
Is Hawaii the only state to grow coffee?
Hawaii is the only U.S. state to produce coffee. Coffee requires some specific climate conditions. Good coffee growing conditions require high altitudes, tropical climates, and rich soil, and there is only one state in the good ol’ USA that fits the mold. Hawaii has been producing coffee since the mid-nineteenth century — before it was even a state. The British warship H.M.S. Blonde brought coffee trees to the islands from Brazil in 1825.
What is the best coffee brand in Hawaii?
What is the highest quality coffee?
- Koa Coffee – Hawaiian Kona Coffee Bean. Kona is the largest island in Hawaii and is the best for high-quality coffee production. …
- Organix Medium Roast Coffee By LifeBoost Coffee. …
- Blue Mountain Coffee From Jamaica. …
- Volcanica Coffee Kenya AA Coffee Beans. …
- Peaberry Beans From Tanzania.
How many states Besides Hawaii grow coffee?
Only two US states grow coffee. The United States is not one of the world's major coffee producers. In fact, coffee can only be commercially grown in two states: Hawaii and California. However, Puerto Rico, which is a territory of the US, has a thriving coffee industry.
What makes Hawaiian coffee so special?
- Extra fancy (the highest quality)
- Fancy
- No.1
- Select
- Prime
- No. 3
- Natural Prime
- Mixed Natural Prime (The lowest quality)

How many coffee trees are in Hawaii?
For the 2015 - 2016 season, there were approximately 3,800 acres of land used for farming Kona coffee alone. There were approximately 900 farms growing Kona coffee during this time, and this yielded approximately 20 million pounds of coffee cherry that ranged from 4,200 - 7,400 pounds per acre.
How many coffee farms are in Kona?
There are now more than 650 coffee farms of all sizes clustered along the ±20 miles of scenic roads on the Hualalai and Mauna Loa slopes. Many of these farms offer tours to the public.
What state produces the most coffee?
Only two US states grow coffee.Coffee Production in the US. The United States is not one of the world's major coffee producers. ... Coffee in Hawaii. There are several coffee farms throughout the island of Hawaii. ... Coffee in California.
Are there coffee plantations in Hawaii?
Coffee Plantations on the Island of Hawaii There are hundreds of coffee farms in Kona, from the small art town of Holualoa to Kaʻawaloa (Captain Cook), and many offer tours to the public. Visit thriving coffee orchards and learn about the meticulous harvesting process.
How many coffee farms are in the Big Island?
790 coffee farmsThe Big Island has about 790 coffee farms while the other islands only have about 40 farms including two very large coffee plantations, one on Molokai and one on Kauai.
Who grows the best coffee in Hawaii?
1. The very best Kona coffee farm to visit – Mountain Thunder Coffee. High above all else in quality and altitude, Thunder Mountain Coffee is our No. 1!
Is coffee native to Hawaii?
Coffee was first introduced to Hawaii by way of Brazil in the 1820's. The first known plantings were actually in Manoa Valley on Oahu, though those original plants did not take very well. But by 1828, coffee had landed on the Big Island and was first planted in the Hilo area.
Why is Hawaii the only state that grows coffee?
Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee. It's the only state in the union that lies in the “coffee belt,” where the warm temperatures allow the trees to flourish. Hawaiian-grown coffee is highly prized for its mild smoothness, with a complexity that varies from farm to farm, roast to roast.
Where is the largest coffee plantation in the United States?
KauaiKauai boasts the largest coffee plantation in the United States. Located on the south shore, Kauai Coffee grows, harvests, roasts and packages their coffee on the estate. There's a gift shop and coffee shop in their visitor's center.
What country produces the most coffee?
BrazilBrazil is, quite simply, the largest coffee producer in the world. For example, in 2016 it is thought that 2,595,000 metric tons of coffee beans were produced in Brazil alone.
Is coffee grown on Oahu?
Waialua Estate - Chocolate and Coffee Grown in Hawaii. Nutrient-rich volcanic soil, abundant rainfall and plentiful sunshine make Oahu's North Shore a perfect location for producing coffee and cacao ranking among the world's best.
What island has the best coffee in Hawaii?
The most famous and well known coffee growing region is Kona. The 'Kona Coffee Belt' consist of over 800 coffee farms in the North and South Kona Districts. The coffee farms are all situated on one of two volcanoes: Hualalai or Mauna Loa.
Where is Kona coffee grown?
Coffee Plantations on the Island of Hawaii. 100% pure Kona coffee is a rare commodity exclusively grown in north and south Kona . The high elevation, constant cloud coverage and rich volcanic soil from Hualalai Volcano in the upland slopes of Kona. create an ideal environment for harvesting this unique Hawaiian coffee bean.
What is Kona coffee?
The Kona Coffee and Tea Company is an Award-winning, single-estate, 100% Kona coffee farm, that is family-owned and operated. We grow, mill, roast, package and brew our own beans. "From our farm to your cup"
Where is Shaka tea made?
288 Kilauea Ave. Hilo, HI 96720. Summary. Shaka Tea is the first line of Hawaii-grown, herbal iced teas on the market brewed with mamaki, which is only found and grown one place in the world - the Hawaiian archipelago.
Where is Maui coffee grown?
Maui is the second largest Hawaiian Island and the third largest coffee producing region in Hawaii. During the 2014 - 2015 season, Maui had 390 acres in production and 345 acres harvested in Lahaina which yielded 1,750,000 pounds of coffee cherry from four different varieties. There were a few factors that impacted this season’s harvest, including a mechanical harvester breakdown that resulted in a 20% smaller harvest than the previous season. For the Maui Coffee Association in Upcountry and Windward Maui, 21,391 pounds of coffee cherry were harvested by 14 growers for the 2014 - 2015 season, which was partially due to wetter weather than in the previous season.
How many islands produce coffee?
While Hawaii is primarily made up of eight main islands, only five produce coffee: Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai. Each of these islands has its own thing to offer, especially when it comes to agriculture and coffee production, so it’s important to consider what each island contributes to the yearly supply of coffee in Hawaii.
Why is Puna coffee called Hawaii?
Puna coffee is actually designated as Hawaii county because the state does not recognize Puna as its own coffee growing region. For the 2015 - 2016 season, there were about 20 farms active in Puna and 70 acres in production, which produced about 3,500 pounds of coffee cherry per acre. During this season, severe rain caused a 30% loss of crops. The same was true for the number of farms and acres active in the 2016 - 2017 season; however, there was no weather reported to have affected the amount of coffee produced during this season.
Has coffee production increased in Hawaii?
While the total amount of coffee yielded on the Hawaiian Islands since 2015 has steadily increased, delving into the details of the data reveals an interesting story about why coffee production has increased.
Is coffee produced in Hawaii?
For the majority of the state of Hawaii, coffee production has remained fairly steady over the years. Of course, the amount of coffee produced increases and decreases with environmental factors such as weather and pests. Overall, the amount of coffee produced over time has stayed fairly solid. The numbers don’t lie. They’re the best way to really understand coffee production patterns in this state that has so many different growing regions.
Is Molokai a coffee plant?
Molokai is the smallest Hawaiian Island growing coffee, but it is still an active coffee producer. In fact, one of the main things to do as a visitor to Molokai is to tour the one 500-acre coffee farm. However, despite its prominence in producing Hawaiian coffee, Molokai’s production does lack statistics for several years. For the 2014 - 2015 season, Molokai reported 285,000 pounds of coffee cherry harvested under a new owner.
Where is the coffee mill in Kona?
It’s hard to drag yourself away from the amazing coffee farms of Kona, but if there’s one location worth traveling to visit, it’s the Ka’u Coffee Mill in the Ka’u district, east of Kona. The area was once known for sugar production, but coffee has since taken the lead.
Why is Kona coffee so good?
The region of Kona, on the southern shore of Hawaii’s Big Island, has the perfect climate, elevation, and geology for producing coffee. The area’s volcanic soil neutralizes the natural bitterness of the coffee bean, resulting in smoother , ...
How many times can you return a Kona coffee tree?
One tree might be returned to up to five times to ensure that all the fruit is equally ripe. The result is magic, thanks to soil, sun, and soul. Pay no attention to hotels or grocery stores offering a “Kona blend” coffee. There’s only one place to try authentic Hawaiian coffee, and that’s in Kona itself.
Is Ka'u coffee crowded?
While the growing conditions in Ka’u are very, very similar to those in Kona, Ka’u coffee doesn’t yet have the name recognition — which means that its farms are less crowded and its coffee less expensive. The Ka’u Coffee Mill is a great place to start for tours and samples. vamospuesandres / Shutterstock.
Is Hawaii known for flavored coffee?
Start with the lightest roast and work from there. Speaking of flavored coffee, it’s not as popular in Hawaii as it is in other states, and it’s not commonly found at coffee farms. However, some farms make their own blends using local vanilla and macadamia nut oils, and these are certainly worth trying.
How tall can a coffee tree grow?
These clusters are affectionately known as “Kona Snow.” If allowed, a coffee tree can grow to more than 30 feet tall. However in Kona they are pruned annually to encourage cherry production and make harvesting easier. The pruned trees take 1-2 years to reach full production. For this reason farmers only prune selective trees annually. Kona coffee trees typically bloom from January to May.
How long does it take for coffee trees to bear fruit?
The coffee-industry, however, refers to these bushes as Coffee Trees. Coffee trees begin to bear fruit after 2 to 3 years.
When do coffee cherries start to ripen?
The cherries contain the the beans. The cherry is oval, about 1.5 cm long. Ripening takes about 8 months – the cherry starts a green color and, as it ripens, turns yellow, then crimson, and finally a dark red, indicating it’s ready for harvest. Harvest usually begins at the end of August. A good coffee tree produces about 25 pounds of cherries.
Do coffee beans need to be picked in Kona?
All coffee beans in Kona must be handpicked. Accordingly, another expense added to the high cost of production. Machine picking cannot be done on the the rough volcanic terrain. Also, the cherries ripen at varying times so they are selectively picked. While some cherries are ready for picking, others need to be left to ripen. Consequently this results in high quality beans being picked.
Where is Hawaiian coffee grown?
The growing conditions on Hawaiian coffee farms vary depending on the region in which they are located. While farms in the Kona district are at a lower elevation than many arabica farms, farms in other coffee growing regions are often grown at even lower elevations .
When was coffee first grown in Hawaii?
In 1825, after visting coffee houses in England, Chief Boki, governor of Oahu, stopped in Brazil to pick up coffee seedlings to plant in Hawaii. Using these seedlings, agriculturalist John Wilkinson successfully planted a coffee orchard on Oahu. From these trees, the first coffee farms were planted in the Kona region .
Is Hawaii a coffee country?
The coffee industry of Hawaii is the only significant coffee industry in a member state of the United States of America (excluding territories). While Hawaii is a relatively small producer of coffee (6,600,000 pounds in 2006--ranking well in the bottom tier of coffee producing countries), it is well known for its Kona varieties and its coffee consistently sells for a higher than average price. Hawaiian coffee production is often small in scale, with 790 farms cultivating only 8000 acres of coffee .
