Kona coffee, renowned for its unique flavors and aromatic experience, is a prized gem among coffee enthusiasts. Grown in the sunny regions of Hawaii, this coffee is known for its rich body and delicate balance of flavors, making it a favorite among connoisseurs. Choosing the right brand can elevate your morning cup into a remarkable sensory journey. Explore below to discover some of the top brands offering the finest Kona coffee available today.
Illustration of kona coffee
Best brands of kona coffee in 2025
Koa Coffee
Koa Coffee, formerly a prominent grower and processor of Kona coffee, was established in 1997 on the western slopes of Mauna Loa in Captain Cook, Hawaii. The company began as a small backyard business, producing 38,000 pounds of coffee in its first year, and by 2010, its production had surged to over 700,000 pounds. Despite its expansion, in 2007, most of the assets were sold to Kona's Best Natural Coffee, and since 2009, Koa Coffee Plantation has been owned by Hawaii Coffee Company. Koa Coffee is renowned for its high-quality Kona blends, though there is ongoing debate about the minimum percentage of Kona coffee required in labeled blends, currently set at 10% but proposed to be increased to 51%. For more insights into the authenticity of Kona coffee and protection of the brand, read more on Civil Beat.
Peaberry Kona Coffee
Peaberry Kona Coffee, produced by esteemed brands like Big Island Coffee Roasters, stands out as one of the best in the Kona coffee market. This rare and highly prized coffee accounts for only 3-7% of the total Kona coffee crop, resulting from a natural mutation where a single, oval-shaped bean forms inside the coffee cherry instead of the usual two. Known for its intense flavor profile, peaberry coffee is characterized by notes of caramel, cacao, cinnamon, and plum, with a deeply sweet and rich taste. In 2019, Big Island Coffee Roasters' Kona Peaberry coffee received the highest grade in a cupping of Hawaiian coffees by Coffee Review, highlighting its exceptional quality. This coffee is processed using the traditional wet or "washed" method, enhancing its unique flavor and aroma. For more details, visit the Big Island Coffee Roasters Kona Peaberry Coffee page.
Kona Coffee & Tea Company
The Kona Coffee and Tea Company stands out as a premier producer of Kona coffee, operating as a family-owned and operated single-estate farm that handles every step from growing to brewing. Located on the Island of Hawai`i, this company ensures high-quality coffee through its meticulous processes, contributing to the reputation of Kona coffee as a luxury beverage. Despite challenges such as crop losses and invasive pests, Kona coffee farmers like those at this company maintain a strong commitment to quality and sustainability. The farm's production is part of the larger Kona coffee industry, which saw a total production of 23.3 million pounds during the 2023-2024 season, with farm gate prices reaching record highs. This dedication to quality and the unique terroir of the Kona region make their coffee highly sought after. For more information, visit their official page here.
Greenwell Farms
Greenwell Farms is one of the oldest and most renowned producers of Kona coffee, with a legacy dating back to 1850 when Henry Nicholas Greenwell first began farming in Kealakekua, Hawaii. The farm maintains 85 acres of coffee orchards and manages an additional 60 acres for other landowners, handling every aspect of coffee production from harvesting to roasting. Greenwell Farms has played a significant role in Hawaii's coffee industry, with their coffee earning recognition as early as 1873 at the World's Fair in Vienna, Austria. The farm continues to innovate, hosting educational tours and producing premium 100% Kona coffee, as well as other local products. Despite the high production costs due to labor and supply chain challenges, Greenwell Farms remains a leader in the Kona coffee market.
Mountain Thunder Coffee
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation is renowned as one of the best producers of 100% Kona Coffee, grown exclusively in the Kona region of Hawaii Island. The coffee is hand-picked, mechanically and optically sorted, and small-batch roasted to ensure the highest quality. The ideal conditions of volcanic soil, high elevations, gentle climate, and ideal rainfall in Kona make it a unique and prime location for gourmet coffee production. Mountain Thunder processes coffee for 75 to 100 small farms annually, emphasizing quality at every step from growing to roasting. The labor-intensive process, including multiple rounds of picking from August to December, contributes to the distinct taste and quality of Kona coffee.
Hula Daddy Kona Coffee
Hula Daddy Kona Coffee is renowned as one of the top producers of Kona coffee, having been named the best Kona coffee by Hawai`i Magazine readers in 2014. This boutique coffee farm, established in 2002, spans 30 acres and has garnered numerous awards, including the highest rating for any coffee in the world from CoffeeReview.com. In 2017, their 100% Kona SL-28 coffee was selected as the No. 2 coffee on Coffee Review's list of the Top 30 Coffees. The farm is located in the Holualoa, North Kona growing district, and their coffee is known for its exceptional quality and distinct flavors. Hula Daddy's commitment to quality has earned it a prestigious place in the coffee industry. For more information, visit their official website.
Kona Gold Trading Company
Kona Gold Trading Company is renowned for producing some of the best Kona coffee, benefiting from the unique microclimate on the slopes of Mauna Loa in Hawaii. This environment contributes to the coffee's distinct flavor profile, characterized by a smooth, rich taste with hints of nutty flavors and fruity aromas. The company faces challenges such as climate change, pests like the Coffee Berry Borer, and labor shortages, but remains committed to sustainable farming practices, including organic methods and ethical labor standards. The Kona coffee industry, valued at nearly $62 million in the 2021-2022 season, relies heavily on immigrant labor for about 12 weeks annually. Despite these challenges, Kona Gold continues to innovate in pest management and disease prevention to protect its crops.
Lion Coffee
Lion Coffee is renowned for its high-quality Kona coffee blends, particularly their Premium Gold, which combines 10% authentic Kona coffee beans with 90% foreign-grown coffee to create a balanced and flavorful cup. This blend is appreciated for its sweet, malt-like finish and mild, mellow taste. The Kona coffee used in Lion's blends is cultivated in the favorable climate of the Kona Districts on the Big Island of Hawaii, known for its sunny mornings, cloudy afternoons, and mineral-rich volcanic soil. Each tree in these regions can produce around 15 pounds of cherry, resulting in about two pounds of roasted coffee. The careful processing, including hand-picking and fermentation, ensures the distinct notes of Kona coffee are preserved.
Hawai'i Coffee Company
The Hawai'i Coffee Company is presumed to be part of the esteemed Kona coffee producers due to the region's renowned coffee quality. Kona coffee, cultivated on the fertile slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa, ranks among the world's most expensive and highly prized coffees, with around 900 farms generating close to 20 million pounds of coffee cherry each season. The area's ideal climate, combined with its rich volcanic soil, imparts a unique flavor and aroma to the coffee. In the 2023-2024 season, Hawaii reported coffee production of 23.3 million pounds, achieving a record-high farm gate price of $2.51 per pound of cherry coffee. The meticulous processes involved, such as hand-picking and fermentation, ensure the premium quality that Kona coffee is celebrated for.
Buddha's Cup Coffee
Buddha's Cup is a renowned producer of high-quality Kona coffee, sourcing and roasting the finest beans from Hawaii's Big Island. With over 80 acres of single-estate farms, they produce 100% pure Kona coffee, including the highly sought-after Peaberry beans, which make up only 5-7% of the crop and contain up to 50% more caffeine. Despite facing challenges such as droughts, coffee leaf rust fungus, and the coffee berry borer, Buddha's Cup has maintained its commitment to quality, with some of their brands winning international awards, including a first-place gold medal at the International Cupping Competition in Paris in 2018. The brand's dedication to a healthy, bio-diverse ecosystem ensures a unique flavor profile for each of their five single-estate labels. Their efforts have resulted in significant recognition and a loyal customer base. For more information, visit their official website.
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