Kona’s Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation in the Cloud Forest

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation was the first Kona coffee farm I ever visited. I really love this spot because it’s a small operation that’s not dazzling but is all about the coffee. Located near Kailua-Kona, Mountain Thunder Coffee is a great addition to a visit to the Kona Coast and is an easy stop if you’re having a day touring the many coffee roasters and farms of the Big Island.

Do you have a favorite Kona Coffee farm experience? If you’ve not been into the cloud forest and moved through the mist while looking for brilliant red coffee cherries, then you’re going to love this. Below we’ve shared what to expect from visiting Mountain Thunder Coffee, tips for having an educational coffee farm visit and more ideas for learning on the Kona Coast. You’ll have a great time (and maybe get a good caffeine buzz). If you have any questions about visiting Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation or touring coffee farms on the Kona Coast, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan a great Aloha trip!

Highlights of Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation

The guided tour around the facilities at Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation is surprisingly interesting. Starting with coffee samples and moving into learning about beans, growing and harvesting there in the cloud forest of Kona. You’ll see the sorting and drying operations and then the roaster. Hopefully they’ll be roasting coffee when you visit because it smells awesome and is a cool process to watch. It smells almost as good as the cacao drying racks at Lavaloha Chocolate Farm in Hilo.

Not Kona Coffee related but another really neat thing to do at Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation is the nature trail to the lava tube. Remember, you’re on the Big Island of Hawaii and there are volcanic features everywhere, and there just happens to be a lava tube here. Grab a guide from the visitor center and pay your fee (they ask $10 for a family group) and then enjoy the cloud forest. This is a great bird watching spot, and the vegetation is beautiful too.

Tips for a Great Mountain Thunder Visit

When you visit Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, give yourself at least an hour for your tour and such. You’ll want to enjoy the grounds (I love a good pun), do the free tour, have a tasting and of course do the nature trail. To get all of these things to line up, you’ll probably need more than an hour. You’ll see that this coffee farm is very different from the experience at the Kauai Coffee Company, set in the cloud forest versus on the sunny slopes.

Now, this may sound funny, but when you’re doing a coffee tasting at Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, keep in mind that this is a very small batch roaster and these are not your average mainland USA coffee profiles. Coffee is very much like wine and not every crop or roasting batch is great for everyone. Keep an open mind and try whatever is available. You may fall in love with it!

Being Prepared for the Cloud Forest

OMG, bring an umbrella when you’re doing anything in the mountains of the Kona Coast. The Honolua Forest Reserve and other natural areas for hiking are all very near Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, so you’ll have the chance to do some exploring in the cloud forest. A rain jacket or poncho are a great idea when you’re here. A good portion of the coffee farm tour is under cover, but the rest of the grounds aren’t.

Parking for Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation

There is limited parking directly in the lot at the Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation. Parking on the street is allowed, but be mindful of the signs and be sure you’re as far off the road as you can be. Be safe getting out of your car and be respectful of others who’ve also had to park on the side of the road. Don’t trap anybody in.