Maui Coffee at Kaanapali Estates

Coffee Growing in Kaanapali on Maui

MauiGrown Coffee Company (TM) cultivates about 500 acres of coffee on their Kaanapali Estate which is located about four miles north of Lahaina, just above the Kaanapali Resort area in the West Maui Mountains.

Kaanapali Estate Coffee

The Kaanapali coffee plantation began in 1998 as a diversified agriculture project of Pioneer Mill Sugar Company under the name Kaanapali Estate Coffee. The coffee trees were planted on land that was formerly part of the Pioneer Mill sugar plantation.

The coffee plantation was originally established in cooperation with researchers at the University of Hawaii and eighteen different varietals of coffee plants were tested. The four varieties that were selected include Typica, Red Catuai, Yellow Caturra, and Mokka (Moka).

Though the Kaanapali Estate Coffee operation stopped doing business in 2001 the coffee trees were still irrigated though the plantation was not maintained.

A New Beginning for Coffee in Kaanapali, Maui

Then in 2003 MauiGrown(TM) Coffee secured a lease on the land and began providing care again to the coffee plants. The initial lease included 125 acres of the original 500-acre coffee farm, including 35 acres of the Moka coffee plant varietal. The new company's first coffee crop was harvested in 2004.

MauiGrown Coffee in collaboration with Pioneer Farms and Kaanapali Development Corporation now cultivates several varietals of Arabica coffee on their Kaanapali Estate. These coffee plant varietals include Yellow Caturra, Red Catuai, Typica and about 140 acres of Moka (derived from the Yemen Moka strain)

Kaanapali Coffee Taste Profile

The Moka taste profile has been describes as having a nutty, hazelnut flavor with a notes of chocolate and pipe tobacco and an aftertaste of medium length which ends with tones of chocolate when brewed as drip coffee and nutty or smoky when brewed in the French Press. The smoky flavor is said to reveal itself in particular when the coffee is brewed using a French Press.

At the MauiGrown Coffee Company Store coffee samples are provided including their signature Maui Moka coffee as well as other varieties.

Coffee Growing in Kaanapali, Maui

Coffee plants on the MauiGrown plantation are cultivated in a hedgerow style with rows spaced about twelve feet apart and the plants in each row about three feet apart.

The coffee plants are drip irrigated using water coming from the streams of the West Maui Mountains which enter into a century-old irrigation ditch system that was formerly used by the sugarcane plantation.

Harvesting of the coffee occurs in the fall and sometimes lasts into the month of January. Just a few miles from the plantation is the Maui Coffee Company which roasts coffee daily.

MauiGrown (TM) Coffee Products

In addition to selling roasted coffee, MauiGrown Coffee also sells green coffee beans (unroasted coffee beans), roasted coffee grown at other Maui locations, and Kona Coffee.

The MauiGrown coffee plantation is located at 277 Lahainaluna Rd. near the landmark Lahaina Smokestack. The MauiGrown Coffee Company Store is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 am to 5 pm.

For more information see: Hawaii Coffee; Big Island Coffee; Kona Coffee; Oahu Coffee; Maui Coffee; Molokai Coffee; Kauai Coffee; Hawaii Coffee Grading; Hawaii Coffee Facts; Hawaii Coffee History - Kona Coffee History; Kona Coffee Farm Tours.

Maui Coffee and Espresso Brewing Tips

You can read detailed coffee flavor profiles of gourmet coffee and instructions on preparing the finest Espresso Drink Recipes.

For tips on espresso brewing see Pulling A Perfect Espresso Shot.

See detailed definitions of coffee terminology in the Coffee Terms.  History buffs will love the World's Best History of Coffee.