Our Kona Coffee Story

Founded in San Diego in 2009, our company began as a full-service coffeehouse known for its rich Kona coffee and traditional island-style drinks. However, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we shifted from our brick-and-mortar café model to an exclusively online store.

What Sets Our Kona Coffee Apart?

Kona Coffee Company is a family-run, small-batch roastery based in San Diego, California, specializing in 100% Kona coffee and high-ratio Kona blends and select single-origin coffees — no filler, no compromises. Our Kona beans come from award-winning, certified farms in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii — including some of the highest-grade selections available. Our blends are crafted with more real Kona coffee than the outdated 10% industry minimum, offering a richer experience than typical supermarket blends. While we began with a focus solely on Kona coffee and Hawaii, our offerings have grown to include a broader range of coffees, including non-Kona single origins and limited-edition reserves like our Roaster’s Private Batch— each roasted with the same care, consistency, and craftsmanship that built our name. Today, we proudly rank among the most trusted Kona coffee purveyors in the U.S. — delivering award-winning beans to homes across the country.

What People Are Saying on Yelp.com

  • “A treasure worth the hunt. Stopped in for a cup of coffee and left with even more.”

    — Li Y. (Honolulu, HI)

  • “The reviews are right. The Hawaiian Mocha is AMAZING. I got it blended as recommended by the sweet barista… So good.”

    — Rachel T. (San Diego, CA)

  • “I ordered the Island coffee… perfect blend of hazelnut sweetness and very smooth! Too bad they're not in the Chicago area!”

    — Samantha B. (Riverside, IL)

  • “Such good coffee! Flavorful and strong. I sipped it happily while waiting for a friend to show up. Apparently that was enough time for me to decide that I wanted to buy beans to take back home. In fact, I bought TWO pounds of coffee beans, both the hazelnut and Kona.”

    — Stefanie C. (Denver, CO)

  • “When we went here, we had just returned from a Hawaiian vacation and had visited the actual coffee farm that this coffee shop gets their beans from! We were not disappointed with Kona coffee on 5th. Really enjoyed the banana latte (so good) and the staff was friendly as well!”

    — Ruth M. (Pensacola, FL)

  • “Cute little coffee shop! I've been here twice while my husband and I are on vacation. I've tried the Kona mocha, the island latte, and the iced tropical green tea. They're all amazing!! I also bought some of their loose leaf tea. I can't wait to try it when I get home!”

    — Emily B. (Upland, CA)

  • “The Hawaiian Mocha is UNREAL, as well as the banana bread! Lots of great choices of unique coffee & tea, bakery items and products.”

    — James H. (Philadelphia, PA)

  • “Tried a banana latte for the first time and it was probably the best flavored coffee drink I've had.”

    — Rick L. (Rancho Santa Fe, CA)

  • “Best tasting Java!! My wife and I make a point to stop here when we are in town. We always buy a bag of their whole bean coffee…”

    — Clark E. (Bend, OR)

Why Do You Roast the Beans in California Instead of Hawaii?

We roast all our Kona coffee in small batches right here in California to deliver the freshest possible flavor to the mainland United States. Unlike most Kona coffee shipped from Hawaii — which can take days or longer to arrive, often by sea — ours is never roasted until it reaches our San Diego facility. We fly in green (unroasted) beans directly from certified farms in Hawaii and roast them locally for maximum freshness and full control over quality. The result: bolder, better-tasting Kona coffee that’s roasted weekly and shipped fast, without the wait. Freshness matters — and that’s why we do it this way.