December 16, 2024
Although the United States is the number one importer of coffee in the world, the only incorporated state in the country that produces and exports coffee is the state of Hawaii. Among US states, Hawaii is uniquely suited to produce coffee as it is located along the equator and has an abundance of volcanoes that contribute to the rich volcanic soil. Coffee is produced on several of the Hawaiian Islands, however, the majority of the coffee produced in the state is concentrated in one small area. The coffee belt of Hawaii is located in the Kona region of the big island. This area is only 20 miles long by 2 miles wide and is situated on Hualalai Mountain and Mauna Loa at around 500 to 3,200 feet above sea level.
The specificity of the Kona coffee production region also contributes to its premium status in the eyes of the global coffee market as the designation of coffee products as Kona coffee is closely guarded and regulated.
Coffee came to the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1800s when 30 Arabica coffee plants were brought over from Brazil. Although the coffee plants were initially planted on the island of Oahu, farmers quickly found that coffee production was more suited to the conditions on the big island of Hawaii. With production centralized on the big island, coffee farming grew and in the 1850’s, the first export of coffee from Hawaii was sent to California to meet the demand for coffee during the California gold rush. Coffee farming continued steadily but was not seen to be as important as the production of pineapple and sugarcane until the 1980’s when these crops began to decline and the desire for specialty coffee grew around the world.
In the world of specialty coffee, Kona coffee made a name for itself as one of the highest quality coffees in the world and even today a pound of green Kona coffee can often cost more than $25 per pound. The association of top tier coffee with the Kona coffee name led to coffee products containing little to no Kona coffee being labeled as such to fetch a higher price. In order to protect the quality of the Kona coffee name, the State of Hawaii passed legislation requiring that any product labeled as Kona coffee must contain at least 51% Kona coffee in the product.
Although Kona coffee is a very small percentage of the global coffee volume, it is the second most valuable agricultural commodity produced in the Hawaiian Islands and continues to be a point of pride for Kona coffee farmers and the state of Hawaii.
Westrock Coffee’s cuppers look for a balanced, nutty and sweet cup of coffee when drinking Kona coffee. Try a cup of Kona coffee and pair it with a Hawaiian inspired treat like a macadamia nut cookie for a flavorful trip to the coffee producing corner of the United States.
