Hawaiʻi Island has made its mark on the global coffee industry with its famed Kona coffee. So, it’s no surprise that the island’s cafés are pouring world-class cups of joe.
While top-tier coffee is a hallmark of a great café, the vibe and ambiance are also important. From warm and cozy settings to creative lattes and delectable treats, these details all make Kona coffee shops worth seeking out—even if you’re not a coffee aficionado.
These are the 5 best coffee shops on Hawaiʻi Island, according to HAWAIʻI Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.
1. Big Island Coffee Roasters
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In 2010, Kelleigh Stewart and Brandon Von Damitz purchased a farm in Puna on Hawaiʻi Island after seeing an ad on Craigslist and decided to start growing coffee. Over the next few years, the husband-and-wife team revived the land for coffee production and established Big Island Coffee Roasters. Since then, the company has won numerous awards and accolades, helping distinguish Puna as a coffee-growing region. Big Island Coffee Roasters also works with farmers around Hawaiʻi to offer a variety of Hawaiian-grown coffee.
The company opened a café in Hilo in 2023, serving its local coffee. Here, you can order a coffee flight to sample locally grown favorites. The menu includes cold brew, espresso, specialty lattes and tea grown in Volcano. To snack, the coffee shop serves fresh pastries as well as a breakfast burrito, an acai bowl and a local-style PB&J sandwich on poi sourdough with housemade lilikoʻi butter.
2. The Coffee Shack
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Perched on the hills above Kealakekua Bay, The Coffee Shack is a charming café and restaurant along Māmaloha Highway. The family-run business serves coffee grown on the property. Along with flavorful and aromatic coffee, The Coffee Shack is also known for its breakfast and lunch, including savory omelets and hearty sandwiches served on homemade bread. The baked goods and desserts are not to be missed, either, such as the lilikoʻi cheesecake and Kona lime pie. From the lānai, enjoy sweeping views of the Kona Coast, stretching from slopes lined with verdant coffee trees to the blue Pacific Ocean.
3. Puna Chocolate Company & Café
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
With Hawaiʻi-grown chocolate, Big Island Estate coffee and Island-inspired craft cocktails, Puna Chocolate Company & Café is a dream destination. Located in Downtown Hilo, the shop sells chocolate grown and produced in Hawaiʻi—cacao cultivated on Hawaiʻi Island and turned into bars at Puna Chocolate—while the coffee program features 100% Big Island coffee, including beans grown on its estate and at local farms. Along with your classic espresso and lattes, you can indulge in a decadent frozen hot chocolate, banana hot chocolate or an aloha coconut mocha. And as the sun sets, the cocktail bar comes to life. The Taproot serves inventive cocktails made with cacao, tropical fruits and premium spirits. Here, you can sip on an espresso martini, chocolate margarita or a Hilo mai tai.
Puna Chocolate Company & Café also has a location in the Kona Brewery Block, where you can try fresh chocolate, Kona coffee and craft cocktails.
4. Surf Camp
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Surf Camp is a cozy spot nestled in the charming town of Waimea. On a rainy morning in Waimea, it’s an idyllic place to sit and enjoy a coffee and bites like grilled banana bread or a breakfast bagel. The easygoing surf vibe permeates the cool café, which also doubles as a boutique.
5. HiCo Hawaiian Coffee
Photo: Taylon Faltas
HiCo Hawaiian Coffee opened its first café in 2020 and quickly became popular for its ube latte and loaded SPAM musubi. Since then, the company has expanded with locations in Kealakekua and Waikoloa Village. HiCo Hawaiian Coffee is a favorite for its welcoming energy, specialty drinks and fresh bites. The shop sources its coffee and other ingredients from local farms and producers.
See all of the winners of our 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards in our latest issue, which you can buy here. Better yet, subscribe and get HAWAIʻI Magazine delivered right to your mailbox.
Grace Maeda is the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.
