What does "Kohana" mean?  Kohana are the beautiful, long petal white flowers that bloom before the coffee cherries develop on Hawaiian coffee plants. The word "kohana" is Japanese in origin, but is used by native Hawaiians.

What are the Kohana coffees?  Kohana Coffee has blended, single origin, varietal, flavored, and decaffeinated coffees.  The blended coffees are named Kohana, Espresso, Arabian, Organic, Pacific, Sunrise, Sunset, Rockin’ Like Austin and our seasonal blends, Organic Holiday Blend and Kohana Love.  Single origin offerings include 100% Hawaiian Select, 100% Hawaiian Prime, Kona Estate, Flores Bajawa, Kenya AA, Organic Ethiopian Harrar, Organic Ethiopian Sidamo, Organic Mexican, Organic Sumatra, Antigua Bella Carmona, Brazil Fazenda Alvorada, Mexico Pluma don Eduardo, and Honduras Marcala Especial.  Kohana's varietal coffees are Organic French Roast and Italian Roast.  The flavored coffees are Hawaiian Hazelnut, Kahlua Fudge, and Vanilla Macadamia Nut.  Our decaffeinated selections are Decaf Kohana Blend, Decaf Espresso Blend, Decaf Colombian, and Decaf Organic Sumatra.

Is Kohana Hawaiian coffee?  Yes, but we roast coffee from around the world as well.  Kohana's Hawaiian single origin coffees are 100% Hawaiian Select, 100% Hawaiian Prime, and Kona Estate.  Kohana Blend and Sunrise Blend are made with dark roasted 100% Hawaiian Select.

Is Kohana coffee the same as Kona coffee?  No.  Kona coffee is grown on the Big Island of Hawaii and is exclusive to the Kona coffee district.  Coffee beans are designated similarly to grapes grown in wine regions with names like Napa, Sonoma, Bordeaux, or Champagne.

Where are Kohana Coffee's Hawaiian beans grown?  The 100% Hawaiian Select and 100% Hawaiian Prime coffees are grown on a plantation on the island of Oahu, in fertile, volcanic soil, at the perfect elevation.  Kohana's Kona Estate comes from coffee trees nearly 100 years old growing on a small farm on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano located on the Big Island.

Is Kohana Coffee organic and fair trade coffee?  Kohana roasts the best beans from around the world, and whenever possible, purchases green coffee with these certifications.  Kohana Coffee supports organic agricultural practices, environmental protection initiatives such as the Bird Friendly and Rainforest Alliance certifications, and Fair Trade compensation for coffee growers and workers.  Kohana relies upon and trusts its coffee suppliers to advise the company on these concerns.

Kohana coffee is not bitter like most coffees.  Why is that?  Because Kohana does not use the high-heat, quick roast methods that most roasters use; roasting that makes coffee taste burned and bitter.  Our proprietary low-temperature, slow roasting formulas were created and perfected in Hawaii.  It costs more for Kohana Coffee to roast this way, but it's the only way we know to make coffee that tastes so great.

If Kohana Coffee isn’t bitter, do I need cream and sugar in my coffee? Many customers say they’ve stopped using cream and sugar since becoming Kohana Coffee drinkers. They are enjoying the unadulterated flavors and aromas of gourmet coffee. However, this is a question of personal taste. It’s perfectly fine to use cream and sugar (or non-dairy and sugar-free substitutes) with Kohana coffee. In fact, we’ve found that cream and sugar enhance our Hawaiian Hazelnut, Kahlua Fudge, and Vanilla Macadamia Nut flavored coffees. Try it yourself… it’s delicious!

Where can I buy Kohana Coffee? Kohana Coffee is currently available online or at various retailers.

Can I buy Kohana Coffee online? Yes. From the homepage, click on Buy Coffee. You will see the complete Kohana Coffee line and may select whole bean or ground coffee. If you have questions regarding an order, email us at sales@kohanacoffee.com or call (512) 904-1174.

I like dark roast coffees.  What kind do you have? Our dark roast blends are Espresso, Organic, Pacific, Sunrise, Rockin’ Like Austin, and the seasonal Organic Holiday.  The single bean dark roasts are 100% Hawaiian Select, Organic Ethiopian Harrar, Organic French Roast, Italian Roast, Kohana Panama, and Honduras Marcala Especial.

Dark roasted coffees taste oily and are too heavy for me.  Do you have any medium roast coffees? Of course. Kohana's medium roast blends are Kohana, Arabian, Sunset, and the seasonal Kohana Love. The medium roast single origin coffees are 100% Hawaiian Prime, Kona Estate, Flores Bajawa, Kenya AA, Organic Ethiopian Sidamo, Organic Mexican, Organic Sumatra, Antigua Bella Carmona, Brazil Fazenda Alvorada, Mexico Pluma don Eduardo, and our flavored coffees Hawaiian Hazelnut, Kahlua Fudge, and Vanilla Macadamia Nut.

What about Kohana’s decaffeinated coffees? Kohana’s decaf coffees are like no others. Our offering includes Decaf Kohana Blend, Decaf Espresso Blend and the single bean Colombian and Organic Sumatra decafs.  Forget about instant decafs with chemical-sounding names, Kohana decafs are complex in flavor and aroma. Each bean is individually roasted before it is blended. Coffee drinkers who normally would not consider drinking decaf find the taste of Kohana’s decafs as satisfying as regular coffee. All our decafs are delicious with Decaf Espresso Blend ideal for decaf espresso drinks.

How should I store my Kohana coffee at home? Kohana coffee is packaged in foil bags with degassing valves to ensure maximum freshness. Our coffees should be stored at a steady, moderate temperature in a dark, airtight container such as a ceramic jar with a sealing lid. The enemies of fresh roasted coffee beans include light, moisture, excessive heat and cold, and odors. Coffee beans are very porous after roasting and despite the myth, storing them in a freezer or refrigerator subjects them to moisture from freezing and the condensation that occurs when an appliance door is repeatedly opened and closed. This moisture and freezing depletes the coffee’s natural oils, destroying the flavor. Porous coffee beans also absorb food odors from food stored nearby.

How long does Kohana coffee stay fresh? Stored in Kohana’s foil bags at a cool, steady temperature, your Kohana coffee should stay fresh for two weeks. Unopened whole bean coffee stored in airtight containers may stay fresh for up to two months. Stored whole bean coffee stays fresher longer than ground coffee.

Do I need a coffee grinder? For the best, freshest tasting coffee, having a personal coffee grinder is recommended. Coffee grinders are relatively inexpensive and available at most department stores. By grinding your coffee beans as you use them, your Kohana coffee will stay fresher longer and you will enjoy optimum taste. If you don’t have a coffee grinder, you can select to purchase ground coffee on the online order form. If you are in Austin, you can always visit Cissi’s Market , Central Market or Whole Foods,  where Kohana is sold, and a barista will gladly grind your beans for you - a good idea for when you are preparing a large amount of coffee to use all at once. 

Where do you roast your coffee? Our roasting facility is located in south Austin, Texas.  We roast and package Kohana Coffee here and ship it around the world.

Why should we trust the team at Kohana Coffee?    Besides personal drives to learn as much about coffee as possible, Kohana Coffee’s team takes training and education seriously. In addition to direct experience in the coffee industry, we are members of  the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the governing body of our industry, and the Roaster’s Guild , where we gain valuable professional knowledge and training. Among other qualifications, current certifications and completed workshops include Organic Acids and the Chemistry of Coffee, Espresso, Brewing Technology, Exploring Heat Transfer in the Roaster – Thermodynamics, Sensory Skills,   Cupping- Comparative Cupping, and the Art of  Craft Roasting.