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    Kai Coffee Hawaii Roastery

    4.4 (46 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 12:00 pm

    Kai Coffee Hawaii Roastery Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Kai Coffee Hawaii Roastery

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    Deisy R.

    Coffee was quite tasty! I had an iced macadamia nut latte with oat milk (should have gone for macadamia nut milk) and found it to be thoroughly delicious and refreshing. Service was super fast at the window front and not touristy. Definitely recommend!

    Mariela O.

    Honestly, the best coffee I've had anywhere in Hawaii!! Nothing else compares. This is a must stop now anytime I find myself going to Oahu. And the taste is always so consistent. Great coffee, clean location, and friendliest staff make this place a 5/5

    Andini E.

    I had been wanting to visit this roastery for a while after seeing all the reviews, and I finally got the chance yesterday. It did not disappoint. We ordered a mix of drinks: iced and hot kai lattes, an iced caramel frappé, and a cold brew for our family. Everything was delicious, but my personal favorite was the iced kai latte. Prices are reasonable for the quality you get, but honestly, the highlight of the visit was the service. While chatting with the cashier, I mentioned that I live here and surprisingly she offered me a kama'āina rate. This is not something I expect because I want to give my full support to a local business, but she smiled and said, "I got you." That small moment meant a lot, and it's exactly the kind of aloha spirit that makes a place memorable. Since it's a coffee-to-go setup, I didn't get to experience the interior, but the outside of the roastery has a really charming design. I'll definitely be back!

    To Go
    Tina L.

    Thìs is where home base is I suppose. Love how you can just walk up to its window and see all the action behind. You can literally smell the roasting. My kai latte was made the same way as the other store in Waikiki downtown. Service made to order! Mahalo

    Good ol' Americano. Really solid coffee.
    Eric D.

    Kai Coffee is a really solid spot to visit for local coffee. Looks like they roast their beans on site. Americano wasn't on the menu but upon request, they're able to whip it up for me. Their bean taste was really smooth and rich. It was an enjoyable cup of joe. Açaí bowl was tasty--base was smooth and the pile of fruit was presented nicely. Bowl was surely inviting to eat. Banana bread on the menu we also tried but I didn't find it all the special. The folks working there were really friendly. And offered quick service. Overall visit I thought Kai was great--give them a try. They do lack parking unfortunately since they're right at a corner. Cheers

    Hannah H.

    I stopped by the Kai Coffee Roastery to get a caffeine fix, and I'm glad that I did - this walk-up window offers espresso, coffee, some eats (scones, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, etc.), and fresh-roasted whole beans that you can purchase. I had their Kai Latte, which is their signature macadamia nut latte - it was nice and strong, with a bit of creaminess to it. I just wished it was a tad bit sweeter. Service was friendly, and you can see the roasting of the beans inside. Cute place to stop by! +friendly service +walk-up window

    Kai latte, large
    Casey D.

    You know when your latte is a certain color and you just know that it's gna be spectacular? Kai coffee consistently did that every time for us! This coffee shop is our favorite on the island! Sometimes the milk to espresso ratio ends up being too milky when you order a large, but the worker told me they add 3 espresso shots for the large and it is still perfect!! We always ordered the Kai latte, and it is not too sweet. Island vintage is good, but when you want a less sweeter coffee, Kai coffee is the way to go :) *Def go to this location instead (perf to grab n go), as it's less crowded. We stayed at the alohilani and fortunately had a Kai coffee within walking distance, but the line can get way too long in the mornings.

    Outside
    Stacy S.

    This has to be one of the best macadamia nut lattes I've ever had! I had heard of Kai Coffee before, but their main location was in Waikiki and I rarely venture out there. So when I saw that they popped up in Kapahulu, I was stoked! This is a "to go" coffee shop only. They're located off of Herbert St. and there's very little street parking available. I arrived shortly after they opened at 7am, and there was only one other customer in front of me. Their menu is limited but in my opinion, all you really need to know is the Kai latte. I ordered the medium Kai latte, which is their signature mac nut latte with your choice of milk (I got almond milk) for $6.75. It was so creamy and flavorful! I wish I would've gotten a large! They also offer drinks like mocha, cappuccino, chai, matcha, cortado, espresso, cold brew, etc. And you can purchase their whole bean coffee bags to go! Definitely check them out if you're a coffee fanatic like me!

    My first experience...gotta go with da Signature latte. Go BIG or go home, so...mmmm.....
    Sean C.

    It's fancy! It's local and it's privately owned so I always like to support. It's also a specialty shop, yet has a takeout window as well with onolicious coffee. I ordered a large signature latte. The service, is courteous, friendly, and professional. I had one smooth latte it was made with finesse.

    Kai latte with oat milk
    Tessa R.

    It's a walk up window to order coffee. There is no store you can walk into. You can buy coffee and drinks from the window only. I ordered the Kai latte with oat milk and WOW it was divine! If I lived closer I would buy one every morning. Very friendly young guy working on Saturday. I think he was alone and there was about 8 of us that walked up to order from 3 different parties all at once. Felt kinda bad for him! The parking is obsolete. Unless you get lucky with street parking in front you will have to search for parking near and far. Bring your quarters. Will be back!

    Kai Latte with Oat Milk - $7.85
    Faye Anne M.

    Quick service and I like the walk through kiosk vibe. The cashier was also very nice. The Kai Latte with oat milk is really tasty, the coffee is strong but doesn't have an acidic aftertaste. The macadamia nut syrup taste is there and is not too sweet. I thought the oat milk would ruin the overall flavor but it didn't! I just can't believe it's $7.85 for a SMALL size drink. This is a roastery too so i'm wondering why can't it be a little cheaper than a usual cafe drink if the coffee is roasted in house. So minus one star for the price. Overall, I would come back again!

    Really cute Coffee Tins to buy beans to gift to people who actually like coffee
    Shari T.

    I was hesitant to review Kai Coffee because I can't drink coffee (I bounce off the walls). I am reviewing this based on their Chai Latte. :) Kai Coffee is located next door to Sunrise Restaurant. When they first opened, I happened to be there when they were roasting their coffee beans. OMG. It smelled like chocolate baking and I thought someone was making chocolate chip cookies. Sniffed my way to Kai and got a tour. They don't allow people to tour anymore but it's a really neat set up! I purchased some gifts for coffee loving friends in the cute tins they have available (see photo). After having a lovely lunch at Sunrise, we walked over to the window to get drinks. I got the Chai Tea Latte (hot) with Almond Milk. They had other choices like milk milk and oat milk. The Chai had a nice mixture of spices and wasn't overly sweet like some places makes em. I would order it again! Next time I want to try the Matcha Latte. But anyhoo. Street parking. Great customer service, the guys working there are so friendly and engaging. Fast service. Tea was lovely. Can't comment on the coffee but my co-worker really liked the Kai Latte (Mac nut coffee). Why not park at Sunrise Restaurant, grab some food from there and Kai so you can support TWO great local businesses? Win win!

    Dylan Keith W.

    Got iced coffees here. Wife asked for a napkin for the condensation. Bro said "Just use your sleeve." Not funny.

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    3 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Bad service, like the employee was forced to be there. Worst coffee I have had in Oahu. Would not return or recommend.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Kai Latte with oat milk was so smooth and delicious! We went back several times for it.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kai Coffee Hawaii Roastery

    Review Highlights - Kai Coffee Hawaii Roastery

    Can't comment on the coffee but my co-worker really liked the Kai Latte (Mac nut coffee).

    Mentioned in 17 reviews

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    Kona Coffee Purveyors - Pineapple & coconut almond croissant with oat latte

    Kona Coffee Purveyors

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    0.7 miWaikiki
    $$

    Absolutely worth the line. It can look intimidating when you first get there, but it moves pretty…read morequickly, so don't let it scare you off. The coffee was delicious, but the pastries were the star of the show. The black sesame kouign-amann was incredible and such a unique flavor, and the chocolate croissant was amazing too. Definitely one of the best pastry stops we found in Waikiki. Come hungry and get more than one pastry because choosing just one would be a mistake.

    They open at 7am, we got there at 6:45am and there was already a long line of about 25 people ahead…read moreof us. From opening to receiving my order, it took 20 minutes so it wasn't too bad of a wait! The line actually goes pretty fast for pastries and checkout, but the drinks came 20 min after. We ordered a latte, nitro cold brew, black sesame and original kouign amanns, and a coconut butter mochi. The pastries were amazing! I expected nothing less from b. patisserie (we have a home location, so not new to us). The butter mochi was dense and chewy, really good texture. The kona coffee itself wasn't the best coffee we've tried, but glad we were able to try. I guess we are just so spoiled in San Francisco. Everything was about $7 each so our 6 items came to about $45. We also bought a 12oz bag of kona espresso beans as our souvenir and it was $55. Crazy prices but worth trying at least once!

    Photos
    Kona Coffee Purveyors - The famous pastry

    The famous pastry

    Kona Coffee Purveyors - Delicious dessert

    Delicious dessert

    Kona Coffee Purveyors - A cup of Americano

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    A cup of Americano

    Bean About Town Waikiki

    Bean About Town Waikiki

    4.5(125 reviews)
    0.9 miWaikiki
    $$

    I've known about their Kaimukī location for a while, but finally made an effort to visit the one in…read moreWaikiki. It's located inside the DFS, and has a large area at the back of the mall. The coffee shop can be entered from the mall or outside; they also have outdoor seating where you can order on your phone. Indoors is cozier and more fun, with bar seating, tables, and oversized chairs to relax. They have a lot of merchandise to go, including beans. If you're stopping in for a refreshment, they have a nice menu of hot and cold coffee drinks, teas, sodas, etc. They also have baked goods- I tried the 'ulu banana bread and really enjoyed it. I also had an iced cold brew, which was strong and creamy. Prices were reasonable for the quality and being in Waikiki. They can pour your drinks for dine in or disposable to go. This is definitely a recommended coffee shop in Waikiki!

    Solid coffee shop serving pastries, Açaí bowls and sandwiches. I had a macademia nut latte which…read morewas good. Açaí bowl was solid 7/10, have had better on the island. I wish they would've added more almond butter. My 3 star review mostly coming from the fact that they don't have a bathroom available until 11am because it's shared with the duty free store next door. Not even sure if that's legal, but a bathroom should absolutely be available during their opening hours. Had to leave rushing to find a bathroom nearby. However, good for working with good WiFi and ample seats.

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    Bean About Town Waikiki
    Bean About Town Waikiki
    Bean About Town Waikiki

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    Local Joe - Breakfast croissant & lox for us  Local Joe be there for us when we need a break from fluorescent light.

    Local Joe

    4.6(628 reviews)
    3.9 miDowntown
    $$

    Did my research to find Kona coffee for my upcoming visit to Vancouver, so I walked from home and…read moretook shelter in Local Joe's to cool off and order some 100% Kona Mauna Kea Estate coffee and have it ground. Liv was so delightful and clearly the right person for the job so I knew I was in the right place. In the meantime I ordered an iced coffee (which was delicious!!!!) and sat down and watched folks come and go. This is clearly a popular local coffee and snack shop so I will keep this place in mind since it's locally owned and operated and their decaf is processed via osmosis, not chemicals. That's a big plus.

    A small little coffee shop located in downtown. There are a few tables outside to enjoy your…read morecoffee. I've stopped by twice so far and each time, I've been greeted with friendly service. The tables are usually taken so I just take my drink to go. I ordered a strawberry matcha drink on my first visit and a French Toast latte on my second visit. The second time I went, they didn't know how to make my drink so the girl had to read the ingredients that were listed on their own menu posted on the counter for customers. Maybe hardly anyone orders it or she was new and learning? It did take a while for me to get my coffee. The waiting area is quite small so there wasn't much room for me to go anywhere. Overall, the drinks have been good with a variety of seasonal drinks and specials as well. I'll probably return for my coffee fix as it seems to be one of the few coffee shops in the area open on Sundays. Happy Drinking!

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    Local Joe - Counter

    Counter

    Local Joe - Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito

    Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito

    Local Joe - Thai latte

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    Thai latte

    Ali'i Coffee - House Salad

    Ali'i Coffee

    4.7(400 reviews)
    3.8 miDowntown
    $$

    Ali'i Coffee is such a cute little spot in downtown Honolulu. There's paid parking nearby, and they…read morealso offer online ordering, which is great if you're in a hurry. The café itself is on the smaller side, but the menu has a great selection of drinks and food options. I ordered the Royal Ube Matcha Latte over ice, and it was delicious. It's actually one of my favorite places on Oʻahu to get an ube latte--the flavors are balanced well, and you can still taste both the matcha and the ube. What really stood out to me was the staff. Everyone was incredibly friendly and personable. At one point, I genuinely thought a customer was a friend of one of the employees because their conversation felt so natural and welcoming, but they had actually just met. That's the kind of atmosphere they create. The whole shop has a warm, bubbly energy and feels very much like a neighborhood coffee spot where people know each other and enjoy being there. If you're looking for great coffee, friendly service, and a cozy local vibe in downtown Honolulu, Ali'i Coffee is definitely worth checking out.

    Cute beach vibe interior!…read more The queen latte - hazelnut and coconut. At first I thought the drink looked a bit too light in color but the coffee itself had a deep flavor. The coconut was not overpowering.

    Photos
    Ali'i Coffee
    Ali'i Coffee - Mouth is watering just taking this photo. This is the egg sandwich with everything bagel absolutely delicious. Great breakfast.

    Mouth is watering just taking this photo. This is the egg sandwich with everything bagel absolutely delicious. Great breakfast.

    Ali'i Coffee

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    Cafe 'Alalā - Lox cream cheese bagel

    Cafe 'Alalā

    4.7(32 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $

    Needed an afternoon matcha pick-me-up or else I'd fall asleep at my desk. I remembered this spot…read moreused to be Cafe Daisy. Menu looks pretty similar with the fancy-smancy lavender lattes and food items such as wraps and bagels. I ordered an iced matcha latte with oatmilk. Taste was okay, the drink looked very green and left a little gritty aftertaste in my mouth. Their preparation method is similar to Starbucks; Don't expect a handcrafted matcha beverage. Cashier was nice and greeted me with a smile. She offered me a stamp card with my purchase. But other than that she looked a little bored being there. My drink came out quickly and I was on my way. Overall, it's an okay spot. Would probably return if I don't feel like walking too far lol.

    Based on My Visit only…read more I ordered the iced strawberry cold-foam matcha latte with oat milk. The flavor was okay not bad at all but not quite as delicious or visually appealing as I hoped. My friend had an iced latte with whole milk and it tasted lighter than expected, especially considering the price and compared to similar spots nearby. Overall, the drinks were just average for us, so we'd give them around a 5/10 based on this visit. The staff were genuinely lovely. Everyone was welcoming, had great service energy and seemed happy to be there. This was definitely the highlight of the experience. The space is clean, simple and has plenty of outdoor seating which is always a plus. It's a nice spot to sit and relax. Overall: For us, it wasn't something we'd drive far specifically for yet but we appreciate the effort and hope to see how they continue to grow. This is just our personal experience and others may enjoy different menu items more.

    Photos
    Cafe 'Alalā
    Cafe 'Alalā - Ham egg & cheese bagel sandwich

    Ham egg & cheese bagel sandwich

    Cafe 'Alalā

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    Kai Coffee Hawaii Roastery - coffeeroasteries - Updated September 2026

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