Kona Coffee Guide & Tasting Tour Overview The tropical coastal town of Kailua-Kona isn’t just a beautiful retreat with sun-soaked coastline – it’s actually located in the heart of Hawaiian coffee country. More than 650 coffee farms of various sizes exist throughout the Big Island, with their specialties and production capabilities varying from farm to farm. World-renowned for the quality and consistency of its beans, Kona Coffee is worth a trip to the Big Island alone. While it’s not difficult to find throughout the Big Island’s many restaurants and cafes, you won’t get the same experience as you may with a tour of a coffee farm to experience fresh-brewed coffee firsthand. Kona Coffee Guide: Beware a Blend If you want to invest in a great gift or treat for your return trip, you’ll want to do a bit of research with our Kona coffee guide before you purchase a bag of Kona Coffee. There are four common terms in the Hawaii coffee world that can be confusing for those unfamiliar with them: Kona Roast“Kona Roast” is unlikely to contain any degree of genuine Kona quality coffee beans. Unlike some of the other terms on this list, which are mandated by law to contain a certain amount of Kona Coffee, Kona Roast is not and is really just a marketing term. Kona Style“Kona Style” is another marketing term and, unless it is clearly stated on the bag, contains no Kona Coffee beans. Kona BlendKona Blend-labelled coffees are mandated by law to contain at least 10% genuine Kona Coffee beans in every bag. 100% Kona CoffeePurchasing a bag of 100% Kona Coffee is the only way to ensure you’re getting the real deal. If you visit a farm on a coffee tour, you may be able to purchase directly from the farm or learn what stores they’ve partnered with to ensure you get the right coffee. Why’s it so Expensive? Once most people have gotten their first taste of genuine Kona Coffee, their next question is usually, “Where can I get some to bring home?” with the common follow-up, “Why’s it so expensive?” It’s a valid quest
