JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND

Posted on September 21, 2014 | Last updated February 15, 2025

This is a review of the JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND, part of the coffee-flavored Monster Energy series.

Many American coffee energy drinks, including the JAVA MONSTER series, are quite sweet — almost all of them, in fact. However, JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND stands out as one of the few energy coffees that still lets you enjoy the true taste of coffee.

Unfortunately, this characteristic may have backfired, as JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND was discontinued, while its Hawaiian-themed counterpart, the JAVA MONSTER KONA CAPPUCCINO, was rebranded and continues to be sold. It seems that sweeter coffee options may be far more popular in the U.S.

JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND

Manufacturer	MONSTER ENERGY
Country of Origin	USA
Price	2.49 USD
Flavor	Coffee
Total rating	★★☆☆☆

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Flavor of JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND

Upon opening, the rich coffee aroma is quite enticing. Coffee lovers will definitely be drawn to it.

When I tasted it, even at room temperature, the sweetness was mild, and the coffee flavor came through with a delicious depth. Personally, this is the most drinkable and enjoyable of the JAVA series (*´ｪ`*).

While it doesn't have the bitterness of a coffee drink like Coffee Monster, it still maintains the true essence of coffee, making it something that could easily be sold in Japan. With each sip, the pleasant aroma and just-right creamy texture become quite addictive.

Energy Ingredients of JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND

It contains 189mg of caffeine, which is on the higher side. The sweetness is mild, with only 39g of sugar. There's also 9g of protein from the milk content. Its composition is very similar to that of regular coffee drinks, but with the added Monster Energy blend, which includes ginseng, taurine, and guarana.
JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND
With this kind of composition and a coffee flavor that isn't overly sweet, I think the Kona Blend could easily be recommended as an everyday coffee drink.

Design of JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND

JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND
As the name "Kona Blend" suggests, the can design has a Hawaiian theme. The base is black, giving it a mysterious feel, while palm trees and tiki imagery adorn the sides, adding to its exotic design.

JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND
"Mahalo" means "thank you" in Hawaiian.

JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND
The black design, if you stare at it long enough, begins to resemble hardened lava rocks... If that's the case, I have to admire the effort! (Hawai'i Island is famous for its eruptions and lava, after all.) The use of black as the base color seems to emphasize the coffee flavor, giving it more of a coffee-like depth than other JAVA series drinks.

Monster Energy has released many products with a Hawaiian motif, and it would be great if they made a Hawaiian-exclusive item too.

JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND Made in the Netherlands

Since around 2017, some of the Kona Blend released in the U.S. has been manufactured in the Netherlands. It's a good opportunity to compare the U.S. and Dutch versions of the Kona Blend.

JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND
On the left is the U.S. version, and on the right is the Dutch version. The colors are identical, and the aroma is the same. You wouldn't notice any differences just by looking at the can or pouring it into a glass.

The flavor, however, shows a difference: the Dutch version has a more pronounced coffee aroma, and it feels even creamier with a weight that complements the coffee. There is a subtle difference, but the U.S. version is a bit sweeter and lighter, while the Dutch version feels richer and creamier. Personally, I prefer the Dutch version.

The U.S. Kona Blend was already delicious and captured the essence of coffee well, but the Dutch version adds more depth, allowing you to enjoy the coffee flavor even more.

The ingredients are essentially the same, though the milk and coffee quantities may slightly differ. I suspect the Dutch version is crafted with more emphasis on the coffee taste.

JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND
While Monster Energy has imported products from the Netherlands before, it's unclear why they've chosen to do so again.

JAVA MONSTER KONA BLEND
The tab is a ring pull, which stands out nicely against the gold top, creating a beautiful contrast.

Interestingly, the Kona Blend released in South Korea tasted completely different from the U.S. version. I'll be reviewing that separately, but it's fascinating how even the same product can vary so much in flavor depending on the country of release.