If you’ve always wondered what it takes to bring fresh coffee to your cup each day, you’ll want to go on the Hilo Coffee Mill tour. A truly eye-opening experience, this whirlwind trip through their Mountain View plantation teaches you all you want to know about coffee. You can then stick around to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee, tea, and more.
Since they only do their tours on Tuesdays, you’ll want to book your spot well ahead of your trip. They make it easy with a quick online form, so just fill it out once you know when you’ll be on the island. Then, plan to leave your hotel early enough to get to the plantation on time. Otherwise, the tour could leave without you if you’re late. They take up to five people on each tour. So, expect to share the experience with your fellow coffee lovers unless you arrive with a full group.
The journey through their plantation starts with warm alohas all around from your knowledgeable tour guide. You’ll go into the main building to start, and then head out back to explore the coffee fields. While walking along the path, the resident chickens run up to greet everyone as well, often displaying fun antics for all to enjoy. Then, you’ll pass by the sugarcane plantation where the original property owners created a water passage to create fertile, well-draining fields.
After that, you’ll land in the coffee fields where over four acres of trees grow strong. Your guide will share how the coffee grows when it gets harvested, and how the process works. All their coffee gets picked by hand throughout the growing season, so you always know it’s at peak ripeness. Soon after that, you’ll go over to the pulping area to see the coffee beans get removed from the fruit. On your way to the next stop, the drying area, you’ll pass by their bountiful tea fields.
The roasting house is your last stop before you get to land at the Latte de Bar. In the roasting room, you’ll learn about their Diedrich roasters and the work that goes into perfecting each batch by hand. Then, to bring it all together, you’ll get to sample a few of their most popular coffee varieties. After that, you get to head into the coffee bar to order up whatever drinks you want to try next. Don’t forget to swing by the gift shop before you leave, so you can get coffee beans, soy candles, branded swag, and so much more.
Their top offerings include:
Shot in the Dark
Want to leave your coffee experience up to chance? Just get the Shot in the Dark. They make this drink by brewing up their featured coffee of the day. Then, they kick it up a notch with a shot of espresso. Get yours in a 12-, 16-, or 20-ounce cup, and add whatever cream and sugar you want.
Iced Tea of the Day
The Iced Tea of the Day also lets you savor whatever varieties they have on tap at that moment. Available in small and large, this drink simply features their homegrown tea brewed up and put over ice.
One Black Eye
If you want to enjoy coffee in a whole new way, order up One Black Eye. This delightful treat starts with a single scoop of Hawaiian coffee ice cream in a cup. Once that’s ready to go, it gets warm espresso drizzled all over the top to create the perfect flavor combination.
Want to swing by the onsite farmer’s market after sipping on coffee deliciousness? Just time your trip for early on Saturday. The market opens at 9 am and continues until around 2 pm. During that time, you can shop for artisan goods, eat delicious food, and listen to local music.
Insider Tips:
-Although they normally only run their tours on Tuesdays, you can call to request a private tour on a different day.
-Expect their farm tour to last 1.5 to 2 hours. Want a faster tour? Just ask about their 10-to-20-minute trip to the roasting house.