There are a few reasons why Hawaiian coffee may be more expensive than coffee from other regions:
Location: Hawai’i is an isolated island chain located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so it can be expensive to transport goods to and from the islands.
Limited supply: Hawai’i is a small state with a limited amount of land suitable for growing coffee. This means that there is not as much Hawaiian coffee available as there is coffee from other regions. Hawai’i is also the only state in the US that grows premium commercial coffee.
Quality: Hawaiian coffee is known for its high quality, and many people are willing to pay a premium for a cup of coffee that they believe is superior to other types of coffee.
Labor costs: Labor costs in Hawai’i are generally much higher than in other coffee-producing regions, which can also contribute to the higher price of Hawaiian coffee.
It's worth noting that not all Hawaiian coffee is expensive, and the price of any particular brand of Hawaiian coffee can vary based on a number of factors, including the specific beans used, the roasting process, and the packaging.
For Waiākea, the price of $21.99 per bag comes out to about $1 per 4 ounce cup, which is far cheaper than any coffee shop. We also buy books for kids with some of the proceeds and have many other cool sustainability aspects to our coffee — you can learn more here.