Looking for a jolt of java? You're in luck.
Honolulu has been ranked the No. 7 on a list of the Top 10 U.S. Cities for Coffee in Food & Wine's 2026 Global Tastemakers Awards. The annual awards "celebrate the best in culinary travel around the world."
More than 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers, and wine pros from around the world were polled "for their top culinary travel experiences," and the results were then turned over to a global advisory board who ranked the top nominees in each category.
"Hawaiʻi has grown coffee for over 200 years, and maintains a deep love of the drink," the ranking reads. "In the capital city, coffee shops are almost as plentiful as palm trees. On the second floor of Ward Center, in the creative community space BoxJelly, find Try Coffee for a focus on brewed coffees and classic espresso drinks from a wide variety of sources. ... Morning Glass Coffee’s Mānoa honey iced latte is a must-have. The extensive pour-over menu at Drip Studio features categories like fruity and floral or adventurous, including Kona-grown Geisha that goes great with a kinako cinnamon roll."
Austin, Texas, took the top spot on the 10-best list.
Coffee first arrived in the Islands in the early 19th century.
According to a timeline of coffee in Hawai‘i, published by Honolulu Magazine in 2014, Don Francisco de Paula y Marin first planted coffee on O‘ahu in 1813. More than a decade later in 1825, Chief Boki, governor of O‘ahu, brought plants from Brazil, which were then planted in Mānoa Valley.
In 1828, the Rev. Samuel Ruggles planted cuttings from Boki's coffee in Kona, and less than two decades later, in 1845, Hawai‘i began exporting coffee.
The Hawai‘i Coffee Association also provides a history of the crop in Hawai‘i here.
Coffee production continues to play an "important role" in Hawai‘i's economy "by contributing to employment, tourism, cultural heritage and the livelihoods of small farmers who make up the majority of coffee growers," a 2025 paper on coffee production, exports, and labeling and blend requirements, shared by the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, notes.
According to that paper, coffee was cultivated on about 1,000 farms across 7,400 acres on five islands in the 2023-2024 season, accounting for 4% of Hawai‘i's total crop land.
"Green coffee production totaled 3.4 million pounds, valued at $67 million, with an average price of $19.50 per pound," the paper states. "In 2023, Hawaiʻi exported $5.8 million worth of green coffee beans and $3.8 million worth of roasted coffee to the international market, making coffee Hawaiʻi’s top agricultural export commodity in terms of total dollar value.
"Despite accounting for 0.1% of global coffee production, Hawaiʻi coffee holds a prestigious position in the international market due to its high quality, unique flavors, and limited supply."
But for those looking for a quick cup, Honolulu has a number of spots. Among some of the newer shops, Kooks Coffee recently opened a second location in Kaka‘ako and Bad Ass Coffee opened in Kaimukī last month. You can find more from Aloha State Daily's Food and Dining Reporter Kelli Shiroma Braiotta here.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
