Let's face it, most of the time you spend on Oahu will be jam packed. Back to back tours, visits, hikes, beaches, shopping sprees, dashing here, there and everywhere. There has to be a way to keep up your energy on these bustling, excitement filled days...
A beautiful invention called...Coffee! Some of which is grown right here on the island!
The Kona region of The Big Island is well-known for its coffee production. However, even though such a small area of the island can grow such outstanding coffee, the coffee production accounts for less than 1% of the world's coffee production.
What many people don't know is that Oahu's North Shore has the perfect balance of elements that, when combined, result in exquisite conditions to grow coffee. With a mixture of plentiful sunshine, an abundance of rainfall, and volcanic soil, it is densely packed with nutrients. The outcome of which is some pretty spectacular cups of coffee!
Although these unique conditions for the perfect coffee bean don't come without a price tag, with an average price of a cup of coffee being between $6 and $8, being a coffee addict on Oahu isn't for the cheap-hearted!
The coffee culture on the island is definitely growing, it seems every person walking through Waikiki has a coffee in one hand (and normally an iPhone and shopping bags in the other). Small boutique coffee stops are popping up around the island, like the Sunrise Shack on the North Shore, and offering a pit stop for your coffee cravings on the go!
Another bonus, or perhaps let's say "culture shock", was the variety of ways in which coffee is served on the island. The most popular ways seem to be, hot, iced, or blended. What's not to love? There are almost unlimited flavors, a variety of ways to enjoy them, and huge availability throughout the day!
And so, with that, let's dive into some of the best coffee spots around Oahu!
So, this is one of our most recent finds in terms of coffee shops. The great thing about this place is that the whole setup is so wholesome and welcoming. All the coffee used here is roasted on the farm, all 7 acres of it! There is always plenty of parking here, too, which is one less thing to worry about.
Now, if you know me, you know I love to shop. So, the fact that there is a huge farm shop is appealing to me. It's also a great place to wait for your coffee and to wander around sipping your delicious drink. The staff in both the shop and the café are always incredibly friendly and happy to have a chat whilst they're working away. Green World has indoor seating, although, admittedly, we have always sat outside....among the coffee plants, roaming chickens, and peaceful ambiance.
But our favorite thing about Green World would be the espresso sample bar. Every time I have visited, there have been new flavors to try. On our last visit, we tried, peanut buttercup, blueberry strudel, Vanilla Macadamia and Pumpkin spice. We were in coffee heaven! A pearl of advice here- try the pecan bar!
Even when you've been together for 4 years like we have, you still need to find time for dates and spending time together one-on-one, and Island Brew is the perfect date spot. Our favorite branch is the one in Hawaii Kai, located right on the marina. My favorite time to go would be mid-morning, when the sun isn't too high, the light twinkles off the water, relaxing on the outdoor sofas, soaking in the peacefulness, it's an ideal spot to catch up and let sparks fly.
I also feel like this would be an ideal spot to bring a book and cozy up in the shade whilst sipping a ice-cold coffee and taking in the afternoon views. Feeling peckish? With a range of eggs, flatbreads, sandwiches, waffles, and cakes, it's hard not to grab a snack to go along with your coffee. Food and coffee aren't the only things on offer here, they also sell tote bags with their logo on them, which, from experience, I can confirm are absolutely worth the money!
As with most coffee shops on the island, Island Brew have a whole range of flavors. However, the difference here is all the coffee is from 100% locally grown Hawaiian farms.
Life on Oahu isn't all about waltzing around, trying out new beaches, hiking mountains, shopping, soaking up the sun....well, it partly is. But the point I'm getting at is other things need to be accomplished too, such as studying! Honolulu is a university city, so the demand for a place to study can be tight. Finding a spot with Wi-Fi, reasonably priced drinks, plug sockets, and ample space can be a hard commodity to find.
In steps... Coffee Talks!
My first reaction when walking in here was how popular it is! Almost every table was taken, and there was a long line of eager coffee addicts waiting to order, which is a great sign. I actually thought for a minute that this was a student only café, but luckily, it wasn't, and we found a table, perhaps just good timing as we quickly saw many people getting coffee to go due to the number of customers. The atmosphere here is relaxed and chilled, with decent sized coffee cups too - ideal for that caffeine fix to get through a boring essay. My favorite coffee choice here would be the lavender latte or the raspberry white chocolate coffee, what can I say? I like my coffee hot and sweet!
They also offer food, at a more reasonable price than many other cafés on the island, which definitely feels more catered to the student vibe, and recently, they've become available on Uber Eats, what better than coffee and food delivered to your door? Count me in!
Now this gem is very different from the other coffee shops we've listed, because....it has a pool! The best way to describe Aroma café is fun, bustling, and vibrant! I have tried to work on the blog here, however, seeing as I have the attention span of a goldfish, it isn't the easiest place for me to focus. But it's a great spot to come with friends and catch up. As this café is in the Beachcomber hotel, there are many groups coming and going here, grabbing quick snacks before a day of touring the island.
With 4 shops on the island, it's easy to see why there's such a demand for a vibrant café with an exciting atmosphere. Another perk to the location of the Beachcomber Aroma café is the location; it's ideal to pop in and put your feet up whilst wandering around the shops. With takeout options as well as the chance to lounge by the pool on luxurious, cushioned loungers, what's not to love?
The atmosphere here is very fun and young. The staff here always seems to be having a great time, and the speed of service is always top-notch! They support local brands too and have a small section of t-shirts, cups, art, and other merchandise for sale. With upbeat music and the full Waikiki experience, sipping coffees at the pool and taking in the fun feeling, it's very easy to end up ordering a cocktail too! With a happy hour, each day offering bargain priced drinks, it's hard not to turn your coffee catch up into a cocktail catch up!
P.S. Try their Mai Tai's, they're to die for!
Fancy something a little more boujee? Located at the entrance to the International Marketplace in Waikiki, you will find Kona Coffee Purveyors. The best thing to look for is a queue, normally going out of the door and into the street! It's very popular here, especially in the mornings. However, if you hit this place late in the morning or mid-afternoon, you usually don't wait for very long.
There's a good reason why this coffee joint is so popular....their coffee! Now, we like to think of ourselves as coffee-lovers and are happy with most coffees, but the standard of coffee here is out of this world. They seem to focus more on the traditional and more basic drinks than a Starbucks type place, which will try to offer new flavors every month. Kona seems to have mastered the traditional choices and sticks to them, which we have to say is refreshing!
A very smooth and classic aesthetic will greet you when entering this coffee shop. With patterned floor tiles, beautiful wooden surroundings, and a low, simplistic style counter, offering views into the bakery behind, it's a very elegant collective. An upmarket atmosphere and standing bar give off a relaxed but efficient vibe, especially as you'll see many people getting coffee to go. We, however, preferred to sit and enjoy our Almond Pineapple Coconut Croissant - you have to try it! The baked goods here look delicious, and judging by the number of people ordering full boxes of pastries, we aren't the only ones to think so!
I would say the price here is slightly higher than other coffee shops, and arriving at a busy time could have you waiting in line for 20 minutes, but we would say the quality of the coffee and the taste of their sweet treats are worth the wait. I mean, the wait is only going to make you appreciate the coffee even more!
To come to a coffee fuelled conclusion..
Remember to fuel up on a nice warm (or iced) cup of caffeine to keep you going on your visit and hikes, you really are getting a true taste for the island when you're drinking Coffee made from Hawaiian grown beans!
Oahu is full of great coffee and cafés, as a whole, we would give Oahu a solid 8 out of 10 oysters on the coffee front!
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