Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Welcome to Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, where visitors of all ages are invited to experience how our award-winning Kona coffee is grown and processed. We offer free 100% Kona Coffee tasting and conduct "coffee talks" to describe growing, processing, grading and roasting our coffees. Located less than 20 minutes above the town of Kailua-Kona at 3,200 ft above sea level, our organic farm is nestled on the lush, volcanic slopes of the Hualalai volcano. The mild climate, rich soil, and perfect balance of sunshine and rainfall allow us to grow truly exceptional coffee, which slowly ripens to perfection before being hand-picked, processed, and roasted. Enjoy free samples of our finest coffees, be inspired by the breathtaking scenery of our cloud forest location, and gain an appreciation for the journey coffee makes from the farm to your cup.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Attractions
84 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Jodi MLethbridge, Canada493 contributionsShort, informative and free tourThis was a perfect tour! They offer free tours every half hour. The guide talked about the picking, processing, grading and roasting process in detail. We then got to step into the plant to see some of the machines they use. Free samples are available outside the gift shop. Nice bathrooms available near a shaded seating area. They had a walking trail for $10 a family, but we didn’t do it. We over heard other families that seemed to enjoy it.Visited February 2024Traveled with familyWritten March 1, 2024
- Explorer6674233 contributionsMost affordable tour in Hawaii !Today five members of my family and I took tour of this facility. It only cost a total of $10 dollars for the entire family!! The tour was both educational and entertaining. After the tour you get to walk on their Nature trail, and it was beautiful!! This trail has all sorts of beautiful plants, trees, volcano tubes, and some beautiful views!! You also get to sample several different types of coffee!! All this for just $10 per family!!Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten March 17, 2024
- jlitt1120Davidson, North Carolina36 contributionsRainy day coffee tourMy husband and I were looking for something to do on a rainy morning on the BI. Stayed in the Mauna Lani area and this coffee farm was fairly close by (30-45 minutes). Quick but informative tour of their coffee facility was free and then paid $10 for the two of us to do a quick walk of their grounds including viewing a few lava tubes. Cute little gift shop where you could sample some of their coffee. Definitely a fun rainy day excursion and can't beat the price.Visited May 2024Traveled with familyWritten May 29, 2024
- JesterladdHorsham, United Kingdom7 contributionsExcellent tour and coffeeIf someone had told me before I visited Hawaii that one of my favourite moments would be a coffee tour in the rain, I would have thought they were daft!! However, it was!! Whilst it was raining the tour was inside. Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging. There was sample coffee to try and it was excellent. If you have a couple of hours to spare, learn about Kona coffee here.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 30, 2024
- Laurel C21 contributionsA tucked away gem!Such a beauty of secluded spot on the top of the mountain. The free coffee tour and samples were excellent. We also went for the $10 self guided nature tour and saw three lava caves, absolutely worth the trip.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 18, 2024
- 383ingridnTucson, Arizona55 contributionsInteresting Farm TourThe plantation is in the cloud forest a short drive east of Kailua-Kona. Parking is alongside the road leading up to and just past the farm. We took the free farm tour, where we were walked through the process of harvesting, sorting, and roasting the beans. In order to be labelled Kona coffee, the beans have to meet very strict requirements, which explains the expensive nature of real Kona coffee. There are urns with coffee to sample and at least two resident cats to admire. There is also a small shop where you can purchase coffee and some local honey, crafts, and candy.Visited August 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten August 29, 2024
- Trail391414144422 contributionsFree, highest quality coffee, beautiful view!Free! There can be a lot of expense paid for tours on Hawaii, this coffee company, samples and tour are free! just a short safe beautiful drive up the mountain to this amazing place. You can also pay a $10 group fee to walk around the grounds and overlook to the sea! its a short but steep walk. They have a store where you can purchase coffee, sea salt, and honey.Visited September 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten September 19, 2024
- Patrick MNewark, Delaware1,312 contributions100% Kona CoffeeExcellent little coffee plantation tour in the hills of Kona. The man who gave the tour was excellent and told us all about how they went from piking the beans to preparing them, roasting them and bagging them. This was very educational and good for anyone who wants to know how coffee is made. The gift shop sells there 100% Kona coffee and there is also a tasting table. I would recommend this stop for anyone in the Kona area.Visited September 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten September 30, 2024
- Linda C2 contributionsLove Real Kona CoffeeWonderful tour! It was vey informative...we learned a lot of of new things about coffee. The staff were helpful and very friendly and we even got to meet the resident cat (in her office). The free coffee samples were delicious! We will visit Mountain Thunder again the next time we are in Kona!Visited August 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten October 7, 2024
- DieBewerterinCanada310 contributionsAbsolutely worthy to seeWe visited the coffee farm today. Everyone was in a good mood, friendly and the whole place has a wonderful energy. A free coffee tour starts every 30 minutes starting at 9:30 a.m. The tour is very interesting and humorous (no reservation needed). Afterwards you can try 4 different types of Kona coffee. These are super delicious. There is also a shop where you can buy home-roasted coffee, honey and other souvenirs. And you can also book a "nature self-guided walking tour" for $10 per person on site and look at the coffee plantations. Insider tip: Look on the way to the coffee farm for the unique rainbow eucalyptus trees.Visited November 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten November 15, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,273 reviews
Excellent
787
Very good
365
Average
79
Poor
19
Terrible
23
Bryan
Portland, OR50 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
We had a nice visit to Thunder Mountain coffee when they first opened. Friendly tour guide explained the very exclusive bean selection and processing. We were able to look inside the production facility as they had just harvested beans. We also walked the grounds which cost $10 but was a nice interpretive trail with native plants, lava tubes, and of course, coffee trees. There was also a wonderful observation deck where you could see to the ocean. There were free samples of coffee. We suggest going first thing in the morning before parking fills up and the clouds start to move in. It is about a 25 minute drive up from the town of Kona.
Written January 1, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robotr0n
Chicago, IL6 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
The complementary tour was a great look into the micro plantation of Kona, from sourcing through roasting. The self guided garden tour was pretty much the only thing in Hawaii that’s $10 per family, and worth so much more.
The coffee at the plantation store was priced about the same as high end roasters, like Intelligentsia, and absolutely worth it. It’s a great way to spend a couple of hours when you’re looking for a step away from the high tourist areas.
The coffee at the plantation store was priced about the same as high end roasters, like Intelligentsia, and absolutely worth it. It’s a great way to spend a couple of hours when you’re looking for a step away from the high tourist areas.
Written December 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MJE123123
Scappoose, OR43 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We are so glad we found out about this plantation and visited it in the morning! The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. The coffee tour is free and we learned so much! Our guide had a great sense of humor! After the tour, we paid $10 total to take the nature walk, see the vegetation, used our guide book and get some great pictures. The lava tubes were beautiful. The cat, Princess, was fun to pet. Coffee samples were good. Definitely would make a point to visit. One thing we were told was that it was best to visit in the morning due to the clouds moving in to obstruct the view in the afternoons.
Written October 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebeccatheornurse
San Francisco, CA43 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
Free tour of a working coffee farm. My husband and I went up for a visit because neither one of us had ever been to a working coffee farm and really didn’t know much about it. There are two different tours to choose from, and we opted to see and learn about the roasting process. Our tour guide was very informative; we were the only two people she accompanied, as it was almost closing time, but she gave us (what I suspect to be) the same in-depth information she would give a large group, in the same style of delivery she would for a large group. It wasn’t a long tour, and definitely not exhaustive for someone that may have trouble walking or standing. Free samples of coffee were available outside of the gift shop, and that coffee sold me. After our tour, we hit that gift shop and brought home delicious coffees and coffee berry tea (that stuff is a trip—smells like coffee, drinks like a sweeter tea!), and other souvenirs. I signed up for email notifications, which gave a small discount at the counter, but also in Black Friday got an email for discounts on that delicious coffee! We are fans of the Black & Tan and the Brown & Tan. The drive up is pretty easy from the highway, with signs to help guide the way, and scenic. Overall, a good experience that can be easily worked into a day trip without cutting into too much of your day.
Written December 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bean-Buggles
Plumsteadville, PA728 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
The drive to this plantation is thru tropical vegetation at 3200ft elevation. We arrived at opening to avoid the crowds and rain that usually start around 11am. We were warmly greeted by the staff and Margie the cat. They had three coffee samples out to try. A brief tour was given every 30 minutes explaining the coffee growing, harvesting, and roasting processes. The equipment is right at the entrance so the tour does not venture into the farm, which was a disappointment. There is a short self guided Nature Trail that you can pay for at the gift shop for $10, which we enjoyed. The viewing deck at the end of the trail is nice. They also have a lava tube you can view from the walk but you cannot enter. The gift shop is nice with lots of items available. Even though the tour wasn’t thru the farm and only 3 varieties were available for tasting, we really liked the location in the cloud forest, the taste of the coffee, the gift shop, and the nature trail. If it weren’t Covid-times, the UTV tour would have been great to do. If you only have time to visit one coffee farm during your visit, carefully research the different farms, their tour options, and hours as some are closed certain days of the week. Use Trip Advisor to get an idea of what the tour is like during Covid as many farms have cut back significantly. While we were at Mountain Thunder we were surprised that people were taking cabs to get to the plantation because they didn’t have a rental car. It’s a very short visit since the tour is brief and only three varieties were available for tasting. We stayed about 45 minutes really taking our time. At Greenwell’s we stayed two hours. Again, just weigh your options and fo your research. The location at Mountain Thunder is beautiful and we were happy to visit and spend time here.
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tropical_art
San Diego, CA185 contributions
Nov 2021
It was an easy drive to get up to 3200 feet where Mountain Thunder is located. We arrived right when they opened at 9am. I'm glad that we did because the parking filled up fast. When we arrived it was unclear at first which tour to sign up with. We then received clarification that the next coffee tour was in 30 minutes. We didn't feel like waiting that long so we just did the self-guided tour thru the cloud forest and lava tubes. There was a "sale" that day so we only paid $8 each for the tour. It was a very short tour. If you go at a leisurely pace, you can do it in 10-15 minutes. It's a great view of the city below when you look down from the patio area.
The shop is really cute with lots of interesting things to buy. The coffee was good too although I'll admit that I liked the coffee better at another farm we stopped at the other day. Still worth a visit to compare and contrast various coffee farms in the area. Also, it isn't every day that you get to visit a cloud forest.
The shop is really cute with lots of interesting things to buy. The coffee was good too although I'll admit that I liked the coffee better at another farm we stopped at the other day. Still worth a visit to compare and contrast various coffee farms in the area. Also, it isn't every day that you get to visit a cloud forest.
Written December 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MoreVacations:)
Montreal293 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Learned a lot about coffee as well as their process in this short tour (roughly 20 minutes). There is so much that goes into this that I never would have thought of. Also learned how 100% Hawaiian Coffee is actually made from the left over beans that don’t qualify as 100% Kona Coffee! If you are into machinery, then you’ll really enjoy the mill and roastery. The guided tour is free and they also have some coffee sampling as well.
We also did the nature walk ($10 per family) that takes you down a path to see a bit of the plantation and pass by a few lava tubes. It starts off a bit steep but then levels out for a pretty easy walk that ends on a large deck with a few picnic tables. It was a bit cloudy during our visit but on a clear day the view would be really nice.
There is plenty of parking along the road just outside the entrance.
Definitely worth a visit.
We also did the nature walk ($10 per family) that takes you down a path to see a bit of the plantation and pass by a few lava tubes. It starts off a bit steep but then levels out for a pretty easy walk that ends on a large deck with a few picnic tables. It was a bit cloudy during our visit but on a clear day the view would be really nice.
There is plenty of parking along the road just outside the entrance.
Definitely worth a visit.
Written August 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michele W
9 contributions
Feb 2023
The tour at Mountain Thunder was brief (< 30 min) but was informative and our guide was a pleasure to talk with. After the tour we walked along their nature trail ($5 fee, plus waiver needed to be signed) which was great. Vapor clouds poured over the mountain and added a mysterious quality to the scene. The coffee was good too. Well worth the trip up the mountain.
Written March 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie K.
Campbell, CA24 contributions
Dec 2021 • Couples
Do not go here unless you want a tourist trap
that takes twice as long to get here as you need to spend there.
We came here because the coffee plantation we wanted to visit wasn’t open, after the hours weren’t published correctly on another review website, so we searched for what was opened and went here. We arrived at 3:15 with 45 minutes until closing and we’re greeted upon entering and told there was a free tour at 3:30 or we could do the self-walking tour through the coffee fields and see the lava tubes for $10 each. We decided to try the coffee samples while we discussed what to do since we were told we didn’t have time to do both before closing. My husband grabbed a cup of sample coffee (which is set up outside) and the woman in the gift shop came out and yelled at him to put his mask on. He explained he had just taken his mask off to drink a sample, but was taken aback.
We decided it would be more worth our while to do the walking tour to see the coffee plants and lava tubes (basically small caves and caverns created by lava), so we paid our $20, signed the waiver and went to go do the walking tour. 8 minutes later, we were done, and that was probably 3 minutes longer than we needed. To call that a “walking tour” and charge $10 a person is a complete con. We walked down the path, which was basically like walking down the driveway into someone’s garden. We saw two lava tube caverns, from the path, and a handful of small coffee plants with no berries. That’s it. There is a nice view and a deck with some picnic tables, but to call that a walking tour is a gross misrepresentation and they should be ashamed charging people $10 for that. A complete tourist trap. And my husband wanted me to add that the coffee wasn’t even that great.
that takes twice as long to get here as you need to spend there.
We came here because the coffee plantation we wanted to visit wasn’t open, after the hours weren’t published correctly on another review website, so we searched for what was opened and went here. We arrived at 3:15 with 45 minutes until closing and we’re greeted upon entering and told there was a free tour at 3:30 or we could do the self-walking tour through the coffee fields and see the lava tubes for $10 each. We decided to try the coffee samples while we discussed what to do since we were told we didn’t have time to do both before closing. My husband grabbed a cup of sample coffee (which is set up outside) and the woman in the gift shop came out and yelled at him to put his mask on. He explained he had just taken his mask off to drink a sample, but was taken aback.
We decided it would be more worth our while to do the walking tour to see the coffee plants and lava tubes (basically small caves and caverns created by lava), so we paid our $20, signed the waiver and went to go do the walking tour. 8 minutes later, we were done, and that was probably 3 minutes longer than we needed. To call that a “walking tour” and charge $10 a person is a complete con. We walked down the path, which was basically like walking down the driveway into someone’s garden. We saw two lava tube caverns, from the path, and a handful of small coffee plants with no berries. That’s it. There is a nice view and a deck with some picnic tables, but to call that a walking tour is a gross misrepresentation and they should be ashamed charging people $10 for that. A complete tourist trap. And my husband wanted me to add that the coffee wasn’t even that great.
Written December 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ron M
Sunriver, OR13 contributions
Nov 2021
Recently during a visit to the Big Island I wanted to visit one of the better coffee farms and tasteTRUE Kona coffee. Our Family decided to try Mountain Thunder…we were very impressed…but what we weren’t expecting is to find a business that believes in relationships along with their premier coffee and products!
We made a purchase of a couple different coffees to take home…wonderful coffee…which has resulted in re orders.
It is more expensive than coffee you buy at your local supermarket BUT…IF you enjoy “top-shelf” coffee…and want to do business with a “top-shelf “ company look no further…Mountain Thunder Coffee!
I’m blessed we have discover them…and we REALLY enjoy their coffees!
We made a purchase of a couple different coffees to take home…wonderful coffee…which has resulted in re orders.
It is more expensive than coffee you buy at your local supermarket BUT…IF you enjoy “top-shelf” coffee…and want to do business with a “top-shelf “ company look no further…Mountain Thunder Coffee!
I’m blessed we have discover them…and we REALLY enjoy their coffees!
Written January 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there a cab that would be able to take us to Thunder Mountain coffee farm from the Norwegian cruise line?
Written September 16, 2018
If the ship visits Kona its just a short Uber or Taxi ride. If the Ship visits Hilo there are plenty of neat things to see on that side of the island that you should see. Although the coffee plantation is fun I am not sure I would use up most of a day in port to travel to and from.
Written September 17, 2018
If i dont have a car, how easy is it to get a taxi to and from the plantation and will it be expensive? How likely is it that i will be able to share a cab with others on the way back.
Written December 31, 2017
I am in agreement with the previous reply; this is an out-of-the-way place. This is a very small coffee plantation with a small gift shop so I am not sure if it would be worth the price of a cab (though you are not saying where you would be taking the cab from - if downtown Kona - yes, it would be expensive). I would consider checking on other plantations you might visit that might be easier to get to. From my observation, the few other people who were there when we were had their own vehicles so I would not count on cab sharing with anyone.
Written December 31, 2017
So It's August 2017, and Mountain Thunder is open and selling coffee, but I just read of the financial issues and the brief closure in January of 2017. I am assuming that the company is under new management. Does anyone know whether the payment issues have bee resolved? Apparently they owed farmers for cherries that they acquired from them. I am loving the coffee, but I will look for another source if these folks are crooked.
Written August 5, 2017
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation's ownership changed in April of 2017. The previous owner has no connection to the farm. Mountain Thunder coffee is available at the farm and online at Mountain Thunder's website.
Written December 11, 2017
Honu_Ohana
Washington DC, District of Columbia
17,989 contributions
So the place has reportedly been liquidated per Star-Advertiser May 1 2017,
and some reviews refer to new owners.
Who are they? Is the coffee grown the same places and roasted the same as before? Buyer find out...
Written May 15, 2017
Yes, you will find the same great quality Mountain Thunder coffee coming from the farm and processing facility. The ownership did change, but most of the other elements of the farm and facilities are the same, though some have said the quality of the coffee and farm visit experience have improved.
Written December 11, 2017
The VIP tours (i think that's what you mean by "fee" tours) are longer, and more in- depth, price ranging from $65-$199.
for more info, please visit our website... there is a link on our TripAdvisor page.
Mahalo
Written December 14, 2015
where do we get bus tickets to cross the bridge
Written October 25, 2015
I didn't cross any toll bridge when I went to Thunder Mountain. I drove a rental car. I doubt that there is a public bus to Thunder Mountain. If you mean tickets for a tour to Thunder Mountain, most tour companies offer coffee tours , check with tour desk at hotel or call Thunder Mountain directly. By the way there are two types of tours at Thunder Mountain. A free one lasting about an hour and stays at the office and shop at entrance and a fee tour that is a longer and more in depth tour involving walking thru the trees etc.
Written October 26, 2015
Showing results 1-6 of 6
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing