There are many types and variations of coffee out there, and the names can be confusing. Some refer to a specific coffee brewing method, such as Lungo. In contrast, some refer to beans grown in a certain region, such as Blue Mountain coffee.
The coffee names become even harder to tell, especially when they have a rather exotic origin, such as Turkish or Kona coffee. How are Turkish and Kona coffee similar and different from each other?
Turkish coffee is a specific preparation method popular in Turkey and some parts of the Balkans and the Levant. Kona coffee refers to coffee beans grown in the Mauna Loa and Hualalai region of Kona, Hawaii, USA. As a result, they are not directly comparable to each other.
This article explores Turkish vs Kona coffee and sees how similar and different from each other.
What Is Turkish Coffee?
Turkish coffee is a specific way of making coffee, popular in Turkey and its surrounding regions. Turkish coffee is made using finely ground coffee in a special pot called Cezve. It is known for its strong, full flavor and is commonly sipped with sweet treats such as Turkish Delights or Baklava.
Turkish coffee is a way of preparing coffee, popular in Turkey and parts of the old Ottoman Empire. It remains popular in places such as the Balkans and the Levant.
Turkish coffee is prepared by first grinding coffee beans to a fine consistency. They are then brewed in a special pot called a Cezve or Ibrik. Once the coffee water mixture boils, it is taken off the heat and poured into cups.
Depending on the brewer, some may pour only one-third of the coffee into cups before returning the pot to fire. The pouring is then repeated after the coffee boils again. Turkish coffee is traditionally served in a small porcelain cup called a Kahve Fincani.
Turkish coffee is described as thick, rich, and has a strong, full-bodied flavor. It is common to have additional flavorings added to the coffee, such as cardamom, mastic, or salep. You can also order your Turkish coffee in varying levels of sweetness.
Many also enjoy drinking Turkish coffee with water or sweet treats such as Turkish Delights, Baklava, or Kunafa. Turkish coffee is to be enjoyed similarly to espresso, in slow, small sips rather than gulps.
Coffee was first introduced to the Ottoman sultan Sulaiman the Magnificent in the 1530s by a governor in Yemen. Sulaiman then brought coffee drinking practice back to Istanbul, and it soon spread across the empire.
What Is Kona Coffee?
Kona coffee is planted and grown on the slopes of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanoes in the Kona District, Hawaii. It is known for its rich, bold, and smooth flavor, with complex, nuanced taste. It is one of the most appreciated and expensive coffees in the world.
Kona coffee refers to coffee grown on the slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcano in the Kona district on Hawaii’s Big Island. It is one of the world’s most hunted down and expensive coffees.
The Kona coffee belt covers the region on the west side of the Hawaiian Big Island, known for its suitable climate, elevation, and volcanic soil for coffee planting. It also received abundant sunlight and rainfall during summer, making it an excellent region to plant and produce coffee.
Kona coffee is known to be high in quality and has a rich, smooth flavor. Many drinks enjoy its complex, nuanced taste, particularly in the higher-graded Kona coffee beans.
During processing, Kona coffee may be sorted into several grades, such as “Kona Extra Fancy,” ‘Kona No.1″, or “Kona Peaberry.”
Kona coffee’s reputation and price have caused the name to be misused by some unscrupulous coffee merchants. They may create coffee blends with a small amount of Kona coffee, mix it with other beans from other regions, and still try to market it as Kona coffee.
As a result, when shopping for Kona coffee, look for the Kona Coffee Council seal, which confirms that there is at least 10% Kona coffee inside the packaging.
There are also roasters such as Volcanica that prepare 100% Kona coffee roasts, allowing you to enjoy the full coffee as a single-origin.
How Are Turkish And Kona Coffee Different?
Kona and Turkish coffee differ in origin, roasting, flavor, preparation, and price. They are also enjoyed differently. The key difference is that Turkish coffee points to a particular way of preparing coffee. In contrast, Kona coffee refers to coffee beans from Kona, Hawaii.
| Aspects | Turkish Coffee | Kona Coffee |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | – Turkey. | – Hawaii, USA. |
| Roasting | – Commonly uses dark roasts. | – Commonly roasted to medium darkness. |
| Flavor | – Strong, bold, full-bodied flavor. – May have flavorings such as cardamom, mastic, sugar, or salep added. | – Mild, smooth aroma with a smooth taste. – May be enjoyed with sweetener, milk, or creamers. |
| Preparation | – Beans are grounded into fine ground, and boiled with water over a fire using a Cezve pot. – Poured into, and then served in small ceramic cups called Kahve Fincani. | – Commonly ground down to medium or finer ground. – Brewed in many styles, such as drip coffee maker, espresso maker, Moka Pot, or French Press. |
| Price | – About 9 Turkish Lira ($0.48) per cup. | – May cost hundreds per pack, if 100% pure Kona coffee beans. |
| Drinking Culture | – Commonly sipped and savored slowly, with sweet tidbits such as Kunafa or Baklava. | – Enjoyed in many forms, without a set way. |
When it comes to coffee, many may confuse coffee types and preparation methods. This is because they are not explicitly mentioned.
You may consider the issue happening here with Turkish and Kona coffee. Turkish coffee refers to a specific way of preparing coffee. At the same time, Kona is a Hawaiian coffee from Kona, Hawaii.
As a result, you can prepare a cup of Turkish coffee using Kona coffee beans. Grind down Kona coffee beans into the fine ground, then prepare them using Cezve pots. However, they may still be comparable in some ways:
Origin
Turkish coffee originated in Turkey. The origin story is that the Ottoman Sultan Sulaiman the Magnificent was introduced to coffee by a governor in Yemen. He took a liking to it and brought coffee back to Istanbul. From there, Turkish coffee spread all over the empire.
As a result, Turkish coffee remains popular in many parts of the old Ottoman Empire, such as the Balkans, Levant, and some parts of the Arab world.
Kona coffee is grown on the Kona coffee belt, around the foothills of the Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanoes in the Big Island of Hawaii.
Coffee planting was introduced to Hawaii island by Samuel Reverend Ruggles in 1828, and Kona coffee has a reputation for high quality today.
Roasting
Turkish coffee is often made with dark roasts. Commonly high-quality arabica beans are used, although some coffee roasters use a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans.
Kona coffee beans are often roasted lightly or to medium darkness to allow the complex and nuanced flavor to stand out from the coffee. There are dark roasts for Kona coffee, but they may not be as popular.
Flavor
Turkish coffee commonly uses dark roasted coffee beans with a strong, bold taste. The flavor is also full-bodied. You may find Turkish coffee enjoyable if you enjoy dark, strong coffee such as Long Black or Espresso.
Kona coffee is usually lightly or roasted to medium darkness, which means it tends to be milder and has more complex notes when drinking it. You may enjoy your Kona coffee in a less condensed form, such as drip coffee or Americano.
Preparation
Turkish coffee has a set way of preparation, where coffee beans are first ground down to powder. The coffee is then added with water into a small pot called Cezve. Once the coffee starts to froth, the coffee is then poured into a small ceramic cup called Kahve Fincani.
Kona coffee does not have a set way of preparation, leaving you with all the options. You can brew your Kona beans with a French press, Moka Pot, espresso maker, Aeropress, or any other brewing method you see fit.
Price
Turkish coffee is generally not an expensive thing to enjoy. Depending on your location, a cup of Turkish coffee should not cost more than teens. Checks with Tripadvisor revealed that you may be able to get a cup of Turkish Coffee in Istanbul itself for less than a dollar a cup.
Kona coffee is the opposite. Kona coffee became one of the most hunted and expensive coffees in the world. As a result, Kona coffee can be very pricey.
If you are looking for a single-origin, 100% Kona coffee bean, you may expect to pay hundreds for a bag.
We checked with one of our favorite roasters that sell Kona coffee and both confirm with prices of higher grade Kona coffee such as Extra Fancy or Peaberry are even more expensive.
| Kona Coffee | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Volcanica Kona Peaberry Coffee | 16 oz (about 454 gm) | $149.99 |
| Volcanica Kona Extra Fancy | 16 oz (about 454 gm) | $169.99 |
| Koa Coffee Private Reserve Kona Coffee | 8 oz (about 227 gm) | $36.00 |
Do take note that prices are correct at the time of writing and may change by the time you read this article.
Drinking Culture
Turkish coffee is commonly served in small ceramic cups called Kahve Fincani. The coffee is also strong and bold, which means you want to sip and savor the coffee slowly, like an espresso.
It is also common to consume sweet tidbits to balance out the bitterness and richness of the coffee, such as Turkish Delights, Baklava, or Kunafa.
With Kona coffee, there are no set ways to drink the coffee, which means you are free to experiment and see which works well for you.
Brew it into a cup of espresso, and sip away. You can also turn it into a Long Black, Americano, or Lungo and sip them slowly directly or with a coffee straw.
Kona coffee is also milder in taste, which means it will make a great accompaniment to all kinds of food and snacks. Kona coffee should work well with sandwiches, grilled breakfasts, or even ice cream.
Final Thoughts
Turkish and Kona coffees have both become renowned for their unique flavors and qualities. Turkish coffee is known for its strong and bold taste, while Kona coffee is known for its light and bright flavor.
Kona coffee is grown in the Kona region of Hawaii and has a distinct flavor that is loved by many. Both types of coffee require careful preparation and brewing to create the perfect cup.
Both coffees offer an enjoyable coffee taste experience that coffee lovers are sure to enjoy.
Alex is a self confessed coffee addict – but he takes his love of caffeine seriously in a completely responsible way. He loves trying new coffees and testing the latest machines and is not usually fan of one button pod machines. Alex is happiest when he is tinkering with settings and milk temperatures to create the perfect cup. When not obsessing over coffee, Alex is a keen musician and plays weddings and other social events (usually fuelled by… yes, you guessed it… coffee).
