Read this article BEFORE you buy Extra Fancy Kona Coffee online or in-person to avoid falling for a Kona Coffee scam.
Kona, Hawaii is well-known as one of the best coffee growing regions in the world. It’s rich and flavourful in a way that is unique to the region. Kona coffee has trademark macadamia nut flavour notes… not surprising for a coffee from Hawaii.
In last year’s 2024 crop, we’d picked up a distinct fruitiness in the aroma. The body was very smooth and full. The taste of the medium roast had lots of deep cocoa notes with no bitterness on the backside. There was just the mildest hint of nuttiness. Kona has a subtle hint of crisp acidity that brightens and contributes to the balance of the cup. It was really an easy drinker in 2024, and proved more popular than ever!
It’s too early to tell what the 2025 crop is going to be like… but we have high expectations. And with coffee prices being volatile, this is a great way to lock your amazing Kona coffee in at the pricing as it currently stands.
We have now fully opened our 2025 Kona to online orders!
Orders can be placed starting now, with three different dates your Kona is available. Choose from:
And sign up below to be contacted directly every year!
Kona Reservations now open!
What is Extra Fancy Kona Coffee?
Kona Coffee is grown in the Kona region on the big island of Hawaii. Only coffee grown on the hills of Mauna Loa and Hualalai can claim to be “Kona Coffee”.
Currently by Hawaiian law you only have to have 10% Kona grown coffee to brand your coffee as a “Kona Blend”. There is now a new legislation in Hawaii (that doesn’t take effect until 2027!) that your coffee has to have 51% Kona in order to brand it as Kona Coffee. But when Cupper’s Coffee & Tea sells Kona, each bag is 100% Kona grown coffee. Why would you pay premium prices for a cheap coffee blended with only 10% real Kona beans?
What Makes Kona Coffee Special?
Kona Reservations now open!
Orders can be placed now, with three different dates your Kona is available. Choose from:
What is Extra Fancy Kona Coffee?
Extra Fancy Coffee is a special grading for washed coffee beans. It’s given by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDA). The HDA grades all Hawaiian coffee, and assesses for bean size, shape, and any flaws. Hawaiian coffee can have many different grades, but the main differences are in size of the green bean, and number of defects in 300 gm of beans. Extra Fancy Coffee is the highest grade given by the HDA.
Extra Fancy Coffee
First and best is the Extra Fancy. Extra Fancy is the highest grade of bean. These beans will be the largest of all Kona grades. All beans will be uniform in colour and size, and have little to no defects.
This is the only quality of Kona coffee we will bring in at Cupper’s. That’s why we only partner with Lions Gate Farms!
Fancy Coffee
Second highest rating is the Fancy Coffee. These are still very large beans, and they are uniform in size and colour. They also have a very few more defects than the Extra Fancy grade.
Kona Number 1 Coffee
This is the mid-range of Kona ratings. These are medium-sized beans that still have a uniform colour and size. They have more defects than the Fancy and Extra Fancy grades.
Kona Select Coffee
These are Kona beans, but of lower quality and consistency. There is no colour or size requirements for this grading. The beans tend to be a bit smaller. Unlike the previous grades, up to 5% of these beans can be defective.
Kona Prime Coffee
3 Things To Know Before Buying Kona Coffee
These 3 key points are important for all coffees. They’re especially important when you’re buying a top quality, top tier coffee.
The Blend
If a coffee calls itself a “Kona Blend” it may contain as little as 10% Kona coffee beans. The rest are usually a decent quality, imported, non-Kona coffee. Do not spend premium money on an lesser product. Always check that your Kona coffee is 100% pure Kona beans from a traceable farm. When you buy your Kona coffee from Cupper’s, you know you’re getting 100% pure Kona from Lions Gate Farms.
The Grading
The Roast
Kona Reservations now open!
There are many key points to remember when buying specialty coffees. At Cupper’s Coffee & Tea we make it as easy as possible for you to enjoy premium coffee. Best of all, you know you’re going to get exactly what you want without any fuss or concerns. Give us a call at 403-380-4555 to reserve your Kona coffee today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kona Coffee grown?
Kona Coffee is grown on the hills of the volcanoes Mauna Loa and Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Is Kona Coffee Arabica?
Yes. Kona coffee is of the Arabica coffee variety.
Why is Kona Coffee so expensive?
Kona, Hawaii is geographically perfect for growing coffee. The optimal coffee growing space in Kona is a relatively small area. Thus, only a certain volume of premium coffee is available on a yearly basis.
Why is Kona Coffee so good?
There’s a combination of factors here, but the high elevation and rich volcanic soil are a great start. Then you add in the cloud coverage on that side of the island and the perfect temperatures. All these together makes Kona an ideal coffee growing area – which results in superb coffee.
Is Kona Coffee worth it?
Which Kona coffee is best?
100% pure, Extra Fancy Graded Kona Coffee is the best Kona. That is the highest rating given by the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture. And it’s best when it’s 100% pure, not blended with any other coffees.
Who sells Kona Coffee near me?
Cupper’s Coffee & Tea is the best place to buy Kona Coffee in Canada. We guarantee it’s 100% Extra Fancy Coffee from Lion’s Gate Farms in Kona, Hawaii, fresh roasted by us at Cupper’s.
Is Kona Coffee low acid?
Kona coffee tends to be less acidic than other coffees, but this is also dependant on brewing method.
Is Kona Coffee strong?
Kona coffee is very smooth and balanced. If you like a stronger coffee, brew your coffee at a high grounds to water ratio. For more info on brewing strength check out our Beginner’s Guide to Coffee Beans.
Is Kona coffee good for espresso?
Kona coffee makes an amazing espresso. Honestly, it’s good darned near any way you decide to brew it!
Is Kona Coffee a dark roast or medium roast?
To us, Kona coffee tastes best as a medium roast. We always try a test roast or two before making the final decision each year. We use those to decide how dark we’re going to roast it for that season.
Does Kona Coffee come in K-Cups?
We can grind your Kona Coffee for a reusable K-Cup.
How do you roast Kona Coffee?
Surprisingly, it’s not that much different than our regular coffees. We just make extra sure we like the flavours at the roast level we settled on! For more about how we roast coffee, check out our post: The Ultimate Guide to Coffee Roasting.
Do you have any other specialty coffees?
Some years we do! In previous years we’ve also brought in Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee at about the same time. It’s another stunning coffee grown in a very limited area. It’s also become a favourite with many of our customers over the years. As with Kona, it’s only available by reservation. Unfortunately, we’re not bringing in any in the 2024 season.
