the other and only one seed remains in the coffee cherry. This gives blueberries a more concentrated flavor and only makes up about 5 to 10% of the total Kona coffee harvest. The highest scores (in descending order) are Extra Fancy, Fancy, No.1 and Prime.

Kona coffee is sun-dried and then roasted to order depending on the desired yield and differences in moisture content in the coffee beans. A good baking process (and processor) can change the world. Baking is known by many as an "art form". Dark baked goods are usually referred to as French, Italian, or espresso. Medium roasts include full city and Vienna. Flavored coffee is sprayed or ground immediately after roasting to optimally absorb additional aromas. The oxidation process starts immediately after roasting and the coffee is the freshest.

Airtight containers and frozen coffee optimize freshness. Whole beans stored this way have a recommended shelf life of about two months, ground coffee about one month. Manufacturers offer to buy grains and grind each pot before cooking.

To buy 100% Pure Kona coffee, check the label. KONA BLEND means that it only contains 10% Kona grains. They are usually mixed with those from Brazil, Central America, Africa, and Indonesia. While visiting the Big Island of Hawaii and the Kona Coast, be sure to check out the many farms and coffee grinders in the Kona Coffee Belt.

Social Brew is one the leading online portal to sell Kona Coffee..