Okay. Honestly one of the best coffees I have had on-island. That Kola Nut Coffee blew my mind and I will come back to try their other drinks as well. Service was friendly and quick, and the indoor/outdoor seating area was peaceful and adorned with plants! Definitely visit this spot in Fishcake. I would come back just to go here - that's how good it is. read more

After finishing my work out at UFC I decided to try Rubyviolet out this morning, i used to always walk by and see the owner outside with his son and little did I know I was missing out on one of the best lattes I've ever had! The owner's name is James and he was very helpful with the menu and suggested I try the latte with kola nut syrup. I got mine iced in the 12oz cup and it came out to around 7$. I'm pretty sure the latte it self would have been great, you can taste the rich flavors from the coffee and the oat milk he used added a nutty taste that boosted the kola nut syrup. The inside was super nice and clean as well with plenty of places to sit and relax as you enjoy your coffee, it's a cool little lowkey spot that will make you want to spend your entire morning there. Not to mention having fish cake right next door incase you want to shop after your coffee. It's very important to support local business especially in the times we are currently living in, and Rubyviolet makes it very easy to do so. I will definitely be back next week as I will not be able to stop thinking about the latte I just had. See you soon! read more

Rubyviolet - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Stopped to get our favorite bagels at MT Elle but sadly they were sold out. BUT this place was open and whoa, what a find! Kind of deserted because of the sold out bagel situation. Hubby felt sorry for the barista so he got a latte. OMG!! That turned out to be the best latte we've had! The coffee was so smooth, not a bit of bitterness or sharpness. Move aside Starbucks! Totally would come back here for coffee and support a local business as well. read more

Rubyviolet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The coffee here is really good, like really really good. From the beans to the espresso extraction, they just absolutely nail it here. You can tell that the people behind RUBYVIOLET are absolutely obsessed with coffee. You can find them w/ Empty Elle Bagels Thurs-Saturday 8 am - 12 pm and at the Lokahi Kailua Market on Sundays 9 am - 1 pm. They have a little cart that they serve all their goodies out of. I visited them at their Empty Elle Bagels location in Kailua on a Saturday morning. There's tons of outdoor seating, made for the perfect post-workout coffee and catch-up sesh with a friend! I got an Americano, which is my fav way of espresso because you can really taste the quality and nuances of the coffee. And I added Nigerian Kola nut syrup, something I've never tried before! They gave me a small sample of the syrup before I added it to my Americano, and it was such a deep, rich, flavor that complimented the coffee so well. It does have caffeine, so it was like an extra bit of caffeine to go with the caffeine in my Americano. The taste is most comparable to a cola, but it's not the same- it's less sweet and has a more earthy flavor. I can't wait to come back and try some of their lattes like the beet, ube, or Matcha! read more

Gosh, I hope my review doesn't merge with this coffee stand initially stationed at Kaka'ako's Aloha Beer because there ARE two locations for this business. Anyway, we drove into Kailua to get some of Empty Elle's Montréal-style bagels on Saturday (1/29/2022) morning and chose to dine-in. Fortunately, we could also get our caffeine fix from this Ruby Violet Coffee & Goods stand to pair with our breakfast. We were first seated and ordered our Eggels through Empty Elle's friendly server who then directed us to place our order for coffee directly at this coffee stand. We perused the menu of coffee beverages and my husband placed and paid for our order. The young man informed us that he was pulling single-origin sustainably produced Ethiopian coffee on this day. He also said that his coffee stand usually pulls single-origin or a Columbian + Ethiopian coffee bean blend and they are currently working with a local coffee farm/roaster as he plans to soon feature Kanu coffee AKA "cousin of Kona coffee". As an avid coffee drinker, I was excited to hear about the featured coffee as the brewed flavors of Ethiopian beans tend to taste berry-like and chocolate. I didn't realize that the barista would deliver the coffees to our table so I waited to the side. I enjoyed watching him extract the espresso and adding hot water through his Simonelli espresso machine to create our caffè Americano. When he completed making our coffees, he noticed me standing to the side and informed me that he'd deliver our order. It was a blessing to have him deliver the coffees since I hadn't had my wake-up caffeine fix yet and I'd probably spill the fresh aromatic brews. Upon returning to our table, I could smell the fruity aroma of the coffee and the first sip was bold, smooth and flavorful. There was a creaminess to this intense and bright brew with a berry-finish. It paired well with our Eggels. After we finished our breakfast, I had a short conversation with the barista who confirmed their Kaka'ako location, formerly just outside of Aloha Beer, but now just inside CrossFit O'ahu on Reed Lane so they're a lot closer to our home. However, it's good to know that we can enjoy Ruby Violet Coffees at Empty Elle Bagels on Thursday, Friday or Saturday mornings. read more

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Looking for something a little different for your morning pick me up? Ruby Violet is for you! I am not a coffee drinker. However, I do love a pretty drink. A friend brought me here for a quick cuppa. I chose the ube latte and she purchased a matcha latte with lavender syrup. Ruby Violet uses oat milk, which isn't my favorite, but is very smooth. Both lattes were both beautiful and delicious. Another option I like is that they have a few small tables and will make your drink in a mug so you can enjoy it at Aloha Beer Works brunch. No waste! Give it a try if you're looking for something rich and delicious that's not just the same old same. read more

Rubyviolet - Ube latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

HEY (Healthy Espresso Yelpers) but ssshhh! don't tell that to anyone until they try it because it's obsessively amazing! Ruby Violet is a mobile cart in the outdoor garden at Aloha Beer Co. every Friday to Sunday. Serving plant based drinks using coffee from around the world their concept of keeping things clean and simple is done exceptionally right you seriously don't need anything else...uhhh except the best vegan pandesal made by Wow Baguio absolutely delicious!!! Using only oat milk which I've never had before is ridiculously mellow and incredibly highlights the coffee even more so ahhhh and the superfood powder...I added turmeric the first time and beetroot the second time. The root powder they use are vegan, gluten free, non-gmo are deliciously genius!! It is blended with a tiny bit of coconut blossom sugar, the turmeric is with a little ginger and cocoa and the beetroot is with a touch of cocoa as well. They also have ube powder that I have yet to try oh I'm so excited!! Always a positive experience with the most kind, friendly and thoughtful heart they exude you see it every single artsy cup I can never get enough of check them out and follow them on Instagram and FB @rubyvioletcoffee Thank you!! read more

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I love the iced lavender latte! I usually get regular milk in lattes but the oak milk was good for this drink. The guy is super nice. I will go back to this coffee cart whenever I want a lavender latte. read more

We were at Empty Elle Bagels for a late breakfast or early lunch one day and saw that Rubyviolet sharing the space offerings specialty coffees, so we ordered matcha milk teas to accompany our breakfast bagels and it sure was good. From what we hear the coffees here are fantastic also. We are sure to return because the outside seating was wonderful on a beautiful clear day in Kailua. The wonderful environment is so Kailua and we are planning to return to enjoy the same. I only wish that they offer a frozen blended version off their offerings. read more

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15-year coffee veteran has set up a mobile coffee stand as part of Aloha Brewing and already the coffee might be some of the best in town. They rotate beans but currently serving a bright, "crisp apple" Rwandan that makes even iced coffee sparkle. You can order and sit in Aloha's shaded seating. Wifi available. On weekends you can also grab brunch from Aloha and coffee from Ruby. Intentional coffee social justices include choosing beans from black-owned and woman-owned roasters. Plus these folks are just super friendly. read more

Rubyviolet - Mobile espresso maker - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The cutest little coffee cart there ever was! Parked at Aloha Brewing Co, Ruby Violet serves up an incredibly simple menu of espresso - you have the option to add water, oat milk, or oat milk with either coconut sugar or other flavors (ex: ube, turmeric, beetroot). While the menu is small, the drinks speak volumes on their enthusiasm of coffee and commitment to quality! The coffee is lightly roasted and smooth as can be. It's a bit pricey, but definitely good quality and you can never go wrong with supporting small local businesses. The owners are VERY kind, welcoming, and passionate about their coffee. There's also a nice, open, socially-distanced, and dog-friendly seating area to hang out, do work, or do some dogspotting lol. read more

Rubyviolet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Calling all coffee enthusiasts! I have found you your new favorite outdoor coffee spot. Talk about a hidden gem, this place was a little hard to find. Thankfully Joanna L.'s pic had the Aloha Beer Company geo-tagged and I knew exactly where to go to find this place! If you're like me and have been feeling super cooped up in the house lately, you'll want to add Ruby Violet to your list of places to check out when you're in need of some fresh air and some good coffee. The ambiance reminds me of a roof top bar in the city meets down to earth, mellow but edgy coffee shop. If I had more quarters to feed the parking meter, I'm pretty sure I would have and could have stayed all day to hang out and get some work done. This outdoor, open-air mobile coffee cart is parked in an old parking lot (nicknamed "The Garden"), sandwiched between two buildings immediately to the right of Aloha Beer Company, and across the street from Lex Brodie's, Security Alarm Shop, and the GadgetGuyz. Ruby Violet is definitely ideal for those living in Kaka'ako as there's not a lot of places to park in the immediate area. Lucky for me there were a few stalls on the Lex Brodie's side of Queen Street right in front of GadgetGuyz. The Garden had plenty of seating that was very spaced out and following social distancing guidelines. The barista, James, is very kind, knowledgeable about coffee, and personable. He gave me the low down on his business that he and his other half, Amy, started and opened the day before Hurricane Douglas was supposed to hit and in the middle of a pandemic. Talk about a resilient duo! I'm no coffee expert but James was definitely serving up some pretty tasty brews! I ordered an espresso with oat milk and was very impressed. The taste was smooth and not too bitter for a sweets lover like me. Everything on their menu is plant-based as well! Currently they're only open Friday to Sunday from 7am-noon. I stopped by around 10:00am and stayed for about an hour to do some work, chill out, and vibe. It started to get a little hot around 11:15, my laptop was at 17%, and being a naturally very sweaty human (TMI sorry), I knew that was my cue to head out. Nonetheless, the sunshine and fresh air felt fantastic and it was nice to escape and change up my WFH scenery. I know I will be back! read more

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I adore this coffee cart and always have a great experience. James has a real passion for coffee and is very knowledgeable on all aspects of the industry. The owners really try to highlight smaller owned coffee roasters from all over the United States, and will occasionally rotate out the selection. Most of the time I go for a standard espresso with oat milk, and have always loved the quality! These guys never stop trying to improve their products and ingredients. If you are interested in discovering more about the Honolulu coffee scene, I can not recommend this place more. Parking is easy if you take the ramp up beside Aloha Beer Works. I think they only charge for parking on the weekend after 12 if you are staying for more than a quick pick up. Aside from that Amy, James, their staff and regulars are all around awesome to stay and chat with. They're Star Wars as well as coffee nerds, and animal advocates. This last part is just why is would give them an extra star if possible. read more

Rubyviolet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Located in Kakaako next to Aloha Beer Company on Queen Street, Ruby Violet is a little gem pop-up coffee bar! I got to chat with the owner who showed me the different powders he uses for the lattes. Full of flavor, low glycemic because it is made with palm sugar. Per his recommendation, I tried to the ube latte and got an espresso shot on the side. This is REAL ube taste! Not the bright purple flavored kind that you normally get. I will definitely come back to try the other flavors like beetroot cocoa and the seasonal match flavor. Cheers to Ruby Violet Coffee in Kakaako. My new walk-to coffee spot! read more

Rubyviolet - Finally hit up this coffee shop in my neighborhood! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Cute little outdoor coffee shop! Located right next to Aloha Beer Company, you'll find Ruby Violet Coffee & Goods. They recently opened up and plan to have food soon but right now it's just coffee. There's four types on the menu: espresso with milk, espresso with water, espresso with a powder, and espresso with cocoa and milk. The milk used is Oatly which I happen to be a huge fan of! The coffee barista was so enthusiastic and seems to really enjoy what he was doing. He was super helpful and welcoming despite being my first time there and my questions about everything. Coffee - I got the espresso with milk which is essentially a latte. It's an 8 oz size coffee, reminiscent of coffee in Australia where it's just the espresso and lovely ratio of milk. There's a nice concentrated taste so overall I would give it a 4/5 because I prefer whole milk with my coffee rather than the Oatly that is used. The location is sweet since you can park up at Aloha Beer Co. or on the street. Everything is outdoors so that makes me feel more comfortable during COVID, and you're surrounded by beautiful paintings so what's not to love? Overall, great location, wonderful service, lovely coffee, and beautiful art. I'm looking forward to coming back again! read more

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Great coffee with a story behind it. They have some very unique and healthy options, like a turmeric latte. Everything is served with oat milk (except for the basic americano), and it's clear a lot of time and thought has been put into the menu options. The venue is Ruby Violet in the morning and Aloha Beer Company at night. Lots of seating and perfect for people watching. There always seem to be dogs in the area, and the owners occasionally have their dogs chilling in the area too. Such a wonderful place! You're missing out if you haven't tried a few of their drinks. read more

Rubyviolet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Keep The Coffee Coffee! These guys truly live up to this motto! Located under the awning at Aloha Beer Co., this little coffee cart is here to help perk you up. This place is for those who truly enjoy coffee and would consider themselves to be enthusiasts. The menu is small as it is catered to brewing and pouring delicious espresso, not making random "secret recipes" per customers' requests that can essentially mask the coffee itself. I will confess that I myself am not a true coffee aficionado but yet I still find that I enjoy all of their drinks here! Plus the atmosphere is charming to sit outdoors and maybe read a book under the gables of the brewery while enjoying your morning brew. While I do feel it is a little pricey, I appreciate the local ownership and artistry that goes into making their product with pride. Plus you gotta love that their own pups are the mascots of the brand! read more

Rubyviolet - Morning Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Found this place on my run. Love the concept - straight espresso for legit coffee drinkers with healthy optional enhancements. Since I actually prefer the coffee drink, they do have hot water option for people like me. They had Colombian coffee beans today, really tasty! Service was very personable, to the point I think I was speaking with ownership. Cool industrial venue too. read more

Rubyviolet - The place might not be so obvious, being a stand, but they have some signage to grab your attention. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The first time I had come across Ruby Violet Coffee was when they were featured in one of Muki Dogs' Instagram stories visiting the cart and placing one of their stickers. Since I hadn't heard of them before, I decided to visit their Instagram profile to see what they were about and what piqued my interest was that their coffee was plant-based. As a caffeine addict, I couldn't quite wrap my head around how that would work considering that I can easily go through two to three 16oz (Venti in Starbucks terms) cups of coffee easily and still feel like roadkill in the morning, but I kept my eye out on RubyViolet, and sure enough, almost like it was meant to be, they opened up shop right near my workplace. If you happen to be in the town/Kaka'ako area on Wednesdays (check their Instagram for their most up to date schedule), I would highly recommend stopping by. RubyViolet has a kiosk conveniently located right outside of the Crossfit gym on Reed Lane. Their menu covers most of the basics with a few added plant-based twists, but if you're ever in doubt, just ask the owners--a husband and wife team--and they're sure to find something just for you. On my first visit, I was a little intimidated but figured an Oat Latte would be easiest, so went with that. The wife had explained the different syrup options they had as well and had asked if I wanted to try any with my latte, so I went with the lavender (they also have peppercorn syrup as well). The husband had also taken the time to explain their brew process as well as the coffee beans they used, which was a fun experience because you could tell that the owners really enjoyed what they did and wanted to share that passion with the community. And before I knew it, my coffee was ready to go and I scurried back to my office to see what the hype was about. I'll be honest, when I first got my cup of coffee, I was a little underwhelmed because as I mentioned, I'm so used to seeing the Venti sized coffees at Starbucks that this tiny cup seemed like something a toddler would drink at a tea party. But as I took my first few sips of my Lavender Oat Latte, I could understand why people love RubyViolet so much. The Oat Latte was nice and smooth, the perfect combination of espresso and milk, and the Lavender syrup added a nice floral touch without being too overpowering. And while the size of the coffee was small, that one cup alone was more than enough to fuel me for the rest of the day without making me crash. It was an ideal caffeine kick without the chaos that sometimes follows (i.e. migraines, caffeine crashes, etc.). Overall, if you enjoy coffee or need some fuel for the day, I would highly recommend checking out RubyViolet. Not only is it a healthier alternative for your caffeine needs but you'll also be supporting a small local business who really takes pride in their products. In addition, RubyViolet is always collaborating with other small businesses like Empty Elle Bagels and Li'i Li'i Donuts, so there's always something new in the mix to try along with their delicious coffees. read more

The perfect go-to coffee shop in the neighborhood as it is set up right in Aloha Beer Co. and serve a selection of a few drinks that are amazing quality. Only had the oat milk and coconut sugar latte but I want to come back for the beetroot latte. They also have vegan pastries :D read more

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Cute Coffee. Cart right in the front seating area of Empty Elle's Bagels / Grace ń Growlers. I ordered a Rooibis Tea. It's a South African Tea, no caffeine but lots of antioxidants. It was a clean floral Type of tea with a hint of black tea flavor. I added coconut sugar but it wasn't over powering. I'd like to try other flavors and some coffee next time. They bring your order to your table and they use Apple Pay which was convenient. Didn't need to bring my wallet out. The guy making the tea was patient friendly and informative. read more

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7/10. Decent coffee but not the best by any means. Friendly staff and service made up for decent coffee. Happy to come back and try again at another time read more

The best coffee in the world !! Not a morning goes by that I don't crave and dream about a cup of Ruby Violet coffee ! do yourself a favor for visit him on Sundays at Lokahi Kailua Market, 9-1pm . Not only is the coffee amazing but the service is 10/10 . And it's such a vibe . read more

Awesome coffee! Love when they make appearances at the farmers markets, but also love this little stand, which is conveniently located by the most awesome little bagel stop. You must try their black pepper latte (could be wrong on the name, but holy unique and so good!) read more

First time trying this place. The staff was super friendly and welcoming and even took the time to explain the items on the menu! I believe a majority if not all of their menu items are vegan if not plant based by default as well. The menu is pretty straightforward with espresso being their primary medium of caffeine with options of having water, oat milk, sugar and other flavored powders to create a number of different drinks (iced or hot). I happened to go on Valentine's Day and were giving away some 3D printed heart magnets I also ordered an iced oat milk latte and vegan pandesal. Both were delicious and I would definitely return to try more of their menu read more

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The few times I'm in town I try to swingby here for some good brew with James. I was able to do just that 2 times this week. Each time I ordered 2 hot Oatmilk + Espresso with coconut sugar. Today, James asked if i would like to try one with coconut sugar peppercorn. Since I had 2, you could definitely taste the difference. Peppercorn gives it a subtle taste of spice with each sip. Very interesting but also Very good. James never fails to call me by my 1st name, even though I make it out here maybe twice a month. Again, AWESOME Brew, AWESOME Service. Mahalo James, Keep up the GREAT Brew!! read more

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We decided to go down Kailua side to try some bagels from Empty Elle Bagels. We ordered coffee and a match latte. The worker was really nice and his drinks was really amazing. The matcha latte was my favorite by far. read more

Rubyviolet - Oatmilk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Coming from California Bay Area, this is the best espresso coffee in town in my opinion. You won't be disappoinyed read more

Rubyviolet - Latte with coconut sugar is brilliant! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Came in from California looking for a good espresso, you will not be disappointed coming here! Sustainable coffee and with Vegan options available :) The service was fast friendly and informative, will be coming back read more

A true definition of hidden gem, Ruby Violet Coffee doesn't mess around with its coffee. Located at the Aloha Beer Company Garden in Kakaako, Everything here is vegan, and they also offer root powder superfood lattes and delicious vegan Pandesal from Wow Baguio. They exclusively use oat milk for their lattes and espresso. Their focus here is on coffee and sustainability. The service is great and I highly recommend trying it out. read more

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The cafe mocha is incredible. Very well balanced flavors and friendly service - they know what they're doing!

Amazing ingredients, friendly workers, and they can custom make your drinks for you! Incredible small business , must try read more

Rubyviolet - Custom made mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Found this gem last week and I'm obsessed. The owners are so nice, I appreciate that they sanitize after every transaction and wipe down tables and chairs after each customer and most importantly, THE COFFEE IS GOOOOOOD. I tried the oat milk with turmeric and now I'm torn when I get there because I tried the oat milk with beetroot and I love them BOTH! So smooth and I ask for it extra hot because I like my coffee piping hot . Can't wait to try their brunch partnership with Aloha Beer. read more

Rubyviolet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If you're in Kakaako area of Honolulu, you must check out Ruby Violet Coffee Shop! The owner James setup this coffee cart in July 2020 inside the Aloha Brewing Co. James is a seasoned coffee maker that serves up some fantastic espresso options (hot or iced) and some awesome chocolate banana muffins that were plant-based / vegan. The oat-milk latte that my wife and I had were incredible and the muffins were very flavorful! read more

Rubyviolet - Vegan chocolate banana muffin - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Best mocha I've had. The oat latte with dutch cocoa is smooth, balanced and not too sweet.

High quality coffee and friendly staff they only have oat milk and you can do add-ons like coconut sugar, lavender syrup and cocoa powder. Parking available on the roof of the building next door. There are a bunch of tables if you wanna sit down and enjoy your coffee. read more

Best coffee of my life. James and Amy know their espresso, and making drinks is a real art for them. I live their intricate flavor options and they always know my order. We go almost every weekend day they are open, and I look forward to it all week! The nicest people you will meet as well. Plus they always take care of my pup I bring with me:) read more

Rubyviolet - Their amazing charcoal latte is the most amazing drink ever - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Great coffee, great service. Pulled up expecting to meet ruby and violet, the dogs. I guess it was their day off, James and Amy were cool though. I would highly recommend coming here. Lost one star for not having vegan cookies, I'll change my review when they restock. One love read more

Best coffee hands down!! If you're in Kailua and want fabulous coffee and friendly service you have to check them out .

Coffee is delicious. And that banana muffin too Also really appreciated the barista taking time to explain what beans he used and their significance. Will be back for more! read more