The Kona Coast is home to a thriving coffee growing industry. The Kona Coffee Belt stretches from the hills above Kona down the coast into South Kona. Learn all about Kona Coffee and how itʻs made! We’ve selected our favorite coffee farms to visit on the Big Island.
What makes it Kona coffee?
Only coffee grown in the districts of North and South Kona is defined as Kona coffee. The coffee trees grow well on the slopes of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa Mountains, in rich volcanic soil, afternoon cloud cover, and cooler temperatures.
Check the label to be sure it’s 100% Kona coffee. If it’s labeled as Kona blend it means that it contains as little as 10% Kona coffee beans with the rest being a mix of beans from Brazil, Central America, Africa and Indonesia.
How does the coffee process work?
Kona coffee is picked by hand, then pulped, dried and hulled. The beans are then dried and roasted. The key to good coffee is perfecting the art of roasting. After roasting is when oxidation begins and the coffee is at its freshest.
1. Heavenly Hawaiian Farms
Located 20 minutes from downtown Kona, Dave & Trudy Bateman have been operating their coffee farm since 2005. Take the tour, and enjoy a free sampling of their coffee, or enjoy a coffee in their very own coffee bar on the property – the first farm side coffee bar in Kona!
The Tour
Monday – Saturday, every hour from 9am – 4pm. All Ages. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm.
Tour Length: 1 hour
Cost: $6 each
Heavenly Hawaiian Farms
78-1136 Bishop Rd.
Holualoa, HI 96725
(808) 322 7720
2. Greenwell Farms
The Greenwell Family has a rich history of farming and ranching in Hawaii dating back to the 1850s. Greenwell Farms is also renowned for Kona Coffee. Spread over 80 acres, the coffee farm is one the biggest on the island.
Greenwell Farms has a free 45 minute guided tour, daily from 9–3pm. The tour includes a sampling of Kona Coffee. Private and group tours are also available. The farm is located 25 minutes south of Kona.
No reservations are required for these tours. Make sure you arrive 10-15 minutes before the start of the tour.
The Tour
Farm Tours: 9am – 3pm
(last tour departs at 3pm)
Tour Length: 45 minutes
Cost: Free
Greenwell Farms
81-6581 Mamalahoa Highway
Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750
(808) 323-9616
5. Hula Daddy Kona Coffee
Lee and Karen Paterson have been running Hula Daddy since 2002. Take the private 1 hour tour with coffee tasting or book a private group tour. Visit the orchard and the roasting room. Hula Daddy coffee comes very highly rated by coffeereview.com.
The Tour
Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Hours: 10am to 1pm (except for major holidays)
Closed: Monday, Friday and weekends. Minimum of 2 people to book a tour.
Tour Length: 60 minutes
Cost: $20 each
Hula Daddy
74-4944 Mamalahoa Hwy
Holualoa, HI 96725
(808) 327-9744
There is nowhere better to enjoy coffee in Hawaii than the heart of the Kona coffee belt. So if you’re a coffee addict then be sure to make time to visit one of the many coffee farms along the coast and enjoy the unique taste of 100% Kona coffee.
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