For those on the hunt for a cup of joe, some of the best coffee subscriptions and shops in the the nation can be found here in Hawai‘i, according to USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
The awards aim to rank the 10 best in several areas of travel and lifestyle. Nominees were chosen with the help of a panel of experts while the final 10 were determined by voters.
Honolulu Coffee took the top spot on the list of 10 Best Coffee Subscriptions.
"Make sure that you never run low on freshly roasted Kona coffee or a meticulously crafted blend with a subscription from the farm-to-cup roasters at Honolulu Coffee," the list notes. "Subscribers save 10% off the list price and can manage their subscription over text for maximum convenience."
To celebrate, Honolulu Coffee is doing an Instagram giveaway, offering a chance to win free coffee for a year — one 12-ounce bag of its Makahiki Blend delivered each month — as well as a special subscription promotion.
Honolulu Coffee opened a location in Mo‘ili‘ili in July 2025.
Big Island Coffee Roasters landed at No. 2 on the same list.
"Big Island's Hawaiian Coffee of the Month Club delivers a variety of 100% Hawaiian coffees monthly, perfectly matched to your roast level and grind preference," the list says. "They also offer a barrel-aged coffee subscription, wherein the coffee has been aged in local Kuleana Rum barrels, Buffalo Trace Bourbon-soaked oak, or charred whiskey barrels."
Meanwhile Drip Studio HNL in Honolulu is No. 2 on the list of Best Independent Coffee Shops.
"Grab a seat at the bar and watch the barista wizardry unfold at Drip Studio HNL, Honolulu's most sophisticated café," the list reads. "Connoisseurs will love this place that specializes in superb pour-overs made from unique single origin beans that take five minutes to brew. Try a creative Espresso Mule, where a double shot of espresso gets poured over ginger beer, or a Cold Fashioned, made with cold brew, orange bitters and organic maple syrup. There's also a stellar lineup of matcha, chai, and hojicha, as well as crafted sandwiches and all-day breakfast."
Earlier this year, Honolulu was named one of the best U.S. cities for coffee, ranking No. 7 on a list of the Top 10 U.S. Cities for Coffee in Food & Wine's 2026 Global Tastemakers Awards.
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.
Looking for something a little boozier instead? Several Hawai‘i distilleries, tasting rooms and speakeasies also ranked on recent 10Best lists: The Kōloa Rum Tasting Room ranked No. 3 on the list of 10 Best Spirits Tasting Rooms; Hilo's Ola Distillery landed at No. 5 on the list of 10 Best Craft Distillery Tours; Ko‘olau Distillery in Kailua is No. 6 on the list of 10 Best Craft Gin Distilleries; Kuleana Rum Works in Waimea is No. 10 on the list of 10 Best Craft Rum Distilleries; and The Hidden Nēnē in Hilo is No. 6 on the list of 10 Best Speakeasies.
You can read more about those here.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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