Kona coffee has its origins in the fertile fields of Kona, Hawaii.
It is thought by many to be one of the world’s finest coffee products.
This coffee saw its first cuttings planted in Kealakekua in 1828 and tended for almost a hundred years by dedicated Japanese farmers determined to bring this fine coffee bean to consumers everywhere. Despite this, the product is still a fairly rare commodity and it is still a little hard to buy Kona coffee on a routine trip to each and every store.
Today many farmers, millers, roaster and retailers in Kona continue to bring this fine crop to harvest. Coffee plantations are one of the few remaining agricultural farming opportunities in Hawaii but in recent years the industry has been threatened by companies dishonestly labeling their inferior blends as ‘Kona’ when in fact they are not the ‘real thing’. To buy Kona coffee that is the real ‘McCoy’ you need to become an informed and savvy consumer aware of all those who seek to sell you an inferior product at a genuine price.
So how do you know if you are really buying and drinking authentic Kona Coffee?
Several large corporations and even individuals are using the good name of Kona to sell coffee that isn’t in fact Kona grown at all. These firms will substitute the real product with a much cheaper sub-standard coffee bean from South America. If you haven’t tasted Kona coffee before you are unlikely to realize that you have been ripped off until you taste the real thing.
In recent years several farms in the Kona area tried to obtain legal rights to the brand name ‘Kona’. They were apparently thwarted in their efforts by five large companies who filed separate law suits against this action to try to stop the process from going forward. The brand name would have allowed farmers and others involved in the production of the product to attain federal protection.
LBD Coffee Company for 100% Kona coffee. They offer two varieties – 100% Kona Extra Fancy is the highest grade of Kona coffee. The beans are large and dense and this makes for a great flavor. The coffee is fresh roasted and packed in individual one pound bags.
100% Kona Peaberry is one of the rarest coffee beans in the world. It is estimated that only 4 percent of the annual coffee harvest yields this fine grade of coffee. The Peaberry coffee occurs when a coffee tree is placed under stress during growth. This results in each coffee cherry producing a single round, dense bean instead of the usual two. Peaberry coffee is also fresh roasted and available in individual one pound bags.
Conclusion:If you are looking to buy Kona Coffee that is authentic – we suggest calling farms in the area and asking them for a list of companies who buy Kona Coffee from them. They will be more than happy to know that you are interested in supporting the real manufacturers of this wonderful, full bodied bean.
Real Kona coffee is superior in taste to many blends and promises to deliver a fabulous coffee drinking experience. Happy coffee drinking!