There are many good coffees that are produced and developed world wide to give coffee connoisseurs a delightful variety of flavors and aromas to try. One of the best coffees by far that is on the market today is Kona coffee, which is grown and roasted with utmost care to provide the very best coffee experience for those who care to indulge. Kona coffee is grown in the Kona region on the big island of Hawaii, and has been produced since the 1800’s. Coffee plants were originally introduced into the area by Samuel Reverend Ruggles, when he brought Brazilian cuttings into the region to grow. Although it took many years for the plants to take off, coffee has now become a big business in Hawaii, with over 600 Kona coffee farms in the area today.
Kona coffee beans are grown in the ideal conditions of this region, offering the plants the optimum amounts of sun, moisture and temperature to grow the best beans possible. The blooms appear on the trees in February and March, and the small, white flowers that cover the plants are known as “Kona snow.” The beans are harvested from August to January every year, and the trees are picked over many times to ensure that the harvest is complete. Once the cherries housing the coffee beans have been picked and the beans are extracted, they will go through a sun-drying process before they are sold to roasters, or roasted by the farmer himself for a unique, customized coffee.
Where to find Kona Coffee
Many coffee distributors will offer Kona coffee, although it may not be available all of the time. It is important if you are shopping for Kona coffee to watch out for terms like Kona blend, or Kona roasted. Coffee makers who have picked up on the idea that Kona coffee is big business will try to use the terms in a variety of ways to market their coffees more effectively. Keep in mind that most Kona blends on the market are only ten percent Kona coffee, and the rest is probably Columbian or Brazilian. If a coffee is truly a Kona coffee, it will have been grown in the Kona region, and it will bear a unique stamp to that effect.
Kona coffee offers a flavorful cup of coffee with a rich aroma, and is known throughout the world as one of the best coffees available today. While it tends to be much pricier than many other types of coffee, one taste of this delicious beverage will convince you that Kona coffee is worth every penny.
About the Author - Roland Jefferson is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, Calfornia. For free recipes, tips and resources covering Kona Coffee, please visit our Kona Coffee Resource.
Kona coffee is the market name for a variety of coffee (Coffea arabica) cultivated on the slopes of Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. Only coffee from the Kona Districts should be described as "Kona."
