8 Best Kona Coffee Beans You Need to Try
- Best Overall: Koa Coffee Private Reserve Medium Roast
- Runner Up: Kona Gold Coffee Whole Beans
- Best Value: Hawaii Coffee Royal Kona
- Best Budget Pick: Hawaii Roasters Kona Coffee
- Blue Horse Kona Coffee
If you’re a coffee-lover, then you’ve probably heard all the fuss about Kona Coffee. It’s aromatic and delicious. You’d never want to go back to your usual beans!
Today, we’ll review the top 8 of the Best Kona Coffee roast to get your hands on!
You don’t have to visit the big island of Hawaii or Mauna Loa. Enjoy your unique coffee experience roast at home.
Are you ready for the ultimate coffee experience? Keep reading this review.
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Best Overall  |
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Best Budget Pick  |
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8 Best Kona Coffee Picks
1. Koa Coffee Private Reserve Medium Roast – Best Overall
Touted as the best of the best by Forbes, the Koa Coffee Private Medium Roast is an excellent choice for the best Kona coffee picks. These coffee beans are grown on the slopes of Volcano Mauna Loa in Hawaii, which provided optimal growing conditions.
The Koa Coffee Private Reserve Medium Roast produces one of the most flavorful coffee profile. It is fruity, nutty, sweet and has a tinge of spice. Thus providing coffee lovers with unique and interesting flavors for cold brew.
In order to get quality Kona coffee, you have to pay the premium. A high-quality Kona coffee is not cheap, but it is worth the money as long as you purchase the real deal. Koa Coffee offers one of the best Kona coffee out there in the market and is highly sought after.
Koa Coffee roasts 100% Hawaiian Kona coffees. A cup of Kona coffee gives you an exclusive experience that comprises only 1% of the coffee grown in the world. The heavenly aroma, coupled with the smooth and rich taste, will definitely get you begging for more.
Pros
- High quality coffee beans picked by hand
- Medium roast that produces sweet and fruity tasting notes (no bitterness) with mild and smooth aroma
- Award-winning company with huge reputation
- Grown in the best regions of the world
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Can go out of stock
2. Kona Gold Coffee Whole Beans – Runner Up
Key Takeaways
- Received an “Extra Fancy” grade
- 100% Kona coffee beans
- Wet-method processed
Another crowd favorite, the Hawaiian Kona Gold Coffee Whole Beans. You’ll never go wrong choosing this fantastic Hawaiian coffee, especially if it’s your first time!
Flavor
You can’t possibly claim to have tried every coffee flavor out there without trying this. It has a unique and distinct taste you can’t find anywhere else!
Even we are having a hard time putting into words what it tastes like. It’s that good!
Picture it, sipping a freshly brewed Kona Gold Coffee. It’s warm on your lips and sweet on your tongue. But wait, there’s a fruity taste somewhere there. Unique!
If you’re a coffee-lover, you’ll want to have more than just a cup of this.
Price
This “Extra Fancy” grade coffee comes with an expensive price tag. Sold at $65 a bag or $4 an ounce, things can get pretty expensive quickly.
For an “Extra Fancy Grade” coffee, not bad!
Is Kona Gold Coffee for You?
It’s one of the best products in the market, serving only 100% pure Kona beans. They’ve won several awards and received an “Extra Fancy” grade from the Hawaiian Society of Agriculture, the highest grade for Kona coffee beans!
They’re that good! And they sure are in the business of making no ordinary coffee.
Pros
- Smooth and aromatic flavor
- Roasted and grown in the same estate
- Hand-picked and sun-dried coffee beans
Cons
- Has a burnt coffee taste when over-brewed
3. Hawaii Coffee Royal Kona – Best Value
Key Takeaways
- “Extra Fancy” grade
- Coffee meant for royalty
- Roasted, bagged, and shipped!
Are you looking for Kona coffee that’s fit for royalty? Then Hawaii coffee won’t disappoint. Once you have a sip of this private reserve roast, you’ll know it’s one meant for royalty!
Right after roasting the beans, they’re immediately bagged and shipped to maintain its freshness!
Flavor
You’d be surprised by how refreshing the coffee tastes like because of the beans! It doesn’t leave any of that nasty tangy or acidic taste in your mouth. It also doesn’t have any of that bitter aftertaste.
Instead, what this private reserve coffee roast boasts of having is a pleasant fruity and earthy taste. You can almost imagine it growing in the rich volcanic soil of Hawaii!
Close your eyes, relax, and enjoy the taste of Hawaii.
Price
Believe it or not, it’s a coffee company that offers one of the best coffee products with excellent value for money and offers a pure Kona coffee flavor.
It has an “Extra Fancy” grade, but comes at a very affordable price! Sold at only $3.42 an ounce, it’s perfect!
Is Hawaii Coffee Royal for You?
If you’re looking for pure Kona coffee flavor at an affordable price, this is it!
Pros
- Great value for money
- Delicious, clear, and refreshing taste
- Doesn’t leave a tangy or acidic taste
Cons
- Distributing inconsistencies
4. Hawaii Roasters Kona Coffee – Best Budget Pick
Key Takeaways
- 100% medium roast Kona beans
- Mild & delicate flavor
- Perfect packaging to retain flavor
Have you ever wondered what natural and farm-roasted Kona coffee beans taste like? Wonder no more thanks to Hawaii Roasters.
They offer 100% Kona coffee beans, hand-picked from the fields, and straight to roasting!
The beans have a pleasant and familiar chestnut color, enough to get you drooling for a cup of freshly brewed coffee Kona authenticity.
Flavor
Who said you couldn’t bring the taste of Hawaii to your home? Not this Kona coffee brand!
The aromatic scent alone is enough to wake you up! You can fill your home with the distinct and fragrant smell of Kona Coffee.
This medium roast Kona bean combines a mild and delicate taste. Just the perfect blend, even for first-timers!
Drink your coffee black without worrying about any harsh aftertaste! You can expect a light and pleasant mellow taste complemented by a smooth and silky consistency.
The secondary aftertaste is another reason why you’ll fall in love with this coffee roast. Take a sip, and you’ll taste different complementing flavors!
If you’re someone who prefers dark roast Kona coffee beans, this might not be ideal for you. Nonetheless, it’s still worth a try!
Price
There’s nothing much we can’t say about the price of this product, except that it’s affordable!
It’s certainly more expensive than your regular coffee beans, but still cheaper than other Kona coffee brands, so if you’re looking for something to get you started with Kona coffee, try this out!
Is Hawaii Roasters for You?
Do you love medium roasted coffee? Is this your first time drinking Kona coffee? Hawaii Roasters has it all. Affordability, a great choice for those who are starting out, and fruity notes!
Pros
- No bitter aftertaste
- Governor’s Export Award winner
- Great even for iced coffee
Cons
- Shipping takes time because beans come directly from Hawaii
5. Blue Horse Kona Coffee
Key Takeaways
- Dark roast whole bean
- Beans are free of herbicide and pesticide
- Generation of experience
You’ll never go wrong when you choose Blue Horse Kona Coffee. They know what they’re doing because Blue Horse has been in the industry for many years.
You might even be surprised to know that they pick their beans from their trees, which are over 120 years old! Impressive!
Flavor
If you’re someone who enjoys putting cream and sugar in your coffee, then this Kona coffee bean is for you.
You’re pretty much drinking the coffee black, but it already tastes sweet and creamy without any sugar and cream!
The flavor combines a sweet and nutty taste, leaving you wanting more than just a cup.
It has an overarching chocolate flavor, with a nutty and caramel aftertaste. Delicious! You won’t need to add sugar or cream with this one.
Price
Fair warning, this Kona coffee brand doesn’t come cheap. You’ll need to be a coffee lover when you buy this one.
Nevertheless, at $43 for a pound, we guarantee that every sip is worth it.
Is Blue Horse for You?
Blue Horse offers the best dark roast Kona beans on this list. If dark roast and all-natural is up your alley, you can’t go wrong with this pick!
Pros
- Outstanding company customer support
- Perfect for drip coffee
- Great packaging to keep the beans fresh
Cons
- Very expensive
6. Imagine Kona Coffee Beans
Key Takeaways
- Air-roasted Kona beans
- The beans are grown in rich volcanic soil
- Medium-dark roast Kona coffee beans
Being one of the best Kona brands in the market, they offer an excellent 100% Kona coffee bean, and their medium-dark roast Kona Coffee beans is a show stopper.
Believe it or not, but this product is at the top of its game. It even landed itself in the top 10% of the best Kona Coffee beans in the market!
Flavor
If you love coffee, then you’ll adore the profile of this one. It’s smooth and incredibly flavorful, very hard to resist!
It’s packed with a ton of caffeine and intense flavors to get you that coffee punch in the morning! You won’t have a hard time jumpstarting your day, either!
Price
$65 and that’s very expensive. There’s no point in sugar-coating the real price of this product.
Considering its complex flavor profile and popularity, we aren’t surprised by how expensive the coffee beans get!
Don’t worry, every buck you spend is worth it.
Is Imagine Kona for You?
For the best medium roast Kona beans, Imagine has the ideal quality to satisfy your coffee cravings!
Pros
- Strong and powerful flavor
- Great mood and productivity-boosting coffee
- Perfect to use on french press
Cons
- Very expensive
7. Hawaiian Mountain Gold
Key Takeaways
- Perfect all-around and go-to Kona coffee
- Lingering sweet flavors
- Perfect for anyone with a budget
Hawaiian Mountain Gold is an honest-to-goodness Kona coffee product, without the thrills and fuss.
Flavor
The coffee beans are pretty straightforward.
Once you take a sip, you’ll be delighted by the sweet, mild, and mellow flavors! The sweet flavors linger on your tongue, making you want more!
Price
Hawaiian Mountain Gold is famous for selling 100% quality Kona coffee beans at an affordable price point.
Imagine paying only $2.30 for an ounce of Kona coffee, not bad!
Is Hawaiian Mountain Gold for You?
If you’re on a budget and want to try Kona coffee, then you’ll be happy to know that this one of the most affordable products you’ll find out there.
If you’re looking for the best all-around Kona coffee beans, then this product is for you.
Pros
- Sweet and mellow flavor
- Very affordable
- Ships very fast
Cons
- Not ideal for people looking for a strong brew
8. KonaRed Kona Coffee Medium Roast
Key Takeaways
- 100% Kona coffee beans, medium roast
- Perfectly balanced for an exceptional taste
- Great packaging to keep the flavors intact
KonaRed’s coffee beans are naturally sourced and grown without pesticides or harsh chemicals, so you’re guaranteed to receive 100% Kona coffee beans without the nasty chemicals!
You’ll have the best quality Kona beans to enjoy!
Flavor
We love this coffee because it offers an excellent medium roast for a rich and smooth flavor.
You’d be surprised to taste some hints of caramel and chocolate flavors and even floral tones!
Price
The price isn’t at all that bad. However, some people don’t find the product worth it.
The mild flavors aren’t worth the price, and you might find a better alternative.
Is KonaRed for You?
KonaRed produces the best organic Kona coffee, making it an excellent pick for anyone who’s health-conscious.
Pros
- Delicious smooth and mild flavors
- Aromatic
- Pesticide and chemical-free
Cons
- Price not worth it for some
Enter Kona Coffee
Coffee enthusiasts would go miles to find the perfect coffee beans. Who wouldn’t? After all, coffee beans are the superstars of their show!
Did you know there’s a ton of coffee enthusiasts out there on an adventure to find the most unique, delicious, and great tasting coffee? You might even be one of them!
If you are, the search is over. Kona coffee is undeniably the most sought after by coffee enthusiasts, even if it comes at a costly price tag.
Why is it expensive? Because of where the best Kona coffee beans come from. Kona coffee beans come from the big island of Hawaii, in Mauna Loa and Hualalai.
Unlike other coffee beans, they grow on rich volcanic soil, which adds a premium to Kona coffee.
Unfortunately, scammers are all over the market selling Kona coffee. You might find Kona coffee brands posing to sell 100% Kona Hawaiian coffee, even when they’re not!
The scammers would capitalize on the uniqueness and popularity of Kona beans. They would dilute the Kona content, sacrificing the quality, and sell them for a high price! That’s such a scam!
Don’t worry. We made sure the best Kona coffee products and Kona coffee brands we listed are worth your money.
What is Kona Coffee?
Wouldn’t you love to wake up and have a cup of delicious Kona coffee? The beans come straight from Hualalai and Mauna Loa of Hawaii and grow under perfect conditions.
Kona coffee is practically the vision of what Hawaiian coffee is! Thank the coffee gods for the wonderful and beautiful big island of Hawaii.
The real beauty of the Kona coffee lies in its flavor profile.
Once you brew a cup, the sweet fragrance alone is enough to get your day started. Imagine what your first sip will feel like!
You’ll be welcomed by a delicious and complex combination of a sweet and nutty flavor. It leaves a citrusy, nutty, and bittersweet aftertaste on your tongue. Delicious!
Don’t worry because Kona coffee is low in acidity. Not only is it gentle on your tongue, but also for your digestion!
Unlike regular coffee, Kona won’t leave you with jitters. Instead, you’ll feel calmer and rejuvenated afterward. A perfect way to start your day!
Why is it Expensive?
You’ve probably noticed that the best Kona coffee roast out there is pricier than most. That’s because of how they’re harvested!
Regular beans grow on big plants, making it a lot cheaper and easier to harvest, unlike Kona coffee beans, hard to grow, time, and labor-intensive.
It takes a whopping three years before the Kona tree bears a fruit! In most cases, a single tree only produces a few pounds for harvesting!
You can even guarantee that the beans are hand-picked to stay true to its flavors! So you’ll have to wait and savor a single cup!
Classification and Grade
Did you know that Kona coffee has different classifications and grades?
In the 1980s, the Hawaii Agriculture Society developed the system to sell only 100% Kona coffee beans!
Classification
There are two classifications: Type I and II.
Type I refers to a single cherry that has two beans.
Type II, on the other hand, are called peaberries. It refers to a single cherry with only one bean but packs a rich and strong flavor.
Typically, 5% of Kona coffee beans are Type II.
Grade
Kona Coffee has five grades that consider factors like defects, weight, size, moisture, etc.
Let’s list them from the greatest to the lowest
- Kona Extra Fancy
- Kona Fancy
- Kona Number 1
- Kona Select
- Kona Prime
As a tip, you’d want to go for the Kona extra fancy grade. It has the highest quality and packs the best coffee flavor out there.
Kona prime, on the other, is the lowest of the bunch. Up to 20% of the beans are defective but still has some decent flavor.
Watch Out for Scammers
Because of how expensive Kona is, we want to make sure you get only the best products. Rest assured, all the products we’ve listed are made from 100% quality beans.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of Kona coffee brands out there that claim to be 100% genuine but aren’t.
While there’s generally nothing wrong about it, you’re certainly not getting the most out of your money! Make sure to watch out for them!
The easiest and telltale sign to know if your Kona coffee bean is authentic is if it comes from Hawaii. The only place where the beans should come from is in the Kona district of Hawaii!
Other than that, there’s nowhere else you could get the coffee!
You also want to check out the packaging for any mention of Hawaii. If there’s none, chances are they’re not genuine Kona.
Top Picks
Now that you know some of the best Hawaiian Kona coffee companies out there, it’s time for us to give our top three picks.
We’re not going to lie. It’s been tough for us to rank them.
However, even if the cost can be steep, we want you to enjoy the whole Hawaiian coffee Kona experience and chose only the best!
Best Value: Hawaii Coffee Royal Kona
If you want the best value and great tasting Kona coffee out there, then you can never go wrong with the Royal Kona.
It’s part of the best and most reliable coffee companies you can find.
The refreshing taste of coffee might come as a surprise to some, but it’s a good one.
What we love about this coffee company is an excellent value for the money it gives. Unlike other Kona coffee brands, you can enjoy “Extra Fancy” grade coffee without spending a fortune.
Runner Up: Kona Gold Coffee Whole Beans
We can’t help but award the second best Hawaiian Kona coffee to Kona Gold Coffee. And you know what, we’re already shooting for the stars by giving them this award!
With an “Extra Fancy” coffee grade, the highest of all grades, what else could you ask for? A bag gives you the highest quality Hawaiian coffee you can ever enjoy.
Serious coffee enthusiasts will love this one, thanks to its complex and delicious flavors!
Although it comes with a costly price tag, all we can say is that it’s worth every coffee bean.
Winner: Koa Coffee Private Reserve Medium Roast
Koa Coffee is the best Kona coffee beans that you can get. The medium roast is the perfect setting for this coffee bean.
Koa Coffee is roasting 100% Hawaiian Kona coffees. The Koa Coffee company supplies coffee to national retail chains and hotels and ships their roasted beans worldwide to destinations as far away as Australia.
A Kona coffee gives you an exclusive experience that comprises only 1% of the coffee grown in the world. The heavenly aroma, coupled with the smooth and rich taste, will definitely get you begging for more.
Conclusion
By now, you’re probably excited to get your hands on the best Kona coffee product out there. Because we sure are!
There’s just something exciting about brewing a fresh cup of pure Kona coffee, smelling the wonderful aromas, and taking the first sip.
Well, we won’t keep you any longer. We hope you enjoyed our review! Share this review with your friends!
Until the next brew, see you!
