If you drink coffee, you will definitely agree with me when I say that buying a pack of your caffeine fix is not an easy task, especially if you are a discerning drinker. From the roast level to the origin of the beans, a lot of us are meticulous and unwilling to settle with just any other option. Among others, those from Kona in Hawaii are considered to be unsurpassed in terms of quality.
What is the best Kona coffee to purchase? I will let you know at the end of this buying guide. I will share with you five of the best products available in the market and the reasons why they are impressive. To add, I will also tackle more about Kona coffee, including insights that will help you to easily narrow down the possibilities.
What is Kona Coffee
Kona is not a brand or a manufacturer of coffee. Rather, it refers to coffee that is made using beans that have been grown exclusively in the Kona region, which is a part of Hawaii. Nonetheless, it does not mean that because they are from the same land, the taste will be the same. The roasting process and other factors will have an impact on the flavor and aroma.
Similar to the world of wines, in the world of coffees, there is such a thing as taste of the land. This means that sun, soil, elevation, water, and fertilizers, among other things, affect the taste of coffee
In the Kona region in Hawaii, there are more than 600 independent coffee farms. Most of them are below seven acres in terms of size, which makes it easier to harvest beans by size. They are hand-picked by people who have been thoroughly trained to make sure that the beans exhibit the best quality.
Aside from being hand-picked, the beans that are used in Kona coffee are sun-dried. They are not processed with the use of toxic chemicals that can endanger your health. The coffee beans are regularly raked throughout the process of sun-drying. This provides an assurance that both sides will be consistently dried.
The short video below will show you more on what is Kona coffee.
Choosing the Best Kona Coffee
To help you out in narrowing down the options that are available in the market, below are some of the most important factors you have to consider:
- Roast Level: Personally, I would say that a medium roast is a good option. This provides the perfect balance, making sure that the coffee will not be too acidic and too bitter. At the end of the day, however, individual taste buds will dictate which roast is a good option.
- Pure or Blended Kona: Always look for a coffee that is made from 100% Kona beans. There are some that are blended with other beans, which means that flavor is not as concentrated. Most of them contain only 10% Kona beans, which are also cheaper, but not as tasty.
- K-Cups, Whole Beans, or Ground Coffee: If you want convenience and consistency, it is good to buy Kona coffee in the form of K-cups. They are quick to make and you can expect consistent taste since you do not have to do any measurement on your own.
- Certifications: Different manufacturers may use their certifications as a way to market their products and stand out from the competition. Some are Kosher-certified, which means that they adhere with the Jewish beliefs. Others will show the awards they have received, which can be sort of bragging rights for the manufacturer.
- Grade: It is also important to note that Kona has an independent grading system, which will help to determine the quality of the coffee. The different coffee grades are Kona Extra Fancy, Kona Fancy, Kona Number 1, Kona Select, and Kona Prime. The grade will have an impact on the overall quality that you can expect from the coffee.
Tips in Using Kona Coffee
Having the best Kona coffee is not enough to have the assurance that you will have an exceptional cup of caffeine fix. There are some tips that you might want to keep in mind as well, such as those that will be mentioned below:
- Similar to the case of any other coffee, you also have to pay attention to proper storage. Most of these coffees are packaged in thick bags, but they do not have seals. You should transfer them in a canister with a tight seal, which will prevent the coffee from being stale.
- Pay attention to the grinds, especially how coarse or fine they are. Different grinds are needed for different ways of preparing coffee. For instance, if you are making espresso, you need fine grinds. Think about the brewing method that you will choose to determine how to grind your beans.
- Maintain the right water temperature when brewing your Kona coffee. See to it that it is right to release all the flavors and aroma. Ideally, the temperature of the coffee should be anywhere from 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The brewing time of your Kona coffee is another thing that will have a crucial impact on the quality of your drink. Brewing the coffee for a time that is longer than necessary will lead to over-extraction, which will make the coffee bitter. If you brew it too short, however, it will be too acidic and sour.
Top Picks for the Best Kona Coffee
If you are still unsure on which option will prove to be the best, in this section, we will briefly go through some of the top options, as well as the things that make these products a notch above most of their competitors.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-29 at 21:37 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Blend of select coffees from Kona Moku on the Big island of Hawaii and Latin America
- Delicate body, vibrant acidity and a soft, subtle aroma call sundrenched tropical flora to mind
- Convenient for busy mornings or when you need an on-the-go treat
- Kosher certified.Single serve cups compatible with all 1.0 & 2.0 Brewers
- 100% Arabica Coffee
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-16 at 08:36 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-29 at 21:08 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- We roast our Kona Blend Coffee to a medium roast. Our Kona Blend coffee pods have a bright floral taste with a unique finish due to the Kona Coffee being grown on volcanic soil.
- One box contains 18 Eco-friendly Coffee Pods.
- Our Coffee Pod is 61mm and 10 grams. We put more coffee in our coffee pod for a bolder more full bodied flavor
- Our Coffee Pods are individually foil wrapped to ensure you are receiving the freshest coffee.
- Works in most coffee pod brewers, including the Senseo Coffee Pod Machine
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-29 at 21:37 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Gourmet Blend
- A blend of Hawaiian fancy Kona & other high-mountain-grown arabica coffees
- You get 2 lbs of whole bean delicious Coffee.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-09-29 at 21:37 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
Now that you are done reading, I hope that it is easier for you to choose the best Kona coffeethat is available in the market. Choose only those that are made using the best beans from Hawaii, regardless of their price. At the end of the day, the more important thing is the flavor and aroma of your coffee, or its overall quality, and not the cost.
Personally, if there is one product that I can recommend, it would be Caza Trail Coffee, Kona Blend. It is in the form of K-cups, which means that you can enjoy consistently great quality all the time.
