I want to get my Mum some Kona coffee. I’m unexpectedly going to visit her (that is, I wasn’t expecting I was going until day before yesterday) the day after Christmas for a coupla days.
Last year, I sent her what I thought was some Kona, 100% coffee via an online retailer (I’ve forgotten the name, but would recognize the packaging if I saw it, I’m pretty sure.). I later visited, and Mom brewed some up and… it wasn’t Kona. Not even close. It wasn’t as good as Starbucks average brew on a mediocre day. Mom was far too nice to say so, but this was just not even noticeably good coffee. It was Joe. Java. Jamoke. I apologized to my Mom for being a wayward and disappointing offspring.
I’d like to do better, but I realize there are a plethora of ripoff coffee outlets out there. Can anyone recommend a non-fraudulent place where I can reliably buy some 100%, non-blend, Kona coffee online? Without taking a 6 hour plane ride to the source? My Mom loves coffee, and she’s currently recovering from a painful back operation and isn’t very mobile, and I’d bet this would be appreciated.
Thanks, Czarcasm. That site looks perfect, except it also looks like they run on island time. No express shipping. Hmm, I guess I’ll order a pound, and if it gets here in after next Monday, I’ll drink it. They do have an e-mail up there, maybe I’ll ping them and see if they want to drive a pound or two to Fed-Ex for a fee.
I ordered some Aloha Island Coffee off of Amazon almost 6 months ago, and it was quite good. I’m not sure what kind of price range you’re aiming for, but I highly recommend it.
The beans aren’t that pricey (nor cheap), but the shipping will kill you. I bypassed the Amazon version and went straight to their web site here, and the shipping went down a bit. And I could tell if the coffee was ground or bean, Amazon didn’t even show that! It appears that this site and Czarcasm’s use the same online e-tailer service. I bet these guys are neighbors.
We’ve been buying Bong Brothers coffee since the early 90’s. And if you go to the big island you can visit their store. And you get boxes from Bong Brothers!!! I’m sure we’re on a list somewhere. :dubious:
Well, I got the Aloha Island (mostly because they had a fast shipping option on the web site, the others didn’t), and its… really good!! Its not quite the same as what I remember from drinking it in Kona, but I think this is a lighter roast than the storefront coffee places serve. But its really a fine cup of brew. Thanks to all, I think Mom will finally forgive me. I will also try the other two choices up-thread when I’m not under a Christmas crunch.
As long as we’re on coffee – I haven’t tried Jamaican Blue Mountain in years. It used to be possible (like 15 years ago) to find it for about $35/lb IIRC if you really looked, but the stuff I’ve seen lately hasn’t been even close, and seems demonstrably counterfeit. Is (real, honest to gosh) Blue Mountain extinct outside of Jamaica?
They do have an e-mail up there, maybe I’ll ping them and see if they want to drive a pound or two to Fed-Ex for a fee.
I bypassed the Amazon version and went straight to their web site 
And you get boxes from Bong Brothers!!! I’m sure we’re on a list somewhere. :dubious: