KonaBox Coffee sources coffee from independent growers located in the Kona Region of Hawaii’s Big Island, and they send subscribers beans from a different Kona grower every month.
Hawaii is the only state in the US that produces single source, commercially grown coffee, and the Kona climate is ideally suited for the crop. Coffee from Kona has been recognized around the world for its quality and taste.
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the subscription review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: KonaBox Coffee
The Cost: $25 per month for 8 oz. of whole bean coffee. $40 per month for 1 pound of whole bean coffee (plus a bonus gourmet treat from Hawaii).
The Products: Whole bean coffee sourced from growers in Kona, Hawaii.
Ships to: Worldwide. US shipping is free. Depending on the subscription plan, shipping to Canada is $5-$10. Worldwide shipping is $10-$15.
Also check out the Coffee Subscription Box Directory!
On the inside flap of the box, KonaBox Coffee attached a card highlighting this month’s featured grower: Phil and Clare Wilson of Huahua Farm in North Kona. The beans in this box were raised, processed, and roasted right on their farm!
Huahua Farm 100% Kona Coffee Full City Roast (8 oz.)- $13
I’ve never been to Hawaii, but my father visited recently and toured a couple of the farms in the Kona region. (He came back a Kona convert, with a suitcase full of Kona coffee!) He gifted me some of the beans to try, and I was very impressed with their quality. So, I was really excited to try some more through KonaBox Coffee.
First of all, I think it’s really interesting that KonaBox Coffee features a different grower in every shipment. Most of the coffee subscriptions I’ve seen are more roaster focused, so this definitely sets KonaBox apart.
The first thing I noticed when I opened up the bag of coffee was the darkness of the beans. According to the label, this is a Full City roast. From KonaBox: “Kona coffee is usually produced in medium (more subtle) or full (stronger) roasts. More recently roasters have started to roast more frequently to a Full city (medium dark) roast. It maintains the great flavor of the coffee without being too overpowering.” I typically prefer beans with a lighter roast, but, based on the information I found on the KonaBox site, it seems that Kona coffee is traditionally roasted medium to dark.
In the cup, this coffee was rich, chocolaty, and dark.
Lilikoi Kona Bar (2 oz.)- $2.29
My KonaBox also contained a chocolate bar made with Kona coffee! Kona Bar makes quite a few different flavors, but they describe the Lilikoi as their “WOW bar.” It’s made with Belgian milk chocolate, Kona coffee, and passionfruit. The combination is unique and really delicious. I love the tropical flavors of the passionfruit alongside the creaminess of the chocolate and the crunchiness of the coffee beans.
Verdict: I like that KonaBox Coffee spotlights a different grower in every box, and I really enjoyed learning about Huahua Farm while sampling their beans. In keeping with the Kona reputation, the beans were very high quality, and I love that KonaBox also included a chocolate bar made with Kona beans. The roast was very dark, which seems typical of Kona coffee, so I’d certainly keep that in mind if you’re thinking about subscribing. In terms of value, the items in this box total just over $15, which falls short of the $25 subscription cost. While that’s not a bargain, I think this box is a great way for Kona coffee lovers to discover and connect with small growers in the region.
Have you tried Kona coffee before? Will you be singing up for KonaBox Coffee?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.