24 Best Coffee Shops in Kailua Kona

“I'm really glad we chose Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation for our Kona Coffee Tour! It's located up on one of the inactive volcanoes and the scenery is absolutely stunning! Tours run every 30 minutes so we were able to walk down the nature trail and see more of the location. Coffee was available to try which was great so we knew exactly what we wanted to come home with! So glad we supported local and learned all about Kona Coffee!“

“🌺🤙🏽 Huge shout-out to Kohola Coffee 🐋 🙌

Every time I stop by, I leave feeling so much aloha. This coffee truck is a true gem in our community, with reasonable prices and the freshest local ingredients.

What makes it extra special isn’t just the amazing coffee, it’s the heart behind it. Jeannette built this business from the ground up, and you can feel her passion and hard work in every detail. It’s rare to find a spot that serves incredible drinks and creates such a genuine sense of community, but she’s nailed it.

Even if you’re not a coffee person, there are plenty of other delicious drinks (the matcha is my favorite) and the food always hits the spot. The convenience of the drive-through also makes it so easy to swing by and grab something tasty on the go.

Highly recommend stopping in, it’s the best coffee shop in Kona. Plus supporting a self-made local entrepreneur who pours her heart into everything she does is the best bonus! 🌴✨“

“Lovely Coffee Shop! Five Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Absolutely loved this spot! It’s such a comfortable place to work from — bright, relaxed, and perfect for settling in with a laptop. The staff are genuinely friendly and super accommodating. They even made the Lily Special for me with unsweetened matcha instead of the regular version, and it turned out perfect.

Great coffee with locally sourced beans, and really cute merch as well. Will definitely be coming back for both coffee and work sessions. Highly recommend!“

“I stopped here on the way to the airport. What a great find! I had the coconut mocha delight and it was definitely delightful! We also ordered the acacia bowl, a breakfast sandwich and a bagel. Everything tasted fresh. The cafe has a cute play area that my girls enjoyed playing in while we waited for our order. I will definitely visit again when I’m back on the Big Island.“

“Having a paint party on there lanai , they have the best Kona coffee and chai in town“

“Easy going 20 odd seating, me lucky with no wait the day. Savory & Galette mushroom, spinach, ham & tasty cheese. Swing fair tunes with a good ice Americano. Be back for the Dessert Crepes 🙏“

“Fantastic Acai bowls. We visited recently from the UK and as soon as we discovered them we returned every day until we left!!“

“We love this place because the coffee is so good. Staff kind and knowledgeable. They offer a cool mail order service with nice savings to keep you supplied with beans. Great gift shop. A fun time in Naalehu.“

“Very good food and coffee, friendly staff. However, the inside of the restaurant was bizarre with an unappealing arcade room attached. The inside could definitely use a different vibe. Almost didn’t eat here when I walked in. Glad I stayed and ate though, the patio was a nicer spot to eat and chill.“

“Kona Coffee Outlet is my favorite and best coffee company.
The owner is very kind and welcoming, and you can really tell how high-quality the coffee beans are.
The coffee tastes amazing and is absolutely worth coming back for.
I shared it with a friend, and they loved it just as much as I did.
Highly recommend!“

“On a hot Sunday afternoon, the Malama Coffee drive-thru was a welcome sight! I got the Mauna Kea Frappe and it was so refreshing! The flavor was delicious. Rich, but not overly sweet. And the texture was also perfect. So smooth and creamy! I have to add that the young lady who waited on me was one of the sweetest and most genuinely happy people I have ever met. This is the best place in Kona to get your caffeine boost and also a refill on positive vibes!“

“I have always loved the smell of coffee, but unfortunately could not get past the acidic taste. Kona coffee café introduced me to Peaberry Kona coffee. This is the first time that I have ever been able to drink coffee let alone really enjoy it. The friendly staff explained how the volcanic soil and the timing of picking the bean changed the acidity in the coffee. Since being home, I’ve already placed an order and I am enjoying my coffee every morning. Thank you so much for introducing me to this amazing drink!“

“Excelente café y un lugar muy agradable“

“Makua Coffee is the BEST we’ve ever tasted, anywhere in the U.S. or abroad. With beans grown on Hawaii Island and the superior roasting method used, this coffee is rich and delicious, with no bitter aftertaste like most coffees. The aroma of the beans is heavenly before we grind and cold press the coffee! We order it regularly online because we can’t settle for anything less!“

“Both the food and drinks were amazing - the French slam and caramel mocha frappe were particularly phenomenal.

And on top of all that, service was spectacular! The staff was extremely friendly and couldn’t have been better. Would very highly recommend visiting!“

“Awesome counter-service coffee shop where you can get a coffee, tea, or sausage breakfast sandwich. You can eat it outside with views of the pier. Across the street is an ABC store where you can browse after. Inside Hamakua Coffee it is airy and spacious. This place is quite crowded since it's in the center of the tourist area.“

“Loved the flavors! We had the Lilikoi Sour and the Kona Sunset.“

“The macadamia nut latte with oat milk was elite—creamy, cozy, and just the right amount of nutty goodness. Bonus points for being a spot that actually champions milk alternatives. And the barista? Ridiculously nice in the best way; and recommended this latte. Spot on! 💕“

“Check it out! Sooo awesome!!“

“I’m not much of a reviewer but i felt the need to leave a review because they are genuinely fantastic! Not only are they so kind but their coffee is a 10/10. Just try it for yourself! You can tell they are using quality ingredients in the vanilla latte. No complaints:)“

“We went on the Kona orchard tour and it was amazing! The guide was entertaining and hilarious! I laughed so much! The chocolate was so delicious! I highly recommend this tour!“

“Great smoothies, amazing food with a fabulous Island feel 🏝A must visit when in KONA“

“On island for a wedding. No car rental. Walked to the nearest Starbucks- 0.86 miles. Got the first cup of walk-in business at 5:35 am. They made it the way I like and it tasted great. I can always rely on Starbucks for a consistently excellent experience.“