Hawaii Kona, one of the world’s top three premium coffee brands.
It refers to coffee harvested in the Kona district of Hawaii Island, a globally famous production area.
As a coffee brand based in Hawaii, we believe our passion for Kona coffee is extremely intense. (Laughs)
Since it is of the highest quality, unnecessary blending is not required, so we only sell 100% Kona!
We differentiate ourselves from other companies through our sourcing farms, grading, and roasting methods while making the most of the raw material.
Please try a cup of this highest-level coffee, which accounts for only 0.01% of the world’s coffee production.
Hawaii Kona Coffee Bean Grades
Many people might think, “Isn’t Kona coffee just one type?”
However, it is actually officially classified by the State of Hawaii into the following seven grades.
| Rank | Grade Name | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Extra Fancy | Top grade. Large beans with almost no defects. |
| 2nd | Fancy | Slightly smaller but still high quality. |
| 3rd | No. 1 | Upper-middle class. Stable quality. |
| 4th | Select | Slightly more defects, uniformity of beans is loose. |
| 5th | Prime | The lowest official grade that can be named "Kona." |
| 6th | No. 3 | Substandard, but popular as Hawaiian coffee. |
| 7th | Off Grade | Low-quality beans for blending or industrial use. |
| Other | Peaberry | Rare beans comprising only 4% of the harvest. Special category. |
Under Hawaii rules, the five types from Extra Fancy to Prime can be sold as "100% Kona Coffee."
So even if it is labeled 100% Kona, the quality actually varies greatly!
Also, in the case of Kona blends containing 10% or more Kona, No. 3 or Off Grade beans are often used, so choosing based solely on price can be a bit risky.
Incidentally, in the case of No. 3 or Off Grade beans, rules prohibit labeling them as "Kona Coffee," so it is common in Hawaii to sell them under the name "Hawaiian Coffee."
However, because it is an expensive coffee, unfortunately, there are quite a few products on the market that label these lower grades as "Kona Coffee," so you need to be careful.
If the grade is not listed, it is likely Prime grade, but it might be good to ask when purchasing!
Hawaii Kona Handled by Waikiki Coffee
We mainly use the "Fancy," "No. 1," and "Prime" grades.
Although we handle various grades, the farm from which we source our Kona coffee is one of the leading farms in Hawaii!
It boasts four past victories at the Kona Coffee Cupping Competition.
Regarding the highest grade, Extra Fancy, we judge that the balance between price and flavor is poor because the harvest has been scarce recently and the brand value has become too high.
Therefore, we hope you enjoy Waikiki Coffee’s Kona Coffee as a product with excellent cost performance among the world’s top three brands.
Furthermore, since we import directly from the farm, we emphasize "low price and high quality" as our strength!
5-Level Evaluation of Hawaii Kona (No. 1) Characteristics
| Category | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Acidity | Bright (★★★★☆) | Transparency typical of high-grade beans. |
| Bitterness | Gentle (★★☆☆☆) | Modest and does not linger in the aftertaste. |
| Sweetness | Sweet (★★★★☆) | Close to elegant fruit sweetness. |
| Umami | Delicious (★★★★☆) | Soft and delicate tastiness. |
| Body | Balanced (★★★☆☆) | Exquisite body sensation. |
| Aroma | Very Floral (★★★★★) | Flowers, citrus, and elegant sweetness. |
| Aftertaste | Very Good (★★★★★) | Zero astringency with water-like transparency. |
| Caffeine | Balanced (★★★☆☆) | Extracts thoroughly. |
| Antioxidants | Balanced (★★★☆☆) | General average level. |
Hawaii Kona Product Details
| Name | Hawaii Kona |
| Capacity | 7oz (198g) |
| Bean Type | Grind (Powder), Whole Bean (Beans) |
| Size | 9 × 5.5 × 25 cm |
| Weight | 0.25 kg |
| Price | 6,980 JPY (Tax incl.) *Hawaii exclusive sale except during special events. |
| EAN Code | 4595555098016 (Powder), 4595555098023 (Beans) |
| URL | Product Page |
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