On April 27, 2014 we had the opportunity to join Marilyn Jansen Lopes from Maui Country Farm Tours on her West Maui Coffee Tour. We know Marilyn from a tweetup at Maui College in 2010 and online on Twitter and Facebook from there on. So we were very excited when she invited us the day before via Twitter. We happily accepted and we are very glad we did!
Marilyn picked us up 8:45 am at Whole Foods Market 70 Ka`ahumanu Ave. Then she drove to Piliani Kope Coffee Farm. Already on the way to the farm Marilyn explained a lot about the history of Maui and about coffee. At the farm at 600 ft. above the sea we tasted delicious fresh roasted Piliani Kope coffee while having a beautiful view of West Maui. Then Marilyn led us through the coffee farm showing us the coffee trees as well as cocoa, papaya and banana plants. We learned a lot about growing coffee beans, harvesting and processing coffee, from picking, drying, pulping to roasting.
Marilyn had a picnic lunch prepared with sandwiches and fresh island fruits that we enjoyed on the lanai overlooking the coffee trees as well as the coastal area and the ocean towards Lana’i.
After lunch we hopped back in the bus for an impressive scenic tour through Lahaina. We then explored 500 acres of the Ka`anapali Coffee estates where is the home the MauiGrown Coffee brand. The harvesting there is done by machines.
Finally, on the way back to Kahului, Marilyn stopped at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop. If you ever happen to drive from or to Lahaina don’t hesitate to have some their tasty pies!
Thanks to Marilyn we had five hours with many insights about coffee and the history of Maui. I highly recommend Marilyn’s Maui Country Farm Tours!
Piliani Kope Coffee Farm Flickr Album
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Ka`anapali Coffee estates Flickr Album
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