In the interest of further enhancing your knowledge and enjoyment of 100% Kona Coffee, we've prepared a "coffee primer" for you. It's free, it's fun, and there's no homework (unless you count drinking coffee a few times a day).

100% Kona Coffee, made exclusively from the prized Arabica bean (see Coffee Terms) is grown only in the Kona Region of Hawaii on the rich mountainous volcanic slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai in an area known as the "Kona Coffee Belt." The mountainous elevations on which the Kona Coffee trees grow range from 500-2800 feet and provide the perfect balance of sunshine, afternoon cloud cover, rain, soil and elevation. With dry winters and wet summers, this natural harmony allows blooms to form and be pollinated prior to abundant rainfall. Ideal conditions in the Kona Region ensure proper development of the Kona Coffee bean and protect the plant from drying out, which could potentially harm the flavor.

Cool nights and tropical breezes allow the beans to ripen slowly, resulting in a larger, more flavorful bean. Volcanic fog occurs during the afternoon, creating a natural cloud cover which Kona Coffee trees love! During the growing stage, these subtropical conditions nurture the beans while they are meticulously cared for by the farmers who watch over them. Part of Kona's special charm comes from the labor-intensive love and dedication that goes into the care of these highly regarded Kona Coffee plants.

100% Dedication to Kona Coffee

As they finesse the art of producing the perfect Kona Coffee bean, coffee farmers practice various types of growing methods. Coffee trees are pruned in order to strengthen them, increase production, and improve harvesting. Careful attention to pruning techniques encourages larger, more flavorful coffee cherries to form. Some farmers utilize organic farming techniques in which only naturally occurring byproducts, fertilizers and soil amendments are used.

As with any agricultural product, many other factors also contribute to the quality of the end product, such as seed stock, growing location, soil composition, altitude, weather, fertilization, cultivation, harvesting and processing methods. With 100% Kona Coffee from North Shore Trading Company, you can be sure that you're getting superior beans, thanks to our commitment to quality in all of the factors that can be controlled in the coffee-producing process.

Kona's unique growing conditions and microclimate are a natural recipe for the perfect cup of coffee. Discover what gourmet coffee is supposed to taste like. The incredible flavor and rich aroma of delightfully distinctive 100% Kona Coffee is unlike anything you've had before. Hey, if you were living on an estate in the lush mountains of Hawaii, being pampered every day, you might be this mellow and interesting, too. But at least you can drink the coffee...