The concept of “” is straightforward. The Hawaiian term Ōlelo encompasses the idea of working together as a community, which is exactly what those working in the specialty coffee industry in Honolulu strive to do. Among the many sights and sounds of the island, Honolulu hosts a huge group of industry enthusiasts working in various shops, all connected by a similar thread of connecting communities through the cups they serve.
Whether you find yourself on the beach, in the mountains, or in the heart of the city, you are sure to find a unique coffee experience. Below is just a diminutive selection of the many coffee shops that Honolulu has to offer, each with its own approach to coffee, tea, food and.
TRY the coffee
It is located in the collaborative art center known as Jelly Box, TRY the coffee offers customers the opportunity to sample handcrafted tinctures in Honolulu’s Ward Village neighborhood. TRY presents in its menu a variety of coffees that have been awarded in the Cup of Excellence, on stage during the World Barista Competition and in the World Coffee in Good Spirits competition. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. For a more thorough overview of imported coffees, the TRY website hosts a chronological archive of over 250 selected coffees throughout their shelf life. If you’re interested, you can even subscribe to their monthly “TRY-Cycle,” which features hand-selected coffees by co-owner Timothy “TK” Yamada.
In addition to its diverse coffee offering, TRY operates as a pop-up space that promotes local talent, including emerging bakers, chefs and other innovators, so you never know what local talent you might meet when you grab your cup.
Conventional coffee roasteries
Tucked away in the hills north of the town of Kailua, in a cozy warehouse, is the perfect place for coffee Traditional coffee roasteries. Run jointly by husband-and-wife team Brian and Lindsay Burik, Tradition Brick and Mortar also serves as a home base for all baking operations, giving you a peek behind the curtains for both the sights and smells.
Tradition offers over a dozen on-site roasting options (from experimentally processed coffees to locally grown Hawaiian coffees) with rotating seasonal specials, and has even won multiple Gold Bean awards for its coffees. The tradition also offers a range of public coffee classes for those who want to deepen their knowledge or simply learn a little more about the cups they drink.
Ando’s Cafe
If you want to enjoy your morning cuppa in a relaxing zen environment, look no further Ando’s Cafe in the city of Kailua. Strongly influenced by Japanese cafe culture, Ando has a cafe with a backdrop of plants and ambient music while you enjoy your drink.
On the coffee side, the offering includes house-roasted pour-over coffee, milk infusions and espresso drinks served by the cup I have coffee machine. If you’re looking for tea, you can try Shizuoka Matcha, Hojicha and Wakoucha Black Tea while sitting in the huge outdoor area. Ando is also involved in special bubble events and live music nights, with more evening events planned in the future.
Coffee from the Bird’s Nest
If you’re heading to the North Shore of Oahu and need a cuppa, Coffee from the Bird’s Nest he has you under control. The Bird’s Nest, built on the site of a former gas station, is a multi-roastery known for its Birdy Brew cool beer concentrate and a selection of single-origin coffees from various roasteries across the country, primarily Coffee with a sweet bloom from Denver.
What started as a coffee shop in a 1966 Ford Econoline quickly evolved when co-owners Caleb Backus and Madelyn Ballew saw an opportunity to start a coffee shop among the diverse people passing through the town of Halei’wa on their way to O’ahu’s famed Waimea Bay. Other menu highlights include the Nuts N Hugs Latte with macadamia nut syrup or the Sourdough Kolaches (filled with fluffy sourdough snacks), whose flavors change seasonally.
Morning glass coffee
Being able to enjoy your morning cuppa with the perfect food pairing is never a problem for the Manoa neighborhood mainstay Morning glass coffee. Surrounded by mountain views, Morning Glass offers a variety of coffees, starting with Portland’s Coava coffee roasteries Down Big Island Coffee Roasters from Hilo, as well as plenty of baked goods and food options to make you hungry. If you’re looking for something caffeine-free, you can also try one of the house-made sparkling sodas, and a recent seasonal option is Mango Hibiscus. If you’re in the mood for a bite to eat, homemade ulu soup, Earl Gray rolls, tahini chocolate chip cookies, and macaroni and cheese pancakes are just a few delicious options you can try. Morning Glass even offers a special evening breakfast (depending on the day) for those who want to enjoy lattes and cakes in the evenings
Drip Studio HNL
In Oahu’s Chinatown, you’ll find a coffee lover’s paradise where you can hand-brew coffee Drip Studio HNL. This multi-roaster represents an ever-changing group of coffee roasters around the world whose options change frequently. The newest roasteries include Ilsa, Dak Coffee Roasters, LeavesAND Memli’s Coffee Laboratory. Founded by co-owners Vincent Pōhaku and Kelsie Mercado-Uehara, Drip Studio was founded in 2023 and moved from an open window to a fully realized café in the Fort Street Mall.
Other drink highlights include the Cool Fashioned (a variation of the Ancient Fashioned with house-made foam on top) and their strawberry or mango matcha and hojicha. Complete with a full menu that includes items such as mochi waffles, papaya wedges, and the crunch sandwich (a piquant turkey sandwich with mayo stuffed with potato chips), Drip is a must in Chinatown.
CJand
In the heart of the Kaimuki neighborhood you’ll find another element of community CJand. Run by partners Devin and Ross Uehara-Tilton, this multi-roasting facility includes constant coffee roasters such as Roasting Olympia coffee, Heart-shaped coffee roastersAND Black and white coffee roasteries both in the espresso and pour-over bar. The Curb also adds rotating seasonal specials to the menu to keep things fresh. Newest drinks include kabocha spiced lattes and pandan matcha lattes.
The Curb also splits its time in the evenings as a natural wine bar, which will host a variety of events for the community to participate in. These events include Drink & Draw Nites, Wine & Weave Nites, local music nights (loved by the staff as CLurb nights), and even host art galleries for local artists.
9Bar HNL
Although the word Scuffin may be unknown to many people, those who visit it 9Bar HNLis almost always the word that accompanies a coffee order. Part of the SALT elaborate in Kaka’ako, 9Bar has been on the specialty coffee scene for some time and recently celebrated its ninth anniversary. And while the Scuffin (Scone + Muffin) may be the store’s main attraction, it’s not the only one.
This multi-light pan offers a wide range of pour-over options, including: Valor Coffee, Old World CoffeeAND Chemistry of the era while also offering other invigorating caffeine options. Some of the latest seasonal offerings include banana bread lattes, cool brew chai, and even coffee (including espresso, cortado, and house-made ginger beer).
