Koa Coffee Plantation facts for kids

Koa Coffee Plantation is a well-known brand that grows and processes special Kona coffee from Hawaiʻi island in the United States. This company is famous for its delicious coffee. Since 2009, Koa Coffee Plantation has been owned by Hawaii Coffee Company, which roasts the coffee in Honolulu.

The Story of Koa Coffee

Koa Coffee Plantation started in 1997. A person named Marin Artukovich began the company. It was located on the western side of Mauna Loa, a large volcano, in a place called Captain Cook, Hawaii.

From Small to Big

When Koa Coffee first began, it was a very small business. It started in a backyard! In its first year, it only produced about 38,000 pounds of coffee. But the company grew super fast. Almost every year, the amount of coffee they made doubled. By 2010, they were producing over 700,000 pounds of coffee! That's a lot of coffee beans.

Ownership Changes

In 2007, Marin Artukovich sold most of the company to another group called Kona's Best Natural Coffee. This group continued to operate the business under the name Koa Coffee Plantation. Then, in 2009, Hawaii Coffee Company in Honolulu became the new owner of Koa Coffee Plantation.

What Makes Koa Coffee Special?

Koa Coffee Plantation became very popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They were known for selling 100% pure Kona coffee. This coffee was special because it was all picked by hand. They even had organic Kona coffee, which means it was grown without certain chemicals.

Old Trees, Great Coffee

One of their unique coffees was called "Grande Domaine Kona." This special blend came from coffee trees that were very old, some dating back to 1918! The plantation used special equipment to process their coffee. They had a "wet mill" from Colombia and a "dry mill" from Brazil. They also made sure their coffee beans were stored carefully. They controlled the temperature and humidity in their storage area in Captain Cook, Hawaii. This helped keep the coffee fresh and tasty.

Awards and Recognition

Koa Coffee Plantation has won many awards for its amazing coffee.

• In 2001, the famous magazine Forbes named Koa Coffee as America's best coffee!
• In 2002, they won the Gevalia Cup, another important coffee award.
• In 2004, they won the Pacific Coast Coffee Association Coffee of the Year Award.

Koa Coffee Plantation is also a member of important coffee groups. These include the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the Kona Coffee Council, and the Hawaii Coffee Association. Being part of these groups shows they are serious about making great coffee.