Koa Coffee Plantation
Koa Coffee Plantation is a Hawaiian Kona coffee brand established as a grower and processor and later incorporated into Hawaii Coffee Company's roasting business.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Koa Coffee Plantation is a Kona coffee brand associated with the western slopes of Mauna Loa near Captain Cook on Hawaiʻi Island. Marin Artukovich established the business in 1997 as a small backyard coffee operation. Its early production was approximately 38,000 pounds in the first year, but output expanded rapidly during the following decade, reaching more than 700,000 pounds in 2010 according to the brand's Wikipedia account. The business became known for selling hand-picked, estate-grown 100% Kona coffee, including an organic Kona offering and Grande Domaine Kona, a heritage blend made from coffee trees dating to 1918. Its production infrastructure included a wet mill sourced from Colombia, a dry mill from Brazil, and a former green-bean storage facility in Captain Cook equipped for temperature and humidity control. These facilities supported the brand's positioning around traceable Hawaiian origin, estate production, and specialty-coffee quality. Koa Coffee Plantation received substantial recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Forbes named it America's best coffee in 2001, and the brand is also reported to have won the Gevalia Cup in 2002 and the Pacific Coast Coffee Association Coffee of the Year Award in 2004. It participated in industry organizations including the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the Kona Coffee Council, and the Hawaii Coffee Association. Ownership and operating arrangements changed during the 2000s. In 2007, Artukovich sold most of the company's assets to Kona's Best Natural Coffee, which conducted business under the Koa Coffee Plantation name. In 2009, the brand was acquired by Paradise Beverages, doing business as Hawaii Coffee Company, based in Honolulu. Koa Coffee Plantation subsequently became a Hawaii Coffee Company brand rather than an independently operating grower and processor. The coffee is roasted in Honolulu by Hawaii Coffee Company, while the plantation name continues to identify the Kona-origin product line. The available reference material does not establish the current extent of plantation ownership, independent farming, or product availability.
History
Koa Coffee Plantation was established in 1997 by Marin Artukovich on the western slopes of Mauna Loa near Captain Cook, Hawaiʻi. The operation began as a small backyard business with first-year production of about 38,000 pounds of coffee. Production then grew rapidly, reportedly nearly doubling each year, and exceeded 700,000 pounds in 2010. During its independent period, Koa developed a reputation for premium Kona coffee. Its principal proposition was hand-picked, 100% estate-grown Kona coffee, supplemented by organic Kona coffee and Grande Domaine Kona, a heritage blend made with beans from trees dating to 1918. The company operated specialized processing and storage infrastructure: a Colombian wet mill, a Brazilian dry mill, and a former Captain Cook green-bean storage facility with temperature and humidity controls. These features supported a quality-focused presentation centered on Kona terroir and post-harvest handling. The brand received recognition from both general-interest and coffee-industry organizations. Forbes named it America's best coffee in 2001. It won the Gevalia Cup in 2002 and the Pacific Coast Coffee Association Coffee of the Year Award in 2004. Koa also belonged to the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the Kona Coffee Council, and the Hawaii Coffee Association, linking it to the broader specialty-coffee and Hawaiian coffee sectors. The company's ownership changed in 2007, when Artukovich sold most of its assets to Kona's Best Natural Coffee. Kona's Best Natural Coffee operated under the Koa Coffee Plantation name. In 2009, the brand was acquired by Paradise Beverages, doing business as Hawaii Coffee Company, whose place of business is in Honolulu. After the acquisition, Koa Coffee Plantation coffee was roasted in Honolulu by Hawaii Coffee Company. This marked a transition from an independently described grower and processor toward a brand managed within a larger Hawaii coffee business. The available reference material does not provide a complete account of the plantation's present agricultural operations, retail distribution, product catalog, or management team. It does establish the brand's continuing association with Kona coffee and Hawaii Coffee Company's Honolulu roasting operation.
- 2010
Reported production exceeds 700,000 pounds
[1]The brand's reported coffee production exceeds 700,000 pounds, or approximately 320,000 kilograms.
- 2009
Acquisition by Hawaii Coffee Company
[1]Paradise Beverages, doing business as Hawaii Coffee Company, acquires Koa Coffee Plantation.
- 2007
Most company assets are sold
[1]Marin Artukovich sells most of the company's assets to Kona's Best Natural Coffee, which operates under the Koa Coffee Plantation name.
- 2004
Coffee of the Year Award
[1]The Pacific Coast Coffee Association awards Koa Coffee Plantation its Coffee of the Year Award.
- 2002
Gevalia Cup recognition
[1]Koa Coffee Plantation wins the Gevalia Cup.
- 2001
Forbes names Koa America's best coffee
[1]Forbes recognizes Koa Coffee Plantation as America's best coffee.
- 1997
Koa Coffee Plantation is established
[1]Marin Artukovich establishes the coffee business on the western slopes of Mauna Loa near Captain Cook, Hawaii.
Products and positioning
Premium Hawaiian specialty coffee emphasizing Kona origin, estate provenance, hand-picking, heritage plant material, and award recognition.
Kona coffee
100% Estate Kona Coffee
The brand's core premium offering was hand-picked, estate-grown Kona coffee. Its positioning emphasized coffee produced from the Kona district and presented as 100% Kona rather than as a blend with beans from other origins. The product represented Koa Coffee Plantation's principal connection to Hawaiian specialty-coffee provenance.
Organic Kona coffee
Organic Kona Coffee
Koa Coffee Plantation offered an organic Kona coffee line as part of its premium estate portfolio. Available source material identifies the product but does not specify certification details, packaging formats, current availability, or the precise period in which it was sold.
Heritage coffee blend
Grande Domaine Kona
Grande Domaine Kona was described as a heritage blend made from coffee harvested from trees dating to 1918. The offering reinforced the brand's emphasis on historical continuity and estate identity, although the available reference does not specify its exact varietal composition, roast profile, or current retail status.
Brand decisions
2009
Acquisition by Hawaii Coffee CompanyM&ABackground
Koa Coffee Plantation was operating under Kona's Best Natural Coffee after the 2007 asset sale.
Action taken
Paradise Beverages, doing business as Hawaii Coffee Company, acquired the brand.
Aftermath
Koa Coffee Plantation became associated with Hawaii Coffee Company's Honolulu operation, where the coffee was roasted.
2007
Sale of most company assets to Kona's Best Natural CoffeeM&ABackground
After a period of rapid production growth and recognition for estate Kona coffee, Marin Artukovich sold most of Koa Coffee Plantation's assets.
Action taken
Kona's Best Natural Coffee acquired most of the assets and conducted business as Koa Coffee Plantation.
Aftermath
The Koa name continued, but the business moved away from its original founder-led ownership structure.
Recent events
- 2009
Hawaii Coffee Company acquires Koa Coffee Plantation[1]
M&A
Paradise Beverages, operating as Hawaii Coffee Company, acquired the brand and later roasted Koa Coffee Plantation coffee in Honolulu.
- 2007
Marin Artukovich sells most Koa Coffee Plantation assets to Kona's Best Natural Coffee[1]
M&A
Most of the company's assets were sold to Kona's Best Natural Coffee, which continued doing business as Koa Coffee Plantation.
- 2004
Koa Coffee Plantation wins Pacific Coast Coffee Association Coffee of the Year Award[1]
Other
The brand received the Pacific Coast Coffee Association's Coffee of the Year Award.
- 2001
Koa Coffee Plantation receives major coffee-industry recognition[1]
Other
Forbes named Koa Coffee Plantation America's best coffee, adding to the brand's profile during its early expansion.
Sources1 sources
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