Kona Coffee and in particular 100% Kona Coffee is recognized by coffee gourmets around the world as one of the top 5 coffees in existence.

My family and I had the privilege of visiting the Big Island of Hawaii to experience firsthand what makes Kona Coffee so special.

Watch our video here

While we can't enjoy it as our everyday brew, we thought it would be a delightful addition to our Single Origin lineup to give you the option to splurge on a novelty gift for coffee lovers or as a special treat for yourself on an occasion worth celebrating.

The Kona Coffee Belt: A Unique Growing Area

Kona Coffee thrives in a special region known as the "Kona Coffee Belt" on the west side of the Big Island of Hawaii. This area, about 35 miles long and a mile and a half wide, has the perfect mix of soil, rainfall, and climate to create delicious coffee. With well-drained, slightly acidic volcanic soil and a climate that offers consistent temperatures and over 70 inches of rain each year, the beans develop light, fruity, and sweet flavors. Only beans grown here and meeting specific standards can be labeled as 100% Kona Coffee.

The Quality of 100% Kona Coffee

Not all 100% Kona Coffee is created equal. Although Hawaii has regulations for bean quality, there’s no official grading for flavor. This means you could end up paying the same price for exceptional coffee as for mediocre coffee. The Greenwell Family, a leader in Kona Coffee for over 150 years, ensures top quality by hand-picking beans at their freshest and using precise processing techniques.

Other Factors Influencing Flavor

While the Kona Coffee Belt is crucial, many other elements affect the final taste. These include the variety of coffee tree, the elevation of the farm, the farmer’s care, and the processing methods used. Just like a chef enhances a dish, the roaster plays a key role in bringing out each coffee's unique characteristics.

About Henry Nicholas Greenwell

In 1850, Henry Nicholas Greenwell left England for Kealakekua, Hawaii, now known as the Heart of Kona. Joined by his wife, Elizabeth Caroline, they spent the next 40 years farming and producing exceptional Kona Coffee. Their hard work paid off when, in 1873, they received a "Recognition Diploma" for their coffee at the World’s Fair in Vienna, Austria, gaining the attention of coffee lovers around the world

The Greenwell legacy continued with Henry's grandson, Norman, and great-grandson, Thomas, who began cultivating coffee on the same land in the 1980s. This new generation has helped shape the modern specialty coffee scene in Kona and contributed significantly to Hawaii's coffee industry. Today, Greenwell Farms manages 85 acres of coffee orchards and oversees another 60 acres for other landowners. As one of the oldest and largest coffee producers in the region, Greenwell Farms proudly shares its rich history and the spirit of aloha with every cup.