Kona coffee is the market name for a variety of coffee (Coffea arabica) cultivated on the slopes of volcanoes Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. This coffee has developed a reputation that has made it some of the most expensive and sought-after coffee in the world. Only coffee from the Kona Districts can be legally described as “Kona”.

The Kona weather pattern of bright sunny mornings, humid rainy afternoons and mild nights creates favorable coffee growing conditions. Kona coffee blooms in February and March. Small white flowers cover the tree and are known as Kona Snow. In April, green berries begin to appear on the trees. By late August, red fruit, called “cherry” because of the resemblance of the ripe berry to a cherry fruit, start to ripen for picking. Each tree will be hand-picked several times between August and January, and provides around 20-30 pounds of cherry. Within 24 hours of picking, the cherry is run through a pulper, the beans are separated from the pulp, and then placed in a fermentation tank overnight. The fermentation time is dependent on the temperature and therefore on the elevation; about 12 hours at a low elevation or 24 hours at a higher elevation. The beans are rinsed and spread to dry on a “hoshidana” or drying rack. Traditional hoshidanas have a rolling roof to cover the beans in the event of rain. It takes 7-14 days to dry the beans to an optimal moisture level of between 10-13% (by Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture regulations: 9.5-12.5%). From here, the beans are stored as “pergamino” or parchment. The parchment is milled off the green bean prior to roasting or wholesale. It takes seven to nine pounds of cherry to make one pound of roasted coffee. Thus 100 pounds of cherry will yield about 12 pounds of roasted coffee. The love, kindness , warmth, weather and climate is what makes Kona coffee the best! We encourage you to enjoy the best coffee on earth!

 

Services
We will provide medium or dark roast Kona Coffee at a great price! E-mail, call, or stop by the Coffee House in South Kona for daily breakfast, a quick snack or meal and some of the best fresh roasted fresh ground Kona Coffee on the Island!
Medium Roast – $25/lb
Dark Roast – $25/lb

Our new menu coming online soon!
News
We have great news for everyone that our Kona Coffee House in South Kona is open and thriving!  Stop by on your way south whether you’re planning on a day at Kealekekua Bay or a trip to the Volcano! Come in for a pick me up on the way there or on your way back for delicious organic snacks, breakfast or a cup of world famous Kona Coffee!

 

 

Copyright (c)2009 Kona Homestead Coffee Company | KonaCoffeeHouse Studios

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