We just spent a week in Kauai and made four trips to Java Kai. The Mocha Maui Latte is really good. Chocolate, coconut syrup, and coffee, what's not to love? It's like drinking a Mounds bar. The breakfast burrito is really good. The blueberry muffins are so good we are taking 4 hone with us. (Only four because that's all they had left). The staff is super friendly! They are usually busy so they plan to wait a bit, but it's worth it. Free street parking was available each time we were there. read more

After going ourselves, we can see why Java Kai is such a staple. Located right in the heart of Kapa'a, this is the island-cafe aesthetic you're looking for. Bright colors, outdoor seating, and tropical inspiration added to the menu. Their coffee was SO GOOD. And the dishes we tried were delicious as well. The ambiance really makes this place great and this staff is well trained and great at their jobs. There was a line when we got there and a line when we left, so I would assume that's pretty typical. Expect a rush but enjoy the wait because it's worth it. read more

See all

First day in Kauai, and I'd been looking forward to a decent pour-over. I passed on Positive to come here. Mistake number one. No xbloom pour-overs being served, so I settled for pre-made drip. The barista was friendly enough but couldn't tell me anything about the coffees on her own menu -- origin, roast, process, nothing. She recommended a mac nut latte for my partner, which felt less like a recommendation and more like the only thing she was sure of. The drip came out fast and hot. That's the last nice thing I have to say. The latte comes from a second window, where a different employee was actively hostile. Busy morning, so I asked if the drink was mine. She snapped that my name was written on the cup. It was -- facing her. I was apparently supposed to read it through the cup. Here's the real problem: someone clearly put thought into the roasting side of this business, and then handed the entire customer-facing operation to people who received no training whatsoever. Not in the coffee, not in basic hospitality. You can teach someone to smile. You can teach them to answer a question without contempt. Nobody bothered. Average coffee, worse service, priced for people who won't be back anyway -- and given the volume of visitors, that model probably works fine for them. It won't work for me. Kauai has cafés run by people who are genuinely obsessed with what they're doing. Go find one of those. Serious coffee drinkers should walk right past this place. read more

What a gem! First time having macadamia nut milk and went back 5+ throughout our trip because it was so yummy!! Being GF, this place was AWESOME with great options. I loved the homemade GF bread for sandwiches. Hubs had his first go at Loco Moco. We are also obsessed with Portuguese sausage now. Took about 20 min to get through the line in the little cafe but able to find seating easily outside. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Portuguese Sausage and Egg Sandwich on GF bread !!! Loco Moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Stopped here for breakfast on our way to the waipu shuttle stop. Luckily we got in before the crowd bc the food did take a while as there was only 1 person in the kitchen. Parking was easy (at that time of the morning). I got the Mac nut latte with almost milk (at an upcharge) and my husband got the wired monkey. Both drinks were good. For food we got the local boy (the bread and cheese that came with it was really good) and the smoked marlin bagel (they only have 2 bagel options and the marlin had a lot of great flavor). read more

See all

I'm five staring this, but my experience was four stars because they are soo busy and popular. Seems like this is the go-to for visitors and locals. We came to this location twice to get our morning food and coffee before exploring the island. I HIGHLY recommend online ordering!! The first time was a long wait out the door, ordering with staff at the counter was friendly and quick. You will get your hockey puck pager and return to pickup when paged. The second time we did online ordering, we almost did not return because of the crowd, but online ordering was easy and pickup was SOO much nicer. They are crowded because the food, coffee and staff are soo good. It is located on the main road with limited parking, there are inside and outside seating, but it is crowded. Bathrooms can get a little overwhelming, but they were clean and maintained in this older building. DO COME, but ORDER ONLINE. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Front Door - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Always a great spot to get a drink. Today's choice was a Mac nut green tea matcha. Line gets busy at times so don't be in a rush when you visit. Highly recommended! read more

Java Kai Kauai - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Java Kai has a couple of locations across Kauai, and we visited the Kapaʻa location. The coffee was very good. We didn't try any of the food, but it looked popular and the café was quite busy. The staff was friendly, and there was convenient street parking nearby. Definitely a solid stop if you're looking for a good cup of coffee on the island. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Best place for breakfast! There is something for everyone. Loved their avocado toast which was made perfect for all the times we visited there. Their latte was amazing. I tried their latte with ginger hibiscus syrup which is unique, and it turned out great! read more

See all

My mom and I had the pleasure of coming here two times on our trip to Kauai. The first time, we ordered an iced Mac nut latte and breakfast burrito to share before a hike. The coffee flavor was so good and the burrito was tasty and filling. I loved the salsa. We were able to beat the line. The second time, my mom and I each got a drink. We ordered ahead online because we saw how long the line can get. Just a heads up, you pick up all online orders at the back of the store. I got a strawberry milk matcha and my mom got an iced Maui mocha. I preferred the mocha compared to the matcha. The matcha wasn't very sweet or perhaps unsweetened, so I had to add some simple syrup and honey from the cart outside. I wasn't super impressed with the strawberry flavor either. I think the strawberry puree was also unsweetened. read more

See all

Considering how long the line was, this staff is EFFICIENT. I got a strawberry milk matcha which was not overly sweet, the acai bowl which was so delicious and had LOTS of fresh fruit on top and a unique coconut whip, and an aloha bar which was addictive. I was able to sit at the large table while I waited for food and definitely think it was worth the wait. Wish I could have tried more read more

Java Kai Kauai - Strawberry Milk Matcha - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Came here on a Saturday at 4pm. Mediocrely busy spot in a very touristy destination. All outdoor seating and great ambiance. I got the Mocha Anu. Super delicious. Only reason for the 3 stars is that they forgot about my order and forgot to make my drink. A few people who ordered after me got their food and drinks before me even though I was waiting in front of the pick up area. It wasn't until 20 minutes after when they realized they forgot to make it. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Ice Blended Mocha Anu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Nice little coffee shop on the island. One of my first stops in Kauai. My wife and I ordered the cortado and iced mac nut latte, both of them with oat milk. The service was standard and the drinks were so good. The Mac nut latte taste hella like mac nut. I'd come back just for that. It was so clean inside with plenty of places to sit, so very relaxing after having landed a few hours ago. read more

See all

We loved this coffee shop so much the first time that we had to come back for a second visit -- and it did not disappoint! I got the iced vanilla latte, and the fact that they make their own vanilla syrup really takes it to the next level. The coffee was smooth, flavorful, and definitely one of the best lattes we've had. We also tried the Surfer Girl sandwich today, and it was really good! Everything was fresh and full of flavor. The matcha looked amazing as well, and my wife was honestly a little sad we couldn't make it back for a third visit so she could try it. Great coffee, great food, and a place that's easy to keep coming back to. Highly recommend! read more

See all

The food was fresh and coffee very tasteful and amazing. The place was clean and staff very friendly! read more

See all

The prices are extremely high for the portion sizes, and the overall value simply isn't there. The portions felt surprisingly small for what we paid, and on top of that, they expect a min 18% gratuity. The ambiance was also not so great, which made the overall experience even less enjoyable. The atmosphere felt underwhelming and did not match the high prices or the glowing reviews that led me to try this place. The biggest disappointment was the avocado toast - a tiny piece of bread topped with barely any avocado. Definitely not an experience I would repeat. read more

I wish we had this in LA. The Mac Nut Latte is sooooo good! We also tried their smoothies and the mocha latte, and matcha, everyone was happy with their selections. You can order ahead too on their website for pickup. I would love to come back and try their food options too! read more

Java Kai Kauai - Iced Mac Nut Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Java Kai: "drink coffee or die!" Love this and their skull logo. We visited Java Kai Kapaa, a counter-service coffee-shop/cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, and really enjoyed it. They brew their own beans, bake their own breads and pastries, and offer a variety of breakfast/lunch eats as well as fun branded merch. We bought a bag of beans and a Java Kai t-shirt. We loved our strong iced lattes, breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs, smashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, and chile salsa wrapped in a flour tortilla), and surfer girl sandwich (toasted bagel, scrambled eggs, manchego cheese, bacon, spinach pesto, caramelized onions, tomato). They offer an extensive menu, so there's something for everyone. The interior is bright and inviting. We found a shaded table outside and appreciated the morning breeze, as well as the occasional chicken passing by. This Java Kai location is in a small shopping center with plenty of parking. After eating, we meandered around to check out a few other shops including . We'll definitely be back. read more

Java Kai never misses. Mac nut latte is my favorite. Was sad they didn't have my summer noods dish again this year but the food is always ono. The stuff is always very friendly and communicative about the weight time. They're always so polite. Even when there's always a line out the door. It's a small Little shop but there's tables outside and inside and attached to a little swim shop next-door so you can get a little shopping in while you have your Coffee. read more

See all

Great place for a caffeine pick-me-up after a lazy afternoon on the beach. I tried a house syrup in my latte but only asked for 1 pump so I couldn't really taste it. My mistake. I'd say the roast is smooth and medium-dark. I enjoyed my latte and would rank this as my second favorite coffee on the island so far. read more

We came to Java Kai twice for breakfast and everything was incredible. We tried the Rebel Bagel, JK Loco Moko, avocado toast, and the Portuguese sausage breakfast sandwich. Every dish was equally delicious and full of flavor! Service at the register could be a little nicer but the food made up for the short and direct communication. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

See all

We purchased a matcha latte here and the drink was not to my daughter's expectation and I just asked kindly to trade it with an iced tea. The lady with the short hair rejected my simple request and we left an almost untouched drink on the counter with no apologies. Save your money and go to Wishing Well or other places you would actually enjoy while you're on vacation. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Matcha Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Great lattes, we loved our breakfast burritos, full of flavor "stuffed"... with spicy sauce. You can order online. Shaded tables under the eaves. Bagels, read to go- ground beans, burritos, lattes, coffee, iced drinks. read more

See all

Rode my bike around Kapaa and got hungry. Found this cute restaurant that seemed very packed, so it must be popular. I overheard some younger adults saying they found this place on tik tok! The breakfast burrito with bacon and avocado was good. The strawberry matcha with oat milk was great! Will be back read more

Java Kai Kauai - Breakfast Burrito Matcha Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Loved this place so much! The food and the drinks were pretty great!! The service was pretty fast and friendly. The coffee shop itself was pretty cool it was connected to a clothing store so you could shop while you waited for your drink or coffee. read more

Java Kai is a VIBE. I liked everything about this place, even though it was raining, it felt like sunshine surrounding this place. The magic combo I got was a Cola Cloud Latte with Tropical French Toast, an absolute delight first thing in the morning. 10/10 WILL BE BACK AGAIN. read more

First stop on the island and this place definitely did not disappoint! Amazing food and coffee to start the day, plus such a cool vibe. We're here for 10 days, so I'm sure we'll be back more than once! The workers were super friendly too! read more

See all

Cute place bustling with clientele. Seating limited to indoors only due to the constant rain. So we got this order to go. I had the chance to try the interesting Portuguese sausage patty sandwich but it unfortunately wasn't what I expected which is on me deciding to try something new. Nothing bad the texture just kind of falls apart. Unlike the typical Portuguese sausage. The smoothie was good even though they ran out of ginger. We were there early morning. My latte tasted like watered down coffee. I suggest really looking into the menu before deciding what to order read more

See all

We stopped by Java Kai for a caffeine re fuel! They had several bakery items, a few lunch options and all your basics coffees and a few specialty drinks! The drink was pretty good, definitely a bit overpriced for what it was. Unfortunately, the service was lacking. Employees were talking with what seemed to be employees /friend s not working at the time. And they were giving away free drinks to them after we already ordered and were waiting. read more

BEWARE: Coffee is TRASH. It is all HYPE. For the price of what I paid for only 2 drinks and they forgot all my add ons it was horrible. I got the iced Mac latte and Iced shark bite tastes nothing like the description online. They over filled one of my drinks and it was just spilling all over the counter they did nothing to help clean it up. As a local I was shocked. I spoke to another local company AFTER our visit with Java kai in Kōloa town and was told Java Kai is all hype and to not go there because their coffee is overpriced and not good. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

We came in on a busy Sunday morning! There was line but they made the coffee so quick and it tasted amazing!! We got the Mac nut latte, strawberry matcha, sunburst smoothie and the tropical one! All was amazing and it's also so cute in there but pretty small on a busy morning! read more

OMG! We come here every time we visit Kauai. Their açaí bowls are always so yummy and refreshing. Still loving it very single time. This time also opted for the cold brew which hit the spot! read more

See all

We tried the Rebel Bagel and the sausage breakfast sandwich -- both were outstanding. My husband swore the sausage had chorizo vibes (in a good way), and I'm not arguing with him because it was delicious. The Rebel Bagel was like a chopped whitefish salad situation and honestly? Elite. Staff was super friendly, too. 10/10 would come back. The coffee was the star of the show. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Mac Nut Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

The best coffee on Kauai! We came here three times and the service and quality is top notch. The iced mac nut latte was my favorite. This place should definitely be on your list! read more

Java Kai Kauai - Iced Mac Nut Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Pleasant service at a nice coffee shop. The coffee was delicious. We especially loved the coconut and macadamia flavorings. The breakfast sandwiches were generously portioned and the Spam was a nice addition while in the islands. The bread was a standout! My son's burger was delicious! A pricey breakfast, but everything was tasty. read more

See all

Caffeine, charm, and good vibes -- all in one cup. Stopped into this little Uptown coffee spot and instantly felt like I'd walked into a Pinterest board come to life. Cozy corners, friendly smiles, and that glorious smell of freshly ground beans -- perfection. The coffee? Smooth, rich, and just the right kick to fuel a morning of exploring the nearby shops (which are as cute as the latte art). The barista was great. If I lived here, I'd absolutely be a regular -- laptop, latte, and lingering way too long. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

See all

This was one of the best meals I have had in Hawaii. Java Kai is acute outdoor coffee shop beneath palms accompanied by view of the ocean and fragrant crosswind breezes. Service was outstanding and the food was delicious. The Kalua pork sandwich was actually spicy which I wasn't expecting, but I think made my meal even better since I love spice. The Taro salad was great as well. I thought my coffee was yummy although I could not really taste the brown sugar syrup. I 100% recommend Java Kai and will be back again on my trip to Kaua'i. read more

This is a delicious coffee spot, they do get super busy and have a long line. This review is overdue from 2022 but this place left lasting impression! We loved stopping here daily for coffee before starting our Hawaiian adventure everyday, it was great to grab a nice latte some good and enjoy the ocean. They are fairly quick once you order but the line is long. We always took it to go so can't comment much on the interior ambience, but it's an inviting spot, a bit touristy but it works. read more

Java Kai Kauai - Outside image from 2022 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

See all

This place is just okay in my opinion. Got the Shark Bite, it was pretty acidic and left a pretty strong sour aftertaste, not smooth at all. Staff were nice though. read more

My family and I love Java Kai, however the location on the Kuhio Hwy have not come even close to understanding how to prioritize mobile orders. There is a sign in the coffee shop that advertises "skipping the line" by mobile ordering drinks an foods. However this is the complete opposite experience we had. We drove from Hanalei Bay and ordered our drinks 20 minutes before arrival. Upon arrival we waited 20 more minutes for our drinks to be made. When we asked the barista if our drinks were ready, a look of confusion came over her face. They hadn't even started making our drinks yet, and had already served 3 customers in the store that ordered after we arrived. Once again, we love Java Kai and the coffee from there, but are very disappointed by this service. read more