The Best Kauai Coffee to Try If You Love Kona Coffee Beans
When people think of Hawaiian Coffee, their minds often go straight to Kona. So, it's no surprise that Kona Coffee has become one of the most recognized coffee origins in the world. Grown on the volcanic slopes of the Big Island, it's earned a reputation for smooth, well-balanced flavor and small-batch appeal.
But Kona isn't the only region in Hawaii where exceptional coffee is grown. On the southern coast of the Garden Island, Kauai Coffee is producing beans that are just as flavorful, distinctive, and worthy of your cup. If you love Kona coffee beans, keep reading. You just might find your new favorite 100% Hawaiian brew.
Hawaiian Coffee History
While other temperate regions of the USA are dabbling in coffee production, Hawaii is the only state with a thriving commercial coffee industry. Coffee trees were first introduced to the islands in the late 1700s and were planted in the early 1800s. Since then, Hawaii has become synonymous with high-quality, artisanal coffee. While Kona may be the most famous growing region, Hawaiian Coffee is so much more than a single district.
Across the state, each island offers a range of microclimates and growing conditions that shape the natural flavor and characteristics of the coffee. Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or a weekend coffee lover, exploring the variety of Hawaiian Coffee is like taking a tour through the islands, one cup at a time.
What Are Kona Coffee Beans?
Kona coffee beans come from a small growing region on the western slopes of the Big Island, between the towns of Kailua-Kona and Holualoa. This area is known as the Kona Coffee Belt. Much like Kauai, Kona offers ideal growing conditions with sunny mornings, gentle afternoon rain, and rich volcanic soil.
Grown on numerous small farms across the region, Kona Coffee is often described as having nutty, fruity, and sometimes spicy notes. Due to the limited growing area, pure Kona coffee is rare and often expensive. However, Kona blended with various amounts of coffee from around the world is a popular alternative that can be found worldwide.
Na Pali coast Kauai
Why Coffee Lovers Seek Out Kona
For many coffee lovers, Kona represents the pinnacle of Hawaiian coffee. The name itself carries a sense of heritage and exclusivity, reinforced by the fact that it can only be grown in one small area of the Big Island.
However, despite being the most famous growing region in the Hawaiian Islands, commercial coffee production was slow to take off in Kona. In 1825, Chief Boki, the Royal Governor of Oahu, planted the first coffee orchard in the Manoa Valley. The same year, missionary Samuel Ruggles took cuttings of the Manoa plants and began to grow them in the Kona region.
Can you guess which island hosted the first commercial coffee growing operations? If you said Kauai, you're correct! To this day, the Typica varietal, first introduced to Hawaii in 1825, remains one of the primary varietals grown in Kona and throughout the islands, including at the Kauai Coffee Estate.
Kauai Coffee is Hawaii's Largest Coffee Estate
Kauai Coffee Company spans over 3,100 acres of former sugarcane fields along the island's southern coast. More than four million coffee trees thrive on our estate, which makes us the largest coffee producer in Hawaii and the United States.
Founded in the late 1980s, Kauai Coffee has grown into one of the most respected names in Hawaiian Coffee, producing 100% Hawaiian Coffee from seed to cup. We grow, harvest, mill, and roast all our 100% Hawaiian coffee on-site. And while our coastal location is slightly lower in elevation than Kona, the unique climate, rainfall patterns, and nutrient-rich soil create ideal conditions for exceptional flavor.
How Kauai Coffee Compares to Kona Coffee Beans
So, how does Kauai Coffee stack up against Kona? While the flavor profiles may differ slightly between the regions, Kauai Coffee offers a richness and diversity that's hard to match. Kona coffee is known for its smooth, balanced flavor. Kauai Coffee, depending on the varietal and roast level, can range from chocolatey and full-bodied to bright and citrusy. From rare peaberry and Kauai Blue Mountain beans to island brews with a hint of tropical flavor added, Kauai gives you more ways to experience Hawaiian coffee, from seed to cup.
Kauai Coffees for the Kona Drinker
If you already love the nuanced taste of Kona Coffee beans, Kauai Coffee has several options that will appeal to your palate.
Typica Medium and Dark Roasts
- Typica is grown throughout Hawaii. Other Typica-derived coffees you may be familiar with include crosses of Typica with the Bourbon variety, such as Acaia, Mundo Novo, and Catuai, all of which are varieties of coffee grown at the Kauai Coffee Estate.
- Dark Roast: Flavorful well well-balanced coffee with a hint of tartness.
- Medium Roast: Sweet-toned with delicately complex flavor, influenced by lingering hints of ripe, sweet berries.
Kauai Blue Mountain
- The Blue Mountain varietal was introduced to the Kauai Coffee farm in 1990. The University of Hawaii collected Blue Mountain seeds from Jamaica and planted them in a single test field at Kauai Coffee in collaboration with the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.
- Kauai Blue Mountain is a unique, well-balanced coffee with a malty flavor and fruity notes. It is the ultimate expression of island coffee - smooth, mild, and subtle with a pleasantly bright aftertaste.
Kauai Peaberry
- Peaberry beans are created by a natural mutation in the coffee cherry that produces one seed instead of two. These round, single seeds are prized for their concentrated flavor.
- Dark Roast: Intense and lively with a pleasantly dry and smoky character when settled.
- Medium Roast: Sweet fragrance with hints of lemon. The acidity enveloped in sweetness carries through into the long finish.
Kauai Breeze
- Medium/Dark Roast Blend: Smooth, plush mouthfeel with subtle hints of chocolate in the cup. Delicately bright acidity hidden by nutty undertones.
To get the most out of these flavor profiles, try brewing with a French press or pour-over method. These slower brewing techniques highlight the body and nuanced notes of the coffee.
Sustainability in Hawaiian Coffee Farming
Kauai Coffee isn't just about taste. It's about stewardship. We are committed to protecting the natural resources that make growing coffee possible. That's why our 100% Hawaiian Coffees are triple certified by the Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade USA, and the Non-GMO Project.
This means every bag you buy supports environmentally responsible farming, fair labor practices, and our island community. Kauai Coffee reuses water, composts for soil health, and continuously invests in our community to protect the island's future.
Why You Might Prefer Kauai Coffee Over Kona
Kona coffee may be iconic, but Kauai Coffee has advantages that make it an appealing alternative:
It's Vertically Integrated 100% Hawaiian Coffee
Our 100% Hawaiian Coffee is grown, harvested, milled, and roasted on our Kauai Estate.
Available Year Round
You can buy estate-grown Kauai Coffee directly from our farm year-round. Shop online and we’ll send a little aloha directly to your door.
Great Variety
Kauai Coffee offers multiple roast levels, custom grinding, limited-edition coffees, seasonal flavored coffees, and even decaf, all made with the same level of care.
Sustainably Produced
Your purchase supports a certified sustainable operation and helps preserve Hawaii's agricultural future.
Supporting Hawaii's Coffee Heritage Beyond Kona
Choosing Kauai Coffee doesn't mean turning away from Kona entirely. It means expanding your appreciation for all that Hawaiian Coffee has to offer. Every region has distinct offerings and flavor expressions. By trying coffee from Kauai, you're supporting local farmers, sustainable practices, and a broader vision for Hawaii's coffee industry.
Where to Buy 100% Kauai Coffee
The best place to buy 100% Kauai Coffee is directly from the source at kauaicoffee.com. You'll find our single-varietal and single-estate blends, flavored coffees, accessories, and limited releases available for domestic and international delivery.
Expand Your Hawaiian Coffee Palate
Kona coffee beans may be the first love of many Hawaiian Coffee drinkers, but Kauai Coffee offers something equally special, rich, and flavorful from the heart of Hawaii. With every cup, you'll taste paradise, our commitment to sustainability, and a connection to the people who grow it.
