Ever wonder where coffee comes from? Spoiler alert: It literally grows on trees! Hawaii has a ton of coffee farms across multiple islands, and the Island of Hawaii is probably the island that comes to mind when you think of Hawaiian coffee–hello, Kona! But did you know Kauai is actually home to the largest coffee farm in the United States? It’s true! Here’s everything you need to know about visiting.
Where to Find Them
Kauai Coffee Company can be found on the south side of the island. It’s worthy of being a destination, or a lovely stop if you happen to be driving around the island!
- Location: 870 Halewili Road in Kalaheo
- Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm; Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-3:00pm (check their website for holiday hours)
- Parking: FREE lot parking
More here: The Traveler’s Guide to Coffee Around the World
Visit Their Museum
They have a small, FREE, one-room museum attached to their gift shop and visitor center. There, where you’ll find coffee griders of yesteryear, mint-in-packaging vintage Kauai coffee, and more. There are some very interesting coffee pots on display, which might make you very thankful for your modern coffee pot at home!
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Grab a Sample
It’s true! You will have the opportunity to sample several of their coffee varieties–as many times as you want! They also have a small coffee shop on-site where you can order frappes, iced coffees, espresso drinks, and pastries. All coffee products are, of course, made with Kauai Coffee from the plantation! Steve got the Blended Caramel, and I got the Blended White Chocolate Decadence–white chocolate and caramel combined! Oh, and an amazing brownie because, why not?
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Take a Tour
Kauai Coffee Company offers two tours: the Coffee on the Brain Tour at 10:00am Sunday-Friday for $25 per person, and a FREE self-guided walking tour. The Coffee on the Brain Tour is more in-depth, taking you “from seed to tree to cup,” and it sells out quickly, so book here in advance!
Or, if you have poor timing like we did (whoops!), you can follow the FREE path through the property and learn a few things at each stop. For instance, do you know how coffee is harvested from trees? (Hint: It’s similar to blueberry harvesting!) Do you know how coffee cherries are separated? Did you know coffee beans come from cherries? I’ll bet you’ll learn at least as much as we did about the process!
More here: The Most Helpful Hawaii Posts You’ll Ever Find
Take Some Home With You
This is the best part! Of course, you’ll find tee shirts, hats, mugs, locally made products, and more in the gift shop, but more importantly, you’ll find coffee! You can purchase 100% Kauai coffee here in whole bean, ground, or k-cup packages. Want a whole bean variety but don’t have a grinder? They’ll grind and re-seal it for you!
Purist varieties include Peaberry, Typica, Blue Mountain,Mundo Novo, and a variety of estate blends. Flavored varieties (my preference!) include Chocolate Macadamia, Vanilla Macadamia, Coconut Caramel Crunch, Toasty Banana Nut Creme, and more flavors that you can only find there! Find all their coffees and order from home on their website.
Pro tip: If you purchase $100 worth of coffee, they will ship it anywhere within the United States for FREE! They ship with USPS in flat-rate boxes, and shipping takes about five to seven business days.
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Want more? You’ll find everything you need (and then some!) on my dedicated Hawaiian Islands Page!
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