Kona coffee is one of the most sought-after varieties of
specialty coffee, and it™s understandable why. With its unique flavor and aroma
profile, it™s no surprise that connoisseurs worldwide love this 100% Hawaiian
coffee favorite. But did you know there are distinct advantages to buying Kona
beans directly from the grower? Let™s examine why shopping straight from the
source can be so beneficial.
Growers that sell their beans
direct to consumers deliver optimal freshness.
The Freshest Beans
When you buy your Kona coffee
directly from the grower, you get them the freshest beans possible. Most small
Kona coffee growers roast in micro-batches, so they are not storing large
quantities of roasted beans. As soon as orders come in, the beans are roasted,
bagged up and shipped out fresh. This is incredibly important for the optimal
enjoyment of this high-priced, specialty coffee. Within days of roasting,
coffee begins to off-gas and lose freshness. When you buy from a retailer
(think Costco or your local grocery store), there™s no telling how long those
beans have been sitting on a shelf or in transit before they reached you. With
direct-trade coffee, however, coffee is shipped right to your doorstep. -- from farm to your table, so to speak.
One tip: Buy whole-bean Kona coffee. Why?
It keeps its freshness significantly longer than ground coffee, which
begins to get stale when exposed to air.
The small investment of a good Burr mill grinder (Cuisinart sells one
for about $50) is well worth the price since it enables you to grind your
coffee fresh and store the whole beans in an airtight container until the
following day.
Kona coffee growers Steve and
Joanie Wynn nurture their coffee from crop to cup.
You Know Where Your Kona Coffee Comes From
When you shop directly from the grower, you can learn more
about how your Kona coffee was grown and processed. This knowledge gives you
insight and an appreciation for the labor-intensive coffee farming and
production process. You can also learn
about the unique terroir of the farm and what flavors to expect in each sip.
Kona Earth is a family-owned, single-estate Kona coffee farm
- meaning it only sells 100% Kona coffee beans grown on its own farm. This
single-estate, artisanal approach gives the grower control over the entire
production, from growing the fruit, to processing and roasting the beans. Located on the tropical slopes of the
Hualalai volcano at about 2000 feet in elevation, the coffee trees grow lush in
the high "mauka" climate. The cherry ripens slowly which allows the
beans to reach remarkable size & flavor.
Kona coffee family: Steve, Ryan
and Joanie Wynn
You Support Family Farms
Family farms are the lifeblood of Kona coffee. They
represent most growers supplying larger Kona coffee producers and roasters. By
sourcing your Kona coffee directly from the farmer, you support their small
family farms and the community of workers and vendors they employ. It™s a
win-win for everyone!
Buying direct from the local grower wasn't always possible
in Hawaii. However, with new e-commerce
options like Shopify and favorable 2-day shipping rates with FedEx, even small
family farms can now offer their products direct to consumers on the mainland
(and around the world). Kona coffee
growers can now deliver their high-quality, Hawaiian specialty coffee directly
to coffee-loving customers, cutting out the middle-men and preserving profits
for the grower.
Shopping straight from the source pays off for high-quality,
specialty coffees like 100% Kona coffee. Beyond getting great-tasting beans,
buying directly means a fresher product and knowing where, how and by whom your
specialty coffee is grown. For an unparalleled experience in quality and taste
- try buying your Kona coffee straight from the grower.
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