Wondering where to buy Kona coffee beans online? Here are the best Kona coffee brands + tips to ensure you’re not wasting your money on a fake blend!
If you’ve never tried Hawaiian Kona coffee before, you’re truly missing out! Authentic Kona coffee beans are coveted by coffee lovers everywhere, and once you taste the real thing, you’ll be hooked, too.
Unfortunately, many consumers are paying top dollar for 10% (or less) Kona blends, thinking they’re getting 100% Kona coffee. So, before you purchase your next bag of Kona coffee beans, read our tips below to make sure you’re getting what you’re paying for.
If the coffee you’re looking at is being marketed as a “Kona blend” with a price that’s too good to be true, chances are, it’s probably a fake. Compare it to being served a top-shelf whiskey… only it’s been watered down so the bar can make more money. So not cool!
But, don’t worry! We’re going to tell you where to buy Kona coffee, why it’s worth the money, and how to spot a fake.
The Best Kona Coffee Brands at a Glance
If you’re in a hurry, here’s where to buy the best Kona coffee online and have it shipped right to your door. Scroll down for full reviews of each product.
1. Koa Coffee Tri-Pack | Amazing Quality and Value
2. Hawaiian Kona Coffee Extra Fancy from Volcanica Coffee | Freshly Roasted to Order
3. Royal Kona Peaberry Kona Coffee | Best Peaberry Kona
4. Hualalai Estate 100% Kona Coffee | Smooth, Low-Acid Authentic Kona
5. Blue Horse 100% Kona Coffee | Best Artisan Kona from a Small, Family Owned Kona Farm
6. Blue Horse 100% Kona Coffee K-Cups | Best Kona K-Cups
What Makes Kona Coffee So Special?
Kona coffee is special because of where it’s grown. Much like the Champagne region of France, the Kona region of Hawaii has a unique microclimate that gives true Kona coffee beans their unique flavor and aroma. However, this uniqueness can’t be mimicked anywhere else, not even in other parts of Hawaii.
In fact, some parts of Hawaii are actually not suited for coffee farming at all. Hawaii’s main cash crop throughout history has been sugarcane, which has stripped the soil of important nutrients in many places. And, some areas of Hawaii have clay soil that’s not suitable for growing high-quality Kona coffee beans.
On the other hand, the Kona coffee region on the island of Hawaii has fertile, rich volcanic soil that produces amazing flavor and the highest quality beans. Hawaii does produce some excellent coffee in other regions, but true Kona coffee beans are in a class all their own.
The Aroma and Flavor of Kona Coffee
True Kona coffee direct from Hawaii has an amazing aroma and flavor profile that includes hints of honey, chocolate, brown sugar, and just bit of bright fruitiness.
You might describe the top notes of Kona coffee as bright and crisp, with afternotes of nuts and citrus. And the aroma is just as amazing, with a mix of cocoa, caramel, butter, and fruit.
Kona coffee has low acidity, too, so it’s easier on the stomach. Together, the flavor, aroma, and afternotes of 100% Kona coffee create a unique and beautiful coffee experience that’s almost addictive.
Of course, your Kona experience will vary a bit depending on the roast you choose, how you brew it, and the freshness of the beans.
Yes, 100% Kona coffee is expensive. But it’s totally worth it if you’re into truly exceptional coffee with unbeatable aroma and flavor.
How Kona Coffee is Graded
Hawaii also puts coffee through rigorous testing through the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Every batch of Kona coffee is graded based on its moisture content, shape, and size, as well as any possible flaws in the coffee beans.
Extra fancy is the highest HDA grade awarded, but Kona coffee Grade 1 Fancy, Select, and Prime are all excellent quality, as well.
Don’t waste your money on Kona coffee that’s graded No. 3, Natural Prime, or Mixed Natural Prime. These are the lowest grades awarded.
Trust us, it’s worth a few extra bucks to get Kona beans with a higher HDA rating.
Kona Coffee vs Kona Blend: Here’s How to Know You’re Getting 100% Kona
As we all know, there’s only so much of a good thing… meaning real Kona coffee beans are pricey and in high demand. This creates the perfect market for opportunists to market fake Kona blends at a low price, which they’re only too happy to take advantage of.
So, how do you know you’re getting 100% real Kona?
By law, Hawaiian “Kona blends” only have to contain 10% certified Kona coffee beans. So, companies looking to make an easy buck will sell blends that are as much as 90% lower quality dark roast beans. It doesn’t take advanced calculus to figure out you’re not getting much Kona for your money.
Although Hawaiian laws are strict about labeling 100% Kona coffee vs Kona blends, there are lots of countries around the world that don’t regulate labeling for marketing purposes. So-called Kona coffee bean blends from other countries could contain absolutely zero authentic Kona coffee, or sometimes just a fraction.
So, how do you know you’re getting real Kona coffee? Only buy Kona coffee beans that come from the Island of Hawaii. Ensure that they are labeled as 100% pure Kona coffee beans. If it says, “Kona Blend,” it’s not the real deal. Period.
The Best Brewing Method for Kona Coffee
The best brewing method for Kona coffee is the French Press. Since the coffee doesn’t have to pass through a paper filter, it retains all of its aromatic oils. The result is a full-range of delicious Hawaiian Kona flavor without bitterness.
Always grind your beans fresh for the best aroma and flavor. See Our Guide to French Press Brewing for additional tips, including the correct ratios of ground coffee to water, depending on your taste.
Where to Buy The Best Kona Coffee for Flavor, Aroma, & Authenticity
Knowing how to find authentic Hawaiian Kona coffee beans will narrow down your choices quite a bit. And we’ve narrowed down the field even further to find the highest-grade Kona coffee beans with the best flavor and aroma so you can be sure you’re getting the best coffee for your money.
Here’s where to buy the best Hawaiian Kona coffee beans:
1. Koa Coffee Tri-Pack
Whether you already know you love Kona, or you want to give it a try for the first time, the Whole Bean Kona Coffee Tri-Pack from Koa Coffee is an excellent value. This is an award winning, private reserve Kona that Forbes magazine calls “The Best in America.”
It’s grown at high elevations in the Kona coffee region of Hawaii, so it’s the real deal and well worth the money. The beans are roasted when you place your order, so you can’t get much fresher than that.
We’ve found that Koa delivers consistently delicious, rich, smooth coffee that never bitter. The tri-pack is available in a dark roast that’s bold, full flavored and great for espresso, or a medium roast for those who prefer a milder cup.
If you’re looking for a gift for someone who loves coffee, this tri-pack is sure to please. The company has excellent customer service, too!
→Click Here to View the Koa Coffee Dark Roast Kona Tri-Pack←
→Click Here to View the Koa Coffee Medium Roast Kona Tri-Pack←
2. Hawaiian Kona Coffee Extra Fancy from Volcanica Coffee
Volcanica Coffee specializes in roasting your coffee fresh and shipping it to your door the next day. Their beans are grown at high altitudes in rich, volcanic soil, which makes them an obvious choice for sourcing the best Kona coffee beans. Their Hawaiian Kona Coffee Extra Fancy offers a mellow but rich flavor, full body, and low acidity in a medium roast.
How do they get such a mellow, low-acid flavor? Well, their microclimate is particularly unique because it’s shaded. And, these Kona coffee beans are grade No. 1 Extra Fancy, so you can’t get any better than that. These authentic Kona coffee beans satisfy every flavor profile, whether you love rich, full flavor or mellow, slightly sweet, and low acid.
Volcanica’s Hawaiian Kona Extra Fancy can be purchased as whole bean, or it can be freshly ground to suit your preference. Either way, they don’t roast your beans until after you make your purchase, so you can be assured of their freshness. This Kona coffee is a bit pricy, but it’s definitely worth the money if you’re into exceptional coffee.
→Click Here to View Volcanica’s Extra Fancy Hawaiian Kona←
3. Royal Kona Peaberry Kona Coffee
Peaberry Kona coffee beans are highly-prized because they make up less than 5% of the annual Kona harvest. These beans are special because they have a compact, uniform shape that roasts particularly well.
100% Peaberry Kona produces and intense, aromatic, concentrated, yet smooth Kona taste. It’s the ultimate indulgence for the gourmet coffee enthusiast who loves rich, full bodied coffee with absolutely no bitterness.
→Click Here to View Royal Kona Peaberry at Hawaii Coffee Company←
4. Hualalai Estate 100% Kona Coffee
Hualalai’s 100% Kona is available on Amazon in a medium-dark roast that will suit most palettes. It is top-grade, pure Kona grown, roasted, processed, and packaged in the Kona region of Hawaii without the use of pesticides.
We find the flavor and aroma of this Kona to be excellent. It has low acidity and no bitterness, with a full-bodied flavor when ground fresh. It’s a real treat for any coffee lover who loves the taste of authentic Kona.
→Click Here to View Hualalai 100% Pure Kona on Amazon←
5. Blue Horse 100% Kona Coffee
Blue Horse Kona is another truly exceptional, 100% authentic Kona that’s conveniently available on Amazon. Blue Horse is a small, family owned Kona farm that hand-picks their coffee and uses no herbicides or pesticides in their growing process.
Their Kona is available in a mild, yet flavorful medium roast or a bold, full-bodied dark roast, depending on your preference.
It’s grown in the shade for best flavor, then it’s dried in the sun. They roast and ship fresh in small batches, which is why they’re often sold out. If you experience this issue, don’t worry! Check back in a day or two and it will likely be back in stock.
This company’s customer service is on point, too. If you love an artisan coffee experience, this is the Kona for you. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s totally worth the splurge if you want the best Kona coffee available on Amazon.
→Click Here to View Blue Horse 100% Kona Medium Roast Coffee on Amazon.←
→Click Here to View Blue Horse 100% Kona Dark Roast Coffee on Amazon←
6. Blue Horse 100% Kona Coffee K-Cups
We have to be honest with you here. You aren’t going to get the best coffee experience from a K-Cup. Not only is the coffee pre-ground before shipment, but the Keurig simply isn’t the best brewing method. If you really want to use a Keurig, you’ll get better results if you buy whole bean coffee, grind it fresh, and then brew it with a reusable K-Cup filter.
That being said, Blue Horse makes the best 100% Kona Coffee K-Cups we’ve tried. Since they’re a small farm who roasts and processes their coffee in small batches, these are the freshest K-Cups you’re going to find anywhere.
When brewed, these Kona K-Cups deliver an amazing chocolatey aroma that’s characteristic of 100% Kona. The coffee itself has a rich, smooth, authentic Kona flavor that’s delicious even when served black.
And, as we mentioned above, Blue Horse coffee beans are handpicked, sun dried, and herbicide and pesticide free following strict Hawaiian guidelines. If you really want a Kona K-Cup, these are the only ones we recommend.
→Click Here to View Blue Horse 100% Kona Coffee K-Cups on Amazon←
Wrapping It Up
If you want a truly indulgent coffee experience, buy the best Kona coffee beans you can afford, grind them fresh, and brew them in your French press. We promise you won’t be disappointed!
