On our recent visit to the Big Island, coffee was at the top of our list. We looked through tourist guides and travel blogs to find 1 or 2 since our time was limited on Kona. My friend found Monarch and off we went. It's located in an area with quite a few other coffee plantations. It was quite a trek to find it. But when we did, it was worth the trip. Upon entering the plantation you drive through coffee trees and emerge into a clearing with a circular driveway and a main building. As soon as we parked, we were greeted by Abby. She asked where we were from and we told her Northern California. She asked where in NorCal and we told her Sacramento. It turns out they're also from the area (specifically Woodland.) What a small world! Abby showed us around their tasting room and retail area. It was very small, but very cozy. She told us a bit about the plantation and how they came to be on the Big Island. She told us about the coffees available for tasting and the beans in their retail shop. Another gentleman, Greg, stopped by to tell us more about the plantation and it's operations. Since we didn't have the time to do the complete tour, he gave us an explanation of coffee from tree to cup. I'm not very knowledgeable about coffee, but my friend is and he was a fountain of information. The farm was so homey and cozy. It was like I was invited to a friend's home and enjoyed a leisurely chat on their patio. I highly recommend a tour of Monarch coffee plantation. You will get award winning coffee and an unforgettable experience. read more

Monarch Coffee Farm - View from the top - Farms Near Me - Holualoa, Hawaii

THEY DONT DO RETAIL OR TOURS ANYMORE. I love monarch. But their coffee online, support them however you want but don't drive, text or call them. They are closed to the public Again, love them but don't go here thinking you're going to be able to buy coffee or do a tour. Their website goes into more detail. read more

I cannot speak highly enough of Monarch We were told to come to monarch by Chai at Greenwell farms. So we had to go if the expert tells us to! We were greeted by Susie (I hope I spelt your name correctly) who was very warm and welcoming. She is the owner and was happy to spend time telling us about how her and her husband got into coffee growing and the origins of the famous Gesha coffee. She acted like she had all the time in the world to talk to us. It was a breath of fresh air compared to some of the coffee farms who are non stop meeting and greeting and on to the next. Erynne gave us a in depth tour of their farm, and imparted lots of great information. We really got to see behind the scenes. Even their cold storage and in-depth explanations of the machinery they use. The farm is beautifully kept. And although this is a paid tour we got so much out of it INCLUDING a taste of Gesha coffee... and it is as good as the 1st place award suggests it is. They have great little gifts in the store, we got a monarch butterfly life cycle toy for our nephew, a cute fuzzy bumble bee for our child and some expensive but 100% worth the price Gesha coffee. The only feed back I would say is that it would be worth sending their guides to others coffee farms so they can have a broader understanding of different farms in Kona. One of the things that set Chai above all others is she knew each farm, the owners, the beans, and could recommend other farms. But that is a really tiny nit picky thing for me to mention so take it with a pinch of salt. read more

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Goodness gracious, I know you hear a lot of folks say things like, "If you do ANYTHING, do the Manta Rays, dolphins, etc," and I fully support the sentiment. However, if there's an ounce of Kona coffee aficionado in you, then this is my "If you do ANYTHING" addition. Sal, Abby, and Joshua were incredible hosts. We should have done both the tour and the roasting demonstration but had our two kids with us and it wasn't advised for us to do that portion. However, we would have force our kids to deal with it had we known about Abby beforehand! Sal and Abby are super knowledgeable and clearly see this and treat this as their craft. Their son Joshua was an excellent host on the retail/testing side. What a team! If we ever visit the Big Island again, we will do so sometime between mid-August and January so we can see the harvest operations. Thank you for an incredible tour! read more

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Great local farm, intimate tour and experience! I learned a lot about coffee. Our guide Chris was awesome! 5 stars read more

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Having never been on a coffee tour we thought it would be a good idea to try one out here in Kona. I booked this last minute but was able to get the time slot I wanted which was convenient. I recommend going as early as possible to take in those gorgeous views from the property while also tasting some great coffee. No better way to start your morning in paradise. Chris took us around the property, teaching us the history of the company, the crop planted there, and the difficult process of harvesting and getting the coffee ready for roast. At the end we were given a blind coffee tasting via pour over. Chris was helpful and answered all of our questions! If you're looking for a coffee tour, love coffee, or just don't know what to do in between hikes or beach visits, definitely consider a visit! read more

Monarch Coffee Farm - Monarch coffee farm looking over the ocean - Farms Near Me - Holualoa, Hawaii

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Immaculate property with lots of coffee! Bought the vanilla extract, sugar, and coffee rub! We didn't stay for the coffee tour, but the woman working definitely wanted us to. It was an impromptu visit and it was a beautiful stop! read more

This was one of our favorite memories from our vacation! Not only do they have amazing coffee, they have the nicest, kind people. We signed up for the tour and luckily, were the only guests there, in the morning. The woman in the lobby was so warm and welcoming, explaining the coffees available for tasting and helped us bring lots of goodies home. The tour guide, Erin, is so passionate, with her extensive experience in the industry. Definitely recommend the roasting experience. It was fun, informative and gives you a better appreciation for what goes in to your cup of coffee. You also get to roast to your liking and bring home a bag of your own beans. This farm has an amazing story and to see what it has grown into, is really fascinating. They are also one of the few farms that harvests and does all their roasting in house. If you don't have enough time for a tour, stop in and buy some from the retail shop or sign up for their subscription - you will not be disappointed. read more

While on our first-time visit, we wanted to see coffee from plant to cup. On short notice (night before), I was able to book a farm tour and roasting experience with Monarch. We arrived to find a flurry of activity- normal tours and a film crew- and in the middle of it, Abby steering everything with a remarkable calm, at least outwardly. We lucked into a private tour with Sal (yay, off season), which was very informative and relaxed. It was followed by a roasting experience with Abby and the option for 2 roastings (one with each of our paid experiences) or selecting a pre-roasted coffee. Roasting was a lot of fun! However, unsure of our skills, we selected one of each. :) We learned later in the visit that there was a family emergency (on the mainland) that they were also addressing in the background. With everything going on, circumstances made our visit an inconvenience (very understandable). We're not complainers - she could have just ended things early, and we would have been understanding. I can't emphasize enough how dedicated Abby was in making it right and ensuring we felt welcome and appreciated. The coffee is wonderful (awards are well deserved), and the people are even better! read more

Monarch Coffee Farm - Namesake caterpillar - Farms Near Me - Holualoa, Hawaii

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We came for the walking tour and it was amazing. The farm is beautiful with incredible views, we had a private tour with Joshua who was incredibly knowledgeable and showed us all aspects of the farm. We finished with enjoying a great pour over and relaxing on the patio enjoying some fruits we picked from the trees! Highly recommend this for an activity on big island!! read more

Monarch Coffee Farm - Enjoying our coffee on the patio outside - Farms Near Me - Holualoa, Hawaii

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Absolutely check this farm out on the Big Island! The views from the farm were incredible. Erynne brought us around the beautiful property, and gave us a thorough explanation of the process from plant to cup - all with a smile! For someone who is an expert coffee drinker, but novice when it comes to how it's made - found it very interesting to hear how it works and their commitment to sustainability. The coffee at the end was great!! Highly recommend coming here, and very accessible from Kona area. read more

When we tried to go, it was closed, gate was locked to driveway. This was during a normal weekday, Tuesday and there was no indication or notice on the website. read more

Hands down the best coffee I've ever had - and that's saying something, considering how much I spend on high end coffee. This farm managed to successfully grow Panamanian Geisha in Kona and they make it in both a light and medium roast, each having their own amazing tasting profile. For me, the showstopper is the Pacamara, which they process in both washed and natural varieties. The Pacamara natural blew me away with its intense stone fruit flavors. Bright cherry and nectarine flavors shine through. Not only is the coffee top notch, the customer service and experience is fantastic. I liken it to a cab tasting at a high end Napa winery. Whereas most coffee farms in Kona have huge thermoses of coffee that have been sitting for hours and hours from which to pump your free samples, Monarch takes their time and freshly brews their tastings for each customer by a pour over method. And get this - it's only $10 a tasting for three coffee varieties! That is a steal of a deal, considering the quality of the coffee. They measure the beans, freshly grind each, and brew in a Kalita right in front of you. If you take your coffee seriously, you absolutely must visit this establishment. Oh, and there's a private gate that is sometimes closed, but don't let that deter you. Just call them and they'll give you the code to get in. read more

My husband and I did a tour complete with roasting lessons and tasting. A beautiful family business and delicious coffee! If you are local or visiting like us, this is the prefect day adventure to learn about coffee and walk beautiful grounds! Can not wait for our next trip to the big island to visit again. read more

We were blessed to receive an amazing tour of the coffee farm from Larissa and Tanner. They were so friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable! They were patient with our questions. The gift shop was cozy, welcoming, and the prices were very reasonable. It was the BEST COFFEE FARM TOUR EVER! Can't recommend it highly enough! read more

We took a tour with a free tasting at the end! The tour was worth it - we were amazed by the amount of care and labor (and intentionality) of their business! I would highly recommend - also, the coffee is delicious too. read more

Great coffee grown and roasted on site by wonderful people. Worth a visit for aloha and coffee.

We were at monarch a few days ago and did the tour with Josh. This dude knows coffee! The tour was very educational and informative. He loves questions and took us through the process from growing the trees to picking, nurturing, washing, sorting, drying, storing, roasting, grinding and even why a pour over is far superior to a French Press. His tips and tricks were appreciated. They are a small farm and produce amazing quality coffee. The taste is clean where you don't want to add sugar and cream for fear of ruining the flavor. You do not need it with their coffee. That should tell you right there why you should make this a stop. Our son does not like or drink coffee and he was even liking the Gesha. I won't spoil it for you and give away the flavors you will experience, but I will tell you it will leave you wondering why you have not been experiencing their coffee these past few years. Buy some take it with you or order it online to be shipped, just be sure to use a pour over to get the true flavor. You can thank me later. read more

My wife and I decided to spend our honeymoon in Kona in-part because of the amazing coffee. We knew we wanted to visit a coffee plantation while we were there, but there were so many to choose from! After all our research and planning, we landed on Monarch, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt, they are the best! Not only was the coffee *delicious* but the experience of being guided through the roasting process was so much fun! We learned a lot and came home with some amazing coffee. The farm itself was idyllic -- the view is incredible, and everything is extremely beautiful. I can't recommend this experience more! read more