The concept of “laulima” is simple. The Ōlelo Hawaiian term encompasses the idea of working together as a community, which is exactly what those working in specialty coffee on Honolulu strive to do. Amongst the many sights and sounds of the island, Honolulu hosts a large populace of passionate industry workers in various shops that all have a similar thread of connecting communities through the cups they serve.
Whether it is by the beach, up in a mountain, or in the heart of the city, you’re sure to find a unique coffee experience. Below are just a small selection of the many cafes Honolulu has to offer, each with its own approach to coffee, tea, food, and laulima.
TRY Coffee
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Located within the collaborative arts hub known as BoxJelly, TRY Coffee offers customers a chance to enjoy handcrafted pour-overs in the Ward Village district of Honolulu. TRY highlights a multitude of rotating coffees on their menu that include those that have been featured in the Cup of Excellence, on stage at the World Barista Competition, and the World Coffee in Good Spirits. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, for a more thorough look at those coffees brought in, TRY’s website includes a chronological archive of their over 250+ featured coffees in their lifespan. If you’re interested, you can even subscribe to their monthly “TRY-Cycle”, which features hand curated coffee options by co-owner Timothy “TK” Yamada.
In addition to their diverse coffee offerings, TRY operates as a space for pop ups that highlight local talents ranging from up and coming bakers, chefs, and other innovators, so you never know what local talent you might meet when you grab your cup.
Tradition Coffee Roasters
Tucked away in the hills just north of Kailua Town inside of a cozy warehouse lies a coffee getaway with Tradition Coffee Roasters. Co-run by husband and wife duo Brian and Lindsay Burik, Tradition’s brick and mortar also serves as its home base for all of its roasting operations so you can get a peek behind the curtains with both the sights and smells.
Tradition offers over a dozen in house roasted options, (ranging from experimentally processed coffees to locally grown Hawaiian options) with rotating seasonal specials and has even won multiple Gold Bean awards for their coffees. Tradition also offers a host of public coffee classes for those looking to deepen their knowledge or just learn a bit more about the cups they drink.
Ando Cafe
If you’re looking to enjoy your morning cup in a relaxed zen environment, look no further than Ando Cafe in Kailua Town. Heavily influenced by Japanese cafe culture, Ando has its cafe set with the backdrop of plants and ambient music as you enjoy your drink.
Coffee wise, offerings include in house roasted coffees on pour-over, milk brews, and espresso beverages served on their Mavam espresso machine. For tea offerings, you can try their Shizuoka Matcha, Hojicha, and Wakoucha Black Tea as you sit in their large outdoor area. Ando also engages with special cupping events and live music nights with more evening events planned for the future.
The Birds Nest Coffee
If you find yourself venturing up to the North Shores of O’ahu and are in need of a cup, The Bird’s Nest Coffee has got you covered. A build out from a former gas station, The Bird’s Nest is a multi-roaster known for its Birdy Brew Cold Brew Concentrate and selection of single origin coffees from various roasters around the country, most prominently Sweet Bloom Coffee out of Denver.
What started as a coffee operation out of a 1966 Ford Econoline quickly evolved as co-owners Caleb Backus and Madelyn Ballew saw the opportunity to establish a cafe amongst the various people riding through Halei’wa Town as they would make their way to O’ahu’s famed Waimea Bay. Other menu highlights include their Nuts N Hugs Latte made with Macadamia Nut Syrup or their Sourdough Kolaches (think filled puffy sourdough bites) that rotate flavor seasonally.
Morning Glass Coffee
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Being able to enjoy your morning cup with the perfect food pairing is never a problem for the Manoa neighborhood mainstay Morning Glass Coffee. Surrounded with a view of the mountains, Morning Glass offers coffees ranging from Portland’s Coava Coffee Roasters to Big Island Coffee Roasters out of Hilo as well as a host of baked goods and food options that will keep your mouth watering. If you’re looking for something non caffeinated, you may also enjoy one of the house made sparkling sodas, the seasonal option recently being hibiscus mango. If you need a bite, homemade ulu chowder, earl grey scones, tahini chocolate chip cookies, and mac and cheese pancakes are just a few mouthwatering food options to try. Morning Glass even offers a special night breakfast service in the evenings (day dependent) for those looking to enjoy their lattes and pastries in the evenings
Drip Studio HNL
Over in O’ahu’s Chinatown neighborhood, you’ll find a coffee lover’s manual brew paradise with Drip Studio HNL. This multi-roaster represents a revolving host of global coffee roasters with options rotating frequently. Recent roasters include Ilse, Dak Coffee Roasters, Leaves, and Memli Coffee Lab. Founded by co-owners Vincent Pōhaku and Kelsie Mercado-Uehara, Drip Studio was established in 2023 and has moved from a walk up window set up to a fully realized cafe at the center of Fort Street Mall.
Other drink highlights include the Cold Fashioned (a take on an Old Fashioned made with house-made foam on top) and their strawberry or mango matcha and hojicha. Complete with a full food menu that is comprised of items such as mochi waffles, papaya boats, and a crunch time sandwich (a spicy mayo turkey sandwich stuffed with potato chips), Drip is a must in Chinatown.
The Curb Kaimuki
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In the heart of the Kaimuki neighborhood, you’ll find another community staple with The Curb Kaimuki. This multi-roaster run by partners Devin and Ross Uehara-Tilton, features tenured coffee roasters such as Olympia Coffee Roasting, Heart Coffee Roasters, and Black & White Coffee Roasters both on espresso and pour-over bar. The Curb also adds rotating seasonal specials to the menu to always keep things fresh. Recent drinks include the kabocha spice latte and the pandan matcha latte.
The Curb also splits its time as a natural wine bar in the evenings that will hold plenty of events for the community to be a part of. These events vary from Drink & Draw Nites, Wine & Weave Nites, local music nights (lovingly referred to as CLurb nights by its staff), and even hosts as an art gallery for local artists.
9Bar HNL
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While the word Scuffin may be unfamiliar to many people, to those who visit 9Bar HNL, it’s almost always the word that follows their coffee order. Part of the SALT complex in Kaka’ako, 9Bar has been around the specialty coffee scene for some time now, just recently passing their ninth anniversary. And while the Scuffin (Scone + Muffin) may be a major highlight to the shop, it’s not the only.
This multi-roaster hosts a bevy of options on its pourover bar including the likes of Valor Coffee, Old World Coffee, and Epoch Chemistry while still offering other exciting caffeinated options. Some recent seasonal selections include their banana bread latte, cold brew chai, and even a coffee flight (including an espresso, cortado, and in house ginger beer).
Kyle Conner is a coffee professional and freelance journalist based in Honolulu. This is Kyle Conner’s first feature for Sprudge.
