Royal Kona Coffee

Royal Kona Coffee was born in 1968–69 when Chicago-based Superior Coffee recognized the untapped potential of beans being grown halfway up an active volcano on Hawaii's Big Island. At a time when virtually no one outside Hawaii had heard of Kona coffee, the company made a bold promise to the first generation of Kona farmers: we will sell every bag you can grow. Farmers arrived one by one, hauling 100-pound sacks of green coffee, and a legacy was built cup by cup. The brand invested heavily in quality control and state-of-the-art vacuum-sealed packaging, and demand for Kona coffee exploded as a result. It became the coffee of choice at McDonald's Hawaii locations and in the state's most prestigious hotels and restaurants. In 2000, Royal Kona merged with Lion Coffee to form Hawaii Coffee Company, which today operates both brands and holds the distinction of being the largest Kona coffee roaster in the world. The brand recently underwent a full visual rebrand in 2025, with design work honoring the original identity created decades ago by renowned Hawaiian designer Clarence Lee. Its visitor center in Captain Cook remains open 365 days a year, offering free tastings and a look into the coffee-growing process.