Why is Kona Coffee so expensive?

October 21, 2017 22 Comments

Why is Kona Coffee so expensive?

 Whenever I'm in our Kona store, the question I get asked most is, "Why is Kona coffee so expensive!?" I'm here to explain it(to the best of my ability) to any of you that might be having that same question. 

 Kona Coffee is one of the only coffees that is grown commercially in the United States. It grows on the volcanic slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Sunshine in the morning, rain in the afternoon, perfect elevation and that rich volcanic soil make this, in my opinion, the perfect cup! Am I biased? Well...maybe a little. Kona coffee was the only coffee served in our house growing up. 

 The main reason as to why it is expensive is the cost of labor. Kona coffee is handpicked by our farmers pretty much all year. Because only the red cherry is picked, we have to pick the same tree multiple times during picking season. The beans are then separated by grade(post on grading to come). The larger the bean, the better the quality. The coffee is then dried, roasted and packed all by us, right in our Kona store.

 In most countries, coffee is picked mechanically by the machine, shaking coffee trees and mixing over-ripe and under-ripe beans of all sizes which usually results in a sour cup of coffee. It costs 3 cents per pound to mechanically pick, in Kona it cost 75-85 cents per pound of handpicked coffee.

 Another reason is the availability of Kona coffee. It only makes up about 1% of coffee in the whole world. That's crazy rare! The last 5 years there was a Coffee Cherry Borer infestation that devastated many Kona Coffee farms(that's a whole other post to write). It set a lot of farms back, including us. Because of the limited supply, a lot of companies do a blend of 10% Kona and 90% of random coffee beans from all over the world. But we have stuck with only serving 100%. 

 Now, I'm not good at math but I'm going to break this down for you so you can see just how much you're paying for a cup of Kona from us. I'll use my favorite, Private Reserve Signature. Here at KMC, we use 1 tablespoon per cup of coffee. A lot of coffee places use 2 tablespoons, but trust me, ours is strong! So if you're using 1 tbsp per 6oz Cup, you can get 32 cups of coffee from 1lb!

 

 So at $1.40 per cup...is it really that expensive? 

 I would love to hear your thoughts or if you have any questions!

 

Thanks for reading!

Heather 




22 Responses

Bradley Smith
Bradley Smith

March 05, 2020

There is no better coffee! Tip for Canadian buyers; if you live close enough to the border, ship to the closest US town and bring it across the line yourself. In Vancouver, customs never charges tax or duty if you have a reasonable amount for personal use.

Arsey Miller
Arsey Miller

March 05, 2020

We order 3 pounds a month, and trust me there are many things my wife and I would give up before our 2 cups of KMC every morning.

Andy Inman
Andy Inman

March 03, 2020

My wife has been buying me KMC as an on-going “Christmas present” for that last 3 years. I get a pound every 3 months, and I only drink it on weekends, to make it last. It is wonderful coffee, indeed! Mahalo!

Jordan
Jordan

March 03, 2020

I appreciate the coffee and the care that goes into your product. I’m a huge fan. But I can’t order it from Canada without paying a ridiculous amount of shipping charges. I’ll always pay what you want for the coffee, but it would be helpful if you explored better and less cost shipping alternatives.

John Lefebvre
John Lefebvre

March 03, 2020

You know that anyone that has had true Kona coffee will never quibble about the price. Its the old saying that you get what you pay for. With Kona Mountain Coffee, that is the case. You want quality Kona coffee, then buy this. Yes there is shipping involved as well. Is it worth it? Oh yes it is. Mahalo KMC, keep up the good work.

Curt Lundine
Curt Lundine

November 29, 2019

You give the price of a pound of coffee beans, but what about shipping? Will that pound of coffee cost me $50.00 in Oregon?

Bre Larranaga
Bre Larranaga

July 17, 2019

Heather, thank you for the background on Kona Mountain Coffee. It’s exciting to see that the coffee is grown on the volcanic slopes of Hawaii and how rare the coffee actually is (making up only 1% of coffee worldwide, wow!).

I look forward to ordering samples for the office to try here in Santa Monica.

George Collier
George Collier

April 29, 2019

My two granddaughters discovered KMC many years ago and brought back a sample. The next year my wife and I vacationed in Kona (and of course I lived in the Kona shop). Mark spent a couple of hours with us at the farm, and I remember the bores well. You need to feature a post by Mark about the trials and trouble from “bugs”. I blend my own Espresso from the medium and dark. I have used nothing but KMC since our Kona trip. Many other coffees have been tried. You need to tell all about the low acidity of KMC - no heart burn here.

Leo Gaddi
Leo Gaddi

April 19, 2019

We visited your store in Kona and bought Private Reserve and Pea Berry. We have been buying (Honolulu Hilton GVC) your coffee and always enjoy at home inn Niagara Falls Canada. We discovered your Espresso blend in the store in Kona but you do not sell the beans. How can we purchase the espresso blend.

Love your coffee,

Leo

Priscilla Neuhalfen
Priscilla Neuhalfen

April 17, 2019

Send info and prices of how to purchase and ship

Priscilla Neuhalfen
Priscilla Neuhalfen

April 17, 2019

Send info and prices of how to purchase and ship

Charles H Silverman
Charles H Silverman

April 06, 2019

Can you please advise how much pesticides and chemicals you use to grow and make your coffee? I enjoy your coffee very much; however, my wife is very concerned about use of chemicals and their harmful effects.

Jan Wheeler
Jan Wheeler

July 18, 2018

Happily, we found you on our first trip to Kona several years ago. After the amazing tour of how the coffee is picked, dried etc., 1 cup and we were hooked! We’ve been Coffee club members ever since, happily opening up our monthly USPS box of those “worth their weight in gold” Peaberry beans.
This truly is the very BEST COFFEE we’ve ever had and wherever we go on vacation we always take a bag with us to enjoy wherever our travels take us! Thanks!

elizabeth skalak
elizabeth skalak

June 26, 2018

please send me info. about your coffee, prices-coffee of the month club etc.

thank you

Richard Ruble
Richard Ruble

April 16, 2018

Luv your coffee! I think you did an excellent job explaining the cost. I have some brewing right now!

Rey Santos
Rey Santos

March 25, 2018

Well worth it. I used to travel to Hawai’i for business at least 2 weeks per year and I always make it a point to stop by your store in Kona before I fly back to Oahu. Then I ship it back to mainland. Since I have not been back for a while, I’ll order again via phone like last time. I missed it. The Best coffee in the world.

Fiona
Fiona

March 24, 2018

Ok so acidity levels. Is it true that the Peabody coffee is lower in acidity because of the smaller bean and is better for people with digestive issues? Are there different coffees a person can get with lower acidity levels. 😊 thanks for your time.
Fiona Beal warman Saskatchewan Canada.
I love your coffee!! 💕

Karen
Karen

March 15, 2018

I had a medium dark roast almost daily after I discovered your store. It wasn’t until the last two weeks of our months stay that we found you ,otherwise we would have come everyday!
On the last day I agonized over bringing home a pound of the dark roast but sadly practicality won out. We were already over packed and I just couldn’t fit another thing in my luggage or carry on.

We got back home to Canada last night and this morning I was suffering Kona Coffee withdrawal.
Moral of the story….should have thrown out the souvenirs for my family to make room for coffee! :)
Aloha, Karen

Richard Daugherty
Richard Daugherty

December 12, 2017

This coffee is so good!!. Life is too short to drink crappy coffee! We were on the big Island in June. Right off the airplane there in Kona we went into the store and loaded up. Before we departed we loaded up again. Christmas is the right time to stock up and give some to those you love.

Lisa Gibson
Lisa Gibson

November 10, 2017

Great posting. Thanks for the inside scoop Heather. I am with Herbert & Daryl on this one. Look at the cost (and quality) of restaurant & other coffee establishments. Makes me love KMC even more.

Daryl M Treger
Daryl M Treger

November 06, 2017

While the math works out, who REALLY only drinks just 6 oz at a time of this amazing coffee?!? NOT ME! :-) So, at a more practical 12 oz, that’s $2.40 a cup…. still better than St*&%ucks !!!

Herbert Kinsey
Herbert Kinsey

October 24, 2017

Well I do not think the cost is high, you go to any restaurant and the minimum charge is $1.50 and it is not very good coffee either.

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