| Coffee is one of the most important commodities | | | | and Kona coffee grows primarily on the West |
| the world over. This byproduct of coffee cherries | | | | side of the Hawaiian archipelago. |
| and coffee beans has remained one of the most | | | | This location, as well as the climate, makes Hawaii |
| popular beverages. From the time that it | | | | an ideal setting to grow Kona coffee, which has |
| originated from Ethiopia centuries ago, coffee has | | | | become a world-class coffee variant. |
| become a household basic, something that people | | | | What makes coffee plants in Kona unique from |
| cannot do without. | | | | other coffee plants in the world are: |
| There are two basic coffee variants: one is the | | | | Hawaii is basically a group of islands formed by |
| traditional Arabica, and the other is Robusta | | | | volcanic slopes. Kona coffee if grown along the |
| coffee. Many coffee enthusiasts agree that the | | | | rocky volcanic slopes of Mount Lona and Mount |
| former has a stronger flavor than the latter, so it | | | | Hualalai. |
| tastes better. | | | | Due to the tropical climate in Hawaii, the mornings |
| This is because Arabica coffee contains beans in | | | | are almost always warm and sunny. During the |
| its purest form, rather than Robusta coffee which | | | | afternoon, there is a slight mist which befalls the |
| only has half of the caffeine amount that can be | | | | islands, further nurturing the coffee plants. |
| found in Arabica coffee variants. | | | | Most of the coffee farmers in Hawaii rely on the |
| Due to the high demand of Arabica coffee in the | | | | basic hand-picking method, ensuring the freshness |
| industry, many rare coffee variants found only in | | | | of the freshly-gathered coffee cherries. |
| certain places have found a niche market. | | | | Some coffee producers use modern machinery |
| Aside from the gorgeous beaches, lush forests | | | | to ensure fast harvesting when the coffee |
| and warm people, another thing that Hawaiians | | | | cherries are mature enough. |
| are proud of is a coffee variant that is solely | | | | However, a machine cannot give out the personal |
| produced in their islands, which is the Kona coffee. | | | | touch that farmers can give during harvesting. |
| Kona is a part of the Hawaiian archipelago where | | | | A machine may not recognize overripe or |
| this special coffee variant is grown. Kailua-Kona is | | | | immature coffee beans, and put them all together |
| the largest town in the district, and it has two | | | | once harvested. This results in an impure coffee |
| districts: the northern and southern districts of | | | | blend once the beans are processed. |
| Kona. | | | | On the other hand, a hand-picked batch of coffee |
| The word Kona literally means on the dry side of | | | | cherries is assured of almost 100 per cent quality. |
| the land. Kona coffee if therefore grown on the | | | | Kona coffee is also an Arabica blend, making it a |
| dry side of Big Island, which is the largest among | | | | truly premier coffee variant that Hawaiians can |
| all the Hawaiian islands. | | | | proudly offer to the world. |
| There are two districts which divide Kailua-Kona, | | | | |