For most people, coffee is something they can easily afford - but some types of coffee are so expensive that you might only buy them as an occasional treat. Kona coffee is one of the latter.
Kona coffee is unique and loved for its unique flavor profile and high price tag. This coffee is a bit of a status symbol among coffee lovers. It grows in the Kona Coffee belt on the fertile slopes of Hawaii's Big Island.
Kona Coffee is one of the most expensive coffees worldwide.
But what makes Kona coffee special, and is it worth the high price? In this blog, we'll look at the factors that contribute to the uniqueness of Kona coffee.
What Is So Special About Kona Coffee?
Location and Climate in Hawaii
The first thing that makes Kona coffee beans special is its geographical origin in the Kona Coffee belt. The coffee plants grow on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano in the Kona district of Hawaii's Big Island.
Only a coffee bean grown by a coffee farm in that region can call itself Kona coffee bean - and everything in a bag has to be 100% Kona coffee.
This beautiful region's unique microclimate is not only a holiday maker's dream. The sunny mornings, cloudy afternoons, and mild nights are perfect conditions for coffee cultivation. The elevation of these coffee plants ranges from 500 to 3,000 feet above sea level.
Rich Volcanic Soil
In addition to a great climate, another key factor in the exceptional quality of Kona coffee is the region's rich volcanic soil. Volcanic ash deposits include essential minerals that help coffee plants to grow effectively. This nutrient-rich soil also has an impact on Kona Coffee's full-bodied flavor and balanced acidity.
Flavor
As we just mentioned the flavor, let’s take a closer look at Kona coffee’s unique taste. After all, you’d expect such an expensive coffee to taste exceptional, right? Kona Coffee has a smooth, well-balanced flavor with notes of nuttiness, chocolate, and fruity undertones.
Roast Level
While you can roast Kona coffee beans any way you like, a medium roast works very well for Kona coffee beans. A medium roast preserves the beans’ unique characteristics but also adds hints of caramel and brown sugar.
However, if you have Kona beans grown at a particularly high altitude, you can try a darker roast, like medium-dark. You don't want to roast these coffee beans too dark because you don't want to lose the coffee's unique characteristics (after all, that's what you paid so much money for).
A light roast is great for getting the most out of Kona coffee's unique flavor. Ensure you don't under-roast them because that will give you a sour and grainy cup.
What Is a Kona Blend?
As mentioned above, a bag of coffee can only be sold as Kona coffee if it contains 100% Kona beans. As bags of 100% Kona beans are pretty expensive, blends were created as a compromise:
A cheaper option that still preserves some of Kona's special flavor but is blended with cheaper beans to bring the price down. Some blends only contain a small percentage of authentic Kona coffee.
The rest is made up of beans from other countries (which beans can change from seller to seller).
Depending on which beans are used in a blend, you can get some interesting flavor combinations that aren't quite as unique as 100% pure Kona but still a nice coffee experience.
Kona Coffee Harvest
Hand-Picked Coffee Cherries
The process of cultivating Kona coffee is one of the reasons why Kona is so expensive. Harvesting is done by hand so that only the ripest coffee cherries are selected (machines aren’t as good at this as humans). This guarantees a high-quality yield.
Grading
Kona coffee is subject to a standardized system called the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) Green Coffee Grades. The beans are categorized according to size, shape, moisture content, and defects. The highest (and most expensive) grade is known as "Extra Fancy". The next best is "Fancy," followed by "Kona #1" and "Prime." Prime beans are allowed to have more defects and are the cheapest (but not cheap) option.
Roasting
Kona beans can be roasted on the island but are often roasted in other countries, so consumers can enjoy freshly roasted Kona coffee that hasn't lost any freshness during transit from Hawaii to elsewhere.
Factors Affecting Costs
High Labor Costs
Now you know the basics, but why is Kona coffee so expensive? As mentioned, one primary factor is the manual labor involved. Hand-picking truly ripe coffee cherries requires skilled workers and a significant amount of time. This commitment to quality over quantity adds to the production costs, but without it, Kona coffee would only be just another coffee.
Small Coffee Farms
You won't find large-scale coffee plantations in the region that grow Kona coffee trees. The majority of Kona coffee crops are cultivated on small family-owned farms. Of course, this means there is a limit to how much can be produced by Kona Coffee farmers. While this contributes to the artisanal nature of Kona coffee, it also affects economies of scale, making production more costly per pound. That's another answer to the question, "Why is Kona coffee so expensive?"
Transportation Costs
It doesn’t help that Kona coffee isn’t grown in an easily accessible location with lots of rocky terrain. Transporting the harvested beans from the Kona region to the global market involves additional expenses. These transportation costs, combined with the limited production scale and labor costs for qualified farm workers, contribute to the premium price of Kona coffee.
Is It Worth The Price?
The answer is yes for coffee drinkers who can afford it, who enjoy the flavor nuances of good coffee, and who want to drink great cups of coffee all the time. Kona Coffee's smooth, well-balanced taste alone is worth it. Plus, once you understand the exclusivity of the product and consider how it's produced, you add an additional layer that justifies its premium price.
How to Buy Kona Coffee
If you want to buy authentic Kona coffee, it's important to do your research and not buy from a scammer. Look for reputable producers and roasters who are transparent about the beans they use. They should disclose the percentage of Kona beans in their blends and preferably also give you information about the altitude and grade of the beans used.
Depending on where you live, you could order directly from Kona Coffee Farms to ensure the product's authenticity. Some Kona coffee farms directly ship to customers in the USA and Canada, but it is more difficult if you live elsewhere.
What Is The Average Price Of Kona Coffee (2024)?
The price of Kona coffee can vary wildly. You can get a pound of low-quality Kona coffee for as little as $10 if you’re lucky, but the average price would be around $20 per pound for lower-quality Kona coffee (non-organic).
You can add around $10 per pound if you're after organic beans.
If you’re after Kona Extra Fancy, expect to pay up to $70 per pound (and more if you’re after organic beans).
Depending on the type of Kona coffee beans you buy in 2024, one unforgettable cup of Kona coffee can cost you anywhere from $1 to $15 per cup!
You can also buy Kona peaberry coffee, which costs around $60 per pound.
Conclusion: Is Kona Coffee Worth The Price Tag?
Whether something is worth a high price tag is always a subjective answer. For some people, any type of coffee is a waste of money. They’d never understand why on Earth someone would want to spend $60 or more on a single pound of coffee - but that’s not the kind of people Kona coffee is grown for.
For people who appreciate coffee's fine nuances and want to treat themselves to something special, Kona coffee is definitely worth the price.
