Kauai Coffee Company in Hawaii: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Kauai Coffee Company farms 3,100 acres above Kauai's south shore and is described by The Garden Island as the largest coffee grower in the United States. It began in 1987 as an offshoot of McBryde Sugar Co. and produces about 2 million pounds of coffee a year from roughly 4 million trees.
| Location | Kalaheo, south shore of Kauai, Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987, as an offshoot of McBryde Sugar Co. |
| Sectors | Coffee (eight varieties); visitor tours and tastings |
| Scale | 3,100 acres; about 4 million trees; roughly 2 million pounds a year |
| Why it is elite | Described as the largest coffee grower in the U.S. |
| Ownership | Owned by a U.S. affiliate of Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group since 2011; land owned by Brue Baukol Capital Partners |
| Official website | Kauai Grown directory profile of Kauai Coffee Company |
History of Kauai Coffee Company
Kauai Coffee began in 1987 as an offshoot of McBryde Sugar Co., converting former sugar land to coffee after the plantation economy declined. A U.S. affiliate of Italy's Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group has owned the coffee business since 2011, though not the land.
Denver-based Brue Baukol Capital Partners bought the land in 2022. In January 2026 about 136 employees were notified of layoffs, but in June 2026 Hawaii News Now reported a new 15-year agricultural lease that keeps operations, local jobs and certifications in place.
What Kauai Coffee Company Grows and Raises
The farm grows eight varieties, producing about 2 million pounds a year from about 4 million trees. The new lease keeps the farm's non-GMO and Rainforest Alliance certifications and continues its Fair Trade Community Development program.
The lease also gives the landowner room to explore agriculture on uncultivated land, and the company plans hiring in skilled trades.
How Kauai Coffee Company Makes Money
Coffee sales
The farm sells coffee produced on its own estate, with certifications that support premium markets.
Visitor experience
Kauai Coffee offers farm tours and tastings that bring visitors to Kalaheo.
Certified and community programs
Rainforest Alliance, non-GMO and Fair Trade Community Development programs support marketing and the relationships with buyers.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Kauai Coffee Company
Land tenure is a business risk. The 2026 lease shows why long agricultural leases matter for perennial crops like coffee.
Certifications can add pricing power. Third-party credentials give a large grower a story to tell buyers.
Four million coffee trees is a lot of caffeine for one island, and a Kalaheo field at harvest probably has the most alert chickens in Hawaii. For farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes that pair well with a morning cup, visit farm.FM. Kauai's roosters, for their part, need no coffee at all.
farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, also runs Tractor Tunes, a country music lineup for farmers. For a sample of the writing, try the archive of one of its staff humorists.
How to Contact Kauai Coffee Company
Website: https://kauaigrown.org/kauai-coffee-company
No official company website appeared in the sources reviewed, so a Kauai Grown directory profile is listed. Confirm tours, hours and sales with the company directly. November 2026.
Kauai Coffee Company Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Kauai Grown profile - Directory profile of the company
- The Garden Island - Coverage of the farm's size and 2026 layoff notice
- Hawaii News Now - Coverage of the new 15-year lease
- USDA NASS Hawaii Census of Agriculture - State farm numbers and sales from the 2022 Census
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Business coverage of the farm
Kauai Coffee Company FAQ
How big is Kauai Coffee?
3,100 acres, about 4 million trees, per The Garden Island.
When did it start?
In 1987 as an offshoot of McBryde Sugar Co.
Who owns it?
A U.S. affiliate of Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, with the land owned by Brue Baukol Capital Partners.
How do I contact it?
No official site appeared in sources reviewed; use the Kauai Grown directory page.
Kauai Coffee Company shows how a former sugar plantation became a very large coffee estate. Read the Hawaii farms guide for the broader context.