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Kona Coffee Farm Tours

If you love coffee as much as I do, you will probably jump at the chance to check out these Kona Coffee Farm Tours on the Big Island! The Big Island has an entire region dedicated to one of the best coffees in the world.

Kona coffee is rated as one of the best gourmet coffees. One of the best ways to try Kona coffee is to have it while vacationing on the Big Island. It is sold almost everywhere there. Just make sure it’s 100% Kona coffee!

By the way, if you’re planning a vacation to Hawaii and feeling overwhelmed, I get it! I’m here to help! I’m one of the top Hawaii Travel Agents, and I’d love to help you plan a trip to Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and of course, the Big Island! Contact me today to see if we’re a good fit. 

History of Kona Coffee

Before diving into the Kona coffee farm tours, let me start with some history. Coffee plants were first introduced on the Big Island in 1817. Those plants all died, so no one would have ever expected coffee to become such a staple.

Fast forward 11 years, and Samuel Ruggles successfully started growing coffee plants on the Big Island. Over the years, there have been numerous challenges with growing coffee on the island. However, it has withstood the test of time. There are now more coffee plantations than sugar plantations on the island.

The Kona region creates the perfect conditions for the coffee plants. The temperatures hover around 70 degrees and never go below 55.

The sun shines in the region, but cloud cover and shade are available most of the time. The area’s altitude gives the coffee beans a mild taste. The best things are the regular rain showers and excellent soil drainage. All of the above make the perfect “recipe” for Kona coffee.

The best Time to take a Kona Coffee Farm Tour

The coffee tours in Kona are offered year-round. The weather there is always nice. So, you won’t need to worry about temperatures being too cold or too warm. 

The coffee plants are covered in white flowers when they bloom, also called “Kona Sno” during February and March. 

The cherries on coffee plants are red and green berries. These cherries appear beginning in April and remain on the plants until they ripen and are harvested. Harvesting takes place between August and January.

Don’t forget to check out the best restaurants on the Big Island when you’re done reading here!

What to Expect During a Kona Coffee Farm Tour

Most of the Kona coffee tours are similar. First, you’ll see the plants. After that, it will be time for you to experience the coffee-making process. The cherries need to be harvested, dried, processed, and roasted. 

The Kona coffee tours usually last around 30 minutes. You’ll typically get a tasting at the end, and it’s customary to buy a bag of coffee to take home. 

Kona Coffee Farm Tours

There are many coffee farms, but not all of them offer tours. Here are some that do:

Hala Tree Coffee Farm Tour

This small-group coffee farm tour includes a guided walk through coffee orchards, where you can see ripe red cherries and learn about sustainable coffee production, the estate’s rich history, and the intricate processes involved in harvesting and roasting.

Hula Daddy Kona Coffee Farm

A one-hour tour of the plantation and roasting room is available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. These tours are currently scheduled between 10 and 1. The tours are free to everyone.

The owners and employees of this coffee farm believe the berries on the coffee plants should only be harvested at peak ripeness. Depending on the timing of your visit, you may see more berries on the plants. The reason for this is that they are not completely ripe yet. This is quite different from some coffee companies that pick all the berries at once.

Buddha’s Cup Sanctuary

Okay, so most coffee farm tours in Kona make you walk around the plantation. At Buddha’s Cup Sanctuary, an express tour happens aboard an ATV.

Yes, you can do a free walking tour of this Kona coffee farm. However, the ATV tour lets you see all four of their Kona farms. This tour takes 30 minutes and includes a coffee tasting at the end.

Other tours are available at this coffee farm in Kona too. If you are a true coffee connoisseur, you may prefer the 60-minute deluxe tour or the VIP owner-guided tour. The latter allows you to spend time with the owners as you pick fruit, play with animals, and learn a lot about coffee.

Kona Joe Coffee Farm

Kona Joe is one of the first coffee farms in Kona to utilize trellises to grow coffee plants. They saw how vineyards successfully grew more plants for winemaking and thought it would work perfectly for coffee too.

You have multiple Kona coffee farm tour options when visiting Kona Joe. Free self-guided tours are offered on demand every day. Those tours include a 5-minute video.

The Standard Guided Tour offers the video, a guided tour of the farm and facility, coffee gifts, and coffee and chocolate tasting. You also receive a souvenir coffee mug. This tour lasts 35 minutes and should be reserved in advance.

The Coffee Roasting Experience will have you learning how to roast your own Kona coffee. The Combined Tour includes both the Standard Tour and Roasting Experience. The 2-hour Ultimate Tour is the one to choose if you want to roast coffee with the Kona Joe roast master.

Mountain Thunder

Mountain Thunder is currently offering free tours seven days a week. The Kona coffee tours run from 9 to 4. The free tours take approximately 20 minutes. During this walking tour, you will see the coffee trees and learn how to roast the coffee beans. 

They also have a self-guided lava tube and nature walk tour. There is a charge for this tour, but it includes a souvenir guidebook. During this tour, you will see three lava tubes and explore the nature trail.

Kona Coffee Living Coffee Farm

There is only one living historical coffee farm in the US. It just happens to be located within the Kona region on the Big Island. A Japanese family constructed the buildings on the plantation. The farmhouse and coffee drying facility are both original.

You can take a self-guided tour of this living coffee farm in Kona. During your tour, you will see many of the historical activities that took place on the farm years ago. When history comes to life, learning about the topic becomes much more enjoyable.

Holualoa Kona Coffee Company

This Kona coffee farm is only 10 minutes from the Kona Coast. It is a beautiful plantation that offers tours Monday through Thursday. You can take a roasting tour between 8 and 3 on those days.

The roasting mill is small, so it is best to reserve your time in advance. You will receive a cup of Kona coffee at the end of your coffee farm tour.

Greenwell Farms

Greenwell Farms is one of the Kona coffee farms that has been operating the longest. This Kona coffee farm was established back in 1850. They offer free coffee farm tours every day between 9 and 3.

These Kona coffee farm tours last approximately 45 minutes. During your tour, you will see the coffee plants, roasting facilities, and even a glimpse of life on a farm. 

There is no need to reserve a time for your tour at Greenwell Farms unless you are arriving with a group of more than 15 people.

Kuaiwi Farm

Coffee is not the only thing grown on Kuaiwi Farm on the Big Island. They also grow cacao!

You must plan in advance when you want to tour this Kona coffee farm. They only offer tours between 10 and 12 on Sundays and Tuesdays.

During your tour, you can see the coffee plants, cacao orchard, and other crops. The best part of this tour is the time you will spend on the lanai at the end. It is the perfect place to relax as you sip Kona coffee and eat chocolate with macadamia nuts.

Sunshower Coffee Farm

You can learn about coffee at the Sunshower Coffee Farm and meet sheep simultaneously. Their coffee tours all include coffee tastings on the lanai. You can add to your experience by customizing your tour to include coffee roasting.

All Kona coffee farm tours at Sunshower Coffee Farm must be scheduled in advance.

Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farms

At Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farms, you can learn how coffee is grown, maintained, and roasted during one of their coffee tours. Each tour lasts for approximately 1 hour.

The tours are held Mondays through Saturdays between 9 and 4. You must reserve your time slot in advance.

Bay View Farm

Your tour of Bayview Kona Coffee Farm begins beneath the shade of coffee trees, where your knowledgeable guide will introduce you to the unique species of coffee grown exclusively in Kona.

You’ll learn about the life cycle of a coffee tree, the challenges the region faces, and the rich volcanic soil that makes Kona coffee world-famous.

Other Unique Farm Tours In or Near the Kona District

I have a blog post with some of the best best farm tours on the Big Island of Hawaii. They aren’t really tours, but I have a list of the best happy hours in Kona, too! You might also enjoy a Kona Walking Food Tour.

My favorite unique farm tours in this area include the following:

Kanaloa Octopus Farm

Have you ever wanted to get up close to an octopus? Well, you can when you take a tour of the Kanaloa Octopus Farm.

This farm in Kona offers tours of its facility. One-hour tours are offered three times each day. During the tour, you will learn about octopuses and see them up close.

You must reserve your tour spot in advance at this farm.

Big Island Bees

Big Island Bees is near the Kona district. It is a must-see destination for all bee lovers. Especially since more than 100 million bees call it their home.

Their beekeeping tour offers an up-close look at beekeeping from a safe area. Reservations are recommended for that tour.

During your visit, you can also visit the museum and tasting room. Make sure you do a little shopping in the store before you leave. They have a large selection of honey, beekeeping memorabilia, and beeswax products.

Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm

Okay, if you weren’t too keen on the octopus farm I mentioned above, maybe you would prefer the seahorse farm. During a one-hour tour, you can learn quite a bit about seahorses. You can also touch a seahorse in the interactive tide pool.

Photo property of Erik Franke for Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm.

It is best to have me reserve your tour online. Walk-ins are limited with a higher admission fee.

The Vanillerie

If you have never explored a vanilla farm, you are in for a treat at The Vanillerie! This working farm offers tours from Wednesday through Friday.

During your one-hour tour, you can see, smell, taste, and feel the vanilla that is currently being grown. The tour also includes the history of the vanilla orchid.

You can purchase vanilla-infused foods and beauty products at the end of the tour.

The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory

Tours of The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory are offered on Wednesdays and Fridays. There are two tour times each day.

The guided plantation tours take you through the cacao orchard. During the tour, you learn about every step of the chocolate-making process. And at the end, you get to sample different types of chocolates.

You can also check out the best macadamia nut farms in Hawaii to visit. There are a couple of mac nut farms on the Big Island.

Best Kona Coffee Farm Tours

These are the best Kona coffee farm tours and other unique farm tours in the Kona area. Looking for more things to do during your Big Island vacation? Make sure to check out:

• Where to find sea turtles on the Big Island of Hawaii
• The best beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii
• Guide to Volcanoes National Park
• The Best Luxury Resorts on The Big Island
• The Best Happy Hours in Kona
• 25 best things to do in Kona
• The 7 Best Things to do on the Big Island
• Westin Hapuna Beach vs. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

The best restaurants on the Big Island

If you need some help planning your Big Island vacation, reach out! I am a Hawaii Travel Agent, and that is what I do. I am selective about how many clients I work with, so reach out as soon as possible for the best availability. You can contact me to learn more.

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