KONA COFFEE - OR KONA BLEND, DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

(NOTE! We have had so many requests for the info on creating your own blend that we are repeating that post in its entirety)  


Kona  Coffee Blend  Savor the magic taste of  Kona Coffee on the cheap!

But! We have to set the record straight from the git-go!

You may not be getting what you think you are when you buy Kona Coffee, or Kona Blend Coffee! 

So, you have to insist on the very best, most reputable Kona coffee firm. That's why we advise a visit to Koa Coffee Plantation where they produce what Forbes has called"The Best Coffee in America".

CLICK HERE TO VISIT KOA COFFEE PLANTATION



There are scoundrels out there;  some of whom have actually put the Kona name, illicitly, on cheap, non Hawaiian coffee. Others have mixed Kona with cheap coffee and sold it as Kona.


SO WHAT DOES "KONA BLEND" ACTUALLY MEAN?
The official line is that for coffee to be labeled "Kona Coffee", it must be 100% pure, while any mixture of Kona with "non-Kona" coffee must be labeled Kona Blend.


Sounds good so far, right?  Well there are a couple kickers  you need to be aware of;

• The "rules" apparently only apply in Hawaii - NOT to mainland  packagers.
• The blend need only contain 10% Kona coffee to qualify as "Kona Blend".

So! Buyer Beware!


WHY IS KONA COFFEE  ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST REVERED?
Kona coffee is grown only on the "Big Island" of Hawaii. Huge volcanoes dot the island landscape. The coffee is grown at an elevation between 700 feet and 2000 feet on the western flanks of Mauna Loa and Hualalai in two Kona Districts, which are roughly equivalent to mainland counties. (In Hawaii, the major Islands each constitute a county).


Kona coffee, is very rare. And it is very expensive. Often in the $20 - $30 per pound range.  Occasionally much more. This, however, doesn't mean drinking Kona is out of your price range. Many manufacturers blend Kona with other coffee . Most of the time it means about 10% Kona. The result is that you can enjoy this unique and wonderful experience at a reasonable price.


Sometimes high quality Brazilian or Colombian coffee is used to mix with the Kona. But not always! They may use other Hawaiian coffee. But unless you know your source is impeccable, you'll never know for sure what is in it.  The possible combinations are virtually endless. With a really good Kona blend coffee you end up with a coffee that has a very distinct and unique taste. Put the cream and sugar away to savor the unforgetable smooth taste.


We know coffee lovers are always on the lookout for that ultimate drinking experience. With the right Kona blend coffee you can have that every day in your own home at a fraction of the Starbucks cost.

TIP!  MAKE YOUR OWN KONA BLEND!

Just look at all the advantages of  creating your own blend:

• You know exactly what's in it
• You can fine tune the blend to your exact taste
•  You can always have the freshest coffee available
•  It'll be way better than any blend you can buy
•  Save a ton of money (You'll save a "fortune" if you are a latte addict)
•  It's so easy, a cave-person could do it    

"So, Exactly what do I do?"

1. Buy a pound or half-pound of the finest pure Kona Coffee. (Yah, the expensive stuff)
   
   
2. Make sure it is whole beans and freshly roasted (The darker the roast the less caffeine and acid)
   
   
3. Buy some of your favorite coffee (Again, whole beans and freshly roasted, and please use only the finest produce)
   
   
4. Now you will experiment mixing a few Kona beans with your favorite coffee beans/ or try some new ones (But, please use only the finest, and mix the beans thoroughly before grinding)
   
   
5. Remember, "store-bought" Kona Blend Coffee is almost always only 10% Kona - only rarely have I seen other percents
   
   
6. You obviously will need to buy or borrow a coffee grinder
   to make several pots of different mixes
   
   
7. (DONT FORGET) Try a pot of 100% Kona to get the taste you're after
   
   
8. Experiment with a mixture of 10%, 20%, 30%, etc, to find the  exact mixture you like best
   
   
9. Mix it all to your desired % (By now you may need to buy some more "regular" coffee)
   
   
10. Divide the mixed beans into small usable amounts and freeze them separately.
    
    
11. CAUTION! Remember,you are only going to grind the beans you have mixed to experiment with - to get your best "taste"
    
    When you have your desired mix, always store it frozen as whole beans to preserve the freshness, so divide your chosen mix into portions that you will want to grind only when you're ready
    
    Be sure to mix the beans thoroughly before freezing
    
    
12. You now have a plentiful supply of the freshest, best tasting Kona Coffee Blend you can imagine. You have the blend that suits you perfectly, and that you couldn't buy in any store .And you have saved a bundle  (Super gift idea!)

                                                -----------------------------------
Forbes has described KOA COFFEE as the best coffee in America. (That is Koa coffee plantation, not to be confused with the Kona coffee that they produce.)

 CLICK HERE TO VISIT  KOA COFFEE PLANTATION

The elevations where the coffee grows in Kona usually have bright sunshine in the the early morning , and then almost always the clouds roll in by early afternoon, keeping the vegetation cooler and occasional rains, while the tourists are enjoying the sunny beaches down below.

The coffee "farms" are a must part of your visit to Kona. You'll be surprised how small they are.  Some are only a couple acres. Mom and Pop harvest the cherries and sell them to a co-op. There are a few larger operations that do their own preparing and roasting and marketing.

Learn lots more about Kona coffee culture at Wikipedia.