Kona RainForest Farm: Providing a true coffee-lover's experience

Kona Coffee Trees on Kona RainForest Farm

Kona RainForest Farm produces some of the finest 100% Kona Coffee the island has to offer, and they do it organically, a feat only 2% of all coffee grown on Kona can boast!

What Makes Organic Coffee Organic?

Well, for Robert and Dawn Barnes, owners of Kona RainForest Farm, growing coffee organically means using natural pest and weed control methods as opposed to agrochemical pesticides and fertilizing their 15-acres of coffee trees with mulch made from leftover coffee pulp. But don’t take their word for it; Kona RainForest Farm’s organically-based operation is certified organic by the Hawaii Organic Farmer’s Association, operating under the United States Department of Agriculture. In addition to organic growing conditions, Kona RainForest Farm uses sustainable farming practices, such as harnessing electric power from the sun and capturing rainwater in catchment tanks for irrigation purposes.

From Sapling to Berry to Coffee Bean

"Cherries" ripen on coffee trees

Of the farm’s 9,000 coffee trees, only 3,600 are of berry-producing age. The sapling trees will be given the same organically tender-loving care while they leisurely grow to maturity. Meanwhile, the 3,600 fruit-bearing trees begin flowering in early spring and continue to do so after each heavy rain in the coming months. The blossoms, jasmine-fragrant white flowers, give the trees a “snow-flocked” look, inspiring the endearing description of “Kona snow”. Once the blossoms drop, tiny green berries are exposed which, over the next few months, will ripen into “cherries”. The coffee tree “cherries” are tiny red fruit that house the coveted coffee beans.

At Kona RainForest Farm, harvesting of the coffee trees is done by hand to ensure only the ripest fruit is picked. With multiple flowerings occurring throughout the year, each tree could have ripe, partially ripe and green berries on it at the same time. The Barnes’ method of harvesting their fruit ensures that the berries not yet ripe enough to pick are left to fully ripen in their own time. Harvesting is done every two to three weeks during the harvest season to fully take advantage of each batch of fruit’s peak ripeness.  

Once the “cherries” are harvested, the soft outer fruit is meticulously removed, revealing the glorious gifts inside just waiting to be discovered - two precious coffee beans! Rinsed and left out to dry in the sun, the papery layer covering each bean is ready to be removed in a special huller. Before the beans can be roasted, the final stage of a coffee bean’s journey, they must be sorted to ensure a uniform size for even roasting. The roasting process itself is as meticulous a craft as growing and harvesting the beans. At Kona RainForest, their coffee beans are roasted in small, intimate batches to guarantee each bean reaches the ideal temperature, bringing out the “perfect balance of body and flavor”.

Providing a Complete Coffee-Lover’s Experience

Born from Robert and Dawn Barnes’ passion for coffee and the Hawaiian Islands, Kona RainForest Farm offers a true coffee-lover’s experience. You’re welcome to come in to enjoy a single, intimate cup of their organically grown coffee while you embark on a guided tour of the grounds, or you can join their Estate CropShare Club and receive a monthly share of their Private Reserve Estate Coffee (check out their website for more information on joining their Estate CropShare Club).  

Want to escape the grinds of your daily life? Kona RainForest Farm also boasts a fully furnished Guesthouse, nestled among their stunning coffee trees and the surrounding rainforest. The Guesthouse, available for daily, weekly or monthly rentals, comfortably sleeps four and comes with a fully equipped kitchen to allow you complete escape from the outside world. It’s the perfect place to “shack up” for some much needed rest or artistic inspiration - just take a look at the view...

The View from Kona RainForest Farm's Guesthouse

Red Dirt Coffee House proudly serves Kona RainForest daily at our coffee shop. You can also experience the taste of Kona RainForest coffee at the 3^rd Annual Aloha Coffee & Cultural Festival coming this fall in Arroyo Grande, CA.