The 7 Best Kona Coffee Tours of 2019

A charming house with a small patio and rocking chairs is the first impression visitors receive of Hula Daddy Coffee Farm. The guides that operate here are particularly passionate about the land surrounding Kona, taking pride in picking only the ripest berries from the coffee trees. The care and time put into the plantation are obvious, and the guides explain the meticulous process from start to finish.

For $15, the amount of information and attention to detail is second to none. Reviews across the internet rave about the ability each guide has in teaching the visitors about the coffee. Besides, the fact that the majority of berries are hand-picked in comparison to the "big name" coffee companies which pick on-mass, regardless of ripeness is encouraging.

Apart from free farm tours, Mountain Thunder boasts a sublime "Roast Master Experience." Often referred to by many as the highlight of their trip to Kona, coffee enthusiasts will spend 90 minutes with the plantation’s master roaster learning about the vital selection of coffee beans before understanding the theory and equipment basics of the roast. The ability to manage and create your own personal roast is a fantastic opportunity, especially as groups are limited to six people and therefore the class is intimate and productive. Package your roast in 8 or 16-ounce bags to take home with you, a souvenir of your experience in Kona.  

The Roast Master experience is available Monday – Friday, lasting roughly two hours. Reservations are required as spaces fill fast. The flat group price is $325. 

Arrive at the Buddha’s Cup Sanctuary and hop aboard an ATV to experience a great host of coffee-related sights. Pick fresh fruit throughout the sanctuary and return to the shop to sample a hoard of tasters, as well as edible treats, including cakes and fruits. For $15, the ATV tour is a must-do while in Kona. A plantation of macadamia trees is the highlight for many who visit Buddha’s Cup, and a ripe nut is always a pleasant surprise. Staff is extremely knowledgeable about the sanctuary as well as the biodiversity of the island. Visits are welcome between Monday to Friday 9 a.m. 4 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Kona Joe is not only a coffee plantation with breathtaking views, but it was also the world’s first trellised plantation, using similar techniques as winemakers in their vineyards. Kona Joe is, in addition, the only Kona Coffee Farm where you can see the entire process from planting to brewing, including their famous roasting and tasting room. 

Kona Joe has a myriad of tour choices, the standard tour includes a full cup of 100% Kona coffee and a unique souvenir coffee mug to take home with you. Tours are offered daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prices range from free to $225 for the ‘Ultimate Kona Joe Tour and Roasting’ which includes five pounds of coffee and a two-hour tour.