Honolulu Coffee
Honolulu Coffee is a vertically integrated farm-to-cup Kona coffee company operating since 1992, with its own Mauna Loa farm, 20+ cafes across Hawaii, Guam, Canada, and Atlanta, plus e-commerce, subscriptions, and B2B wholesale to hospitality accounts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Honolulu Coffee does
Honolulu Coffee is a vertically integrated farm-to-cup Kona coffee company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company operates a nearly 100-acre Kona coffee farm on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, roasts beans on classic cast iron equipment at its Honolulu Support Center, and sells through approximately 20+ company-owned cafes across Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island), Guam, Vancouver (Canada), and a campus cafe at Emory University in Atlanta. It maintains a dedicated Japanese e-commerce site (honolulucoffee.co.jp) and has not formally disclosed Japan retail locations in the data. Its product portfolio spans 100% Kona grades (Extra Fancy, Estate Selection, Peaberry at $45.55-$79.95 per 12oz) and signature blends (Kona Blend, Lokahi, Makahiki, Lava Roast, Hapa, Decaf Honolulu Blend at $13.55-$34.65 per 12oz), alongside bakery items, branded merchandise, and gourmet Hawaiian food products including a chocolate collaboration with Manoa Chocolate.
The company generates revenue through five primary streams: in-cafe beverage and food sales, retail roasted coffee sales via Shopify-powered e-commerce with worldwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), recurring coffee subscriptions with 10% savings and tiered rewards (2%-4% back), prepaid gift subscriptions (3-month from $74.85, 6-month from $149.70), and B2B wholesale to hotels and resorts including Aulani, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Grand Wailea Resort, Whole Foods, and DFS. A 2024 mobile app introduces a tiered loyalty program (Tier 1-3 plus KONA tier), and a 2024 SMS-exclusive Kona Coffee Club releases limited 100-gram monthly bags. Marketing channels include a "Keep It Aloha" podcast, content blog, seasonal menu launches (Kauwela summer, Punawai spring, Mele Kalikimaka holiday), and an athlete collaboration (Tokyo Toe Blend with NFL player Kansei Matsuzawa). Customer segments span premium coffee enthusiasts, tourists and local cafe visitors, hospitality businesses (B2B), and subscription consumers. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, leadership team, or revenue figures.
Honolulu Coffee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Honolulu Coffee
- Legal name
- Honolulu Coffee
- Website
- https://honolulucoffee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Honolulu Coffee is a vertically integrated farm-to-cup Kona coffee company operating since 1992, with its own Mauna Loa farm, 20+ cafes across Hawaii, Guam, Canada, and Atlanta, plus e-commerce, subscriptions, and B2B wholesale to hospitality accounts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Honolulu Coffee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing (AFAFADAD), Tea, Coffee & Cocoa Farming (Beverage Specialty Crops) (AFAGAGAG)
Keywords
Where Honolulu Coffee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices20 records
Markets served
Honolulu Coffee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Coffee Sales: Sale of roasted coffee beans in various sizes (7oz, 12oz, 5lb) and grades (Peaberry, Extra Fancy, Estate Selection, Blends) through online store and cafes.
- Cafe Operations: In-cafe beverage sales including espresso drinks, cold brews, and food items. Also offers house-made bakery items and pastries.
- Coffee Subscriptions: Recurring subscription model with customizable frequency and quantity. Subscribers save 10%, get free shipping at $50, and earn rewards (2% back for orders 1-9, 4% back for orders 10+).
- Gift Subscriptions (Prepaid): Prepaid gift subscriptions available in 3-month ($74.85+) and 6-month ($149.70+) options for gifting purposes.
- Wholesale/B2B: Bulk coffee sales to hotels and resorts with full-service solutions including coffee, training, and equipment service.
- Merchandise: Branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hats), drinkware (mugs, tumblers), bags, and accessories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kona Blend - 25% Estate-Grown Kona Coffee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kona Extra Fancy - Highest grade 100% Kona Coffee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kona Peaberry - The Rarest Kona Coffee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kona Estate Selection - Seasonal microlot |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lokahi - House blend |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Makahiki - 10% Kona harvest blend |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lava Roast - Dark roast |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hapa Blend - Half caff |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Decaf Honolulu Blend |
| Subscription | Monthly | Coffee Subscription |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Prepaid Gift Subscriptions |
| Subscription | Monthly | Rewards Program |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels7 records
Honolulu Coffee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Honolulu Coffee is a vertically integrated farm-to-cup Kona coffee company that grows coffee on its own nearly 100-acre Kona farm on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano, hand-roasts the beans in Honolulu on classic cast iron equipment, and sells the finished coffee through company-owned cafes in Hawaii, Guam, Canada, Japan, and Atlanta, plus e-commerce, subscriptions, and wholesale programs. Offerings span premium 100% Kona coffees and signature blends, baked goods, merchandise, and recurring delivery services.
Product overview
Honolulu Coffee is a vertically integrated Farm to Cup coffee company founded in 1992, operating a Kona coffee farm on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. The company's product portfolio centers on premium Kona coffee products including pure 100% Kona coffees (Kona Extra Fancy, Kona Estate Selection, Peaberry) and crafted blends (Kona Blend, Lokahi, Makahiki, Lava Roast, Decaf Honolulu Blend, Hapa Blend). Additional offerings include Kona Coffee Subscriptions (recurring delivery with savings and rewards), Prepaid Gift Subscriptions, and the SMS-exclusive Kona Coffee Club for limited monthly releases. The company also sells merchandise (apparel, drinkware, accessories), gourmet Hawaiian food products, and operates physical cafe locations across Hawaii, Japan, Canada, and Guam, plus wholesale programs for hospitality partners. A mobile app provides rewards, ordering, and location-finding capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bakery on King: Flagship cafe location serving exclusive pastries, bold local flavors, and handcrafted coffee, located at 2643 S. King Street in Honolulu's Mō'ili'ili neighborhood.
Products and services
- Kona Extra Fancy Coffee 100% pure Kona coffee in the highest grade, screen size 19, large beans that absorb more nutrients; nutty, dark chocolate, and cherry flavor notes; for premium coffee enthusiasts.
- Kona Estate Selection Hand-picked microlot of the best 100% Kona coffee harvested each season, with notes of lilikoi, dark chocolate, and raw honey; for discerning single-origin drinkers.
- Peaberry Kona Coffee The rarest Kona coffee, accounting for only 1% of the crop, with naturally fused oval beans and intense milk chocolate, sweet spice, raw honey, and roasted hazelnut notes.
- Kona Blend Signature house blend containing 25% Estate-Grown Kona Coffee combined with specialty coffees from Central and South America; medium roast with hazelnut, milk chocolate, and vanilla notes.
- Lokahi Blend House blend celebrating unity and balance, with marmalade and milk chocolate notes; performs well as drip coffee or rich espresso.
- Makahiki Blend Seasonal blend celebrating the Hawaiian harvest festival, featuring evolving notes of sweet cocoa, cherry, and brown sugar.
- Lava Roast Intense, full-bodied dark roast with berries, dark chocolate, and sweet earth notes; creamy and buttery mouthfeel for dark roast lovers.
- Decaf Honolulu Blend Washed Colombian co-op coffee, Castillo and Colombia varietals grown at 1200-1800 meters, full-bodied with chocolatey notes for decaffeinated drinkers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Founded in 1992 with growth from single kiosk to international operations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Honolulu Coffee
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Honolulu Coffee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature3 records
Honolulu Coffee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Kansei MatsuzawaminorNFL player collaboration for Tokyo Toe Blend - a special coffee blend created in partnership with Las Vegas Raiders player Kansei Matsuzawa.
- Manoa ChocolateminorCollaborative partnership to produce HC Dark Chocolate Bar - a gourmet chocolate product combining Hawaiian cacao with coffee flavors. Sold through Honolulu Coffee retail channels.
- Ellemsee MediaminorPartnership for HC Dark Chocolate Bar product development and marketing collaboration with Manoa Chocolate.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Honolulu Coffee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Koa Coffee: Kona coffee specialist offering premium 100% Kona grades with direct-to-consumer e-commerce focus. Comparable in Hawaiian origin, premium grading structure, and e-commerce subscription offerings.
- Hula Daddy Kona Coffee: Boutique Kona coffee farm and roaster on the Big Island producing premium 100% Kona with estate-grown single-origin focus. Comparable as a farm-to-cup premium Kona operator with direct-to-consumer emphasis.
- Big Island Coffee Roasters: Hawaii-based specialty coffee roaster with direct Kona and Hawaiian coffee sourcing, operating cafes and wholesale channels. Most direct comparable due to overlapping Hawaiian origin, premium positioning, and cafe-plus-roastery business model.
- Greenwell Farms: Kona coffee farm and processor on the Big Island of Hawaii with vertical integration from farm to roaster. Highly comparable given shared Kona origin, farm-to-cup operations, and 100% Kona positioning.
- Lion Coffee: Iconic Hawaiian coffee brand founded in 1864, specializing in Kona and Hawaiian blends with retail distribution. Direct comparable as a heritage Hawaiian coffee company targeting similar consumer base with premium positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster focused on sustainability, direct trade, and training programs for wholesale accounts. Comparable B2B training-and-equipment model serving cafes and hospitality, though at broader US scale.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Major third-wave specialty coffee company (owned by Nestle) with cafes, subscriptions, and direct trade sourcing. Comparable business model across cafe operations, subscription revenue, and premium single-origin positioning, though at significantly larger scale.
- Intelligentsia Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with direct trade sourcing, cafes, and wholesale programs in major US cities. Comparable third-wave cafe-plus-roastery model with subscription offerings and B2B training.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster (owned by Peet's) with cafes, wholesale, and subscription programs. Comparable in vertical integration, direct trade, and third-wave positioning, though serving broader US geographies.
Emerging players
- Kicking Horse Coffee: Premium specialty coffee brand known for organic, fair-trade single-origin and blends with strong direct-to-consumer and retail presence. Comparable premium positioning and subscription/DTC business model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Honolulu Coffee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Honolulu Coffee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Honolulu Coffee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Honolulu Coffee M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Honolulu Coffee
What does Honolulu Coffee do?
Honolulu Coffee is a vertically integrated farm-to-cup Kona coffee company that grows coffee on its own nearly 100-acre Kona farm on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano, hand-roasts the beans in Honolulu on classic cast iron equipment, and sells the finished coffee through company-owned cafes in Hawaii, Guam, Canada, Japan, and Atlanta, plus e-commerce, subscriptions, and wholesale programs. Offerings span premium 100% Kona coffees and signature blends, baked goods, merchandise, and recurring delivery services.
Is Honolulu Coffee a public or private company?
Honolulu Coffee is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Honolulu Coffee founded?
Honolulu Coffee was founded in 1992. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Honolulu Coffee based?
Honolulu Coffee is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does Honolulu Coffee make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Retail Coffee Sales are the primary driver. The others are cafe Operations, coffee Subscriptions, gift Subscriptions (Prepaid), wholesale/B2B and merchandise.
Who are Honolulu Coffee's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Koa Coffee, Hula Daddy Kona Coffee, Big Island Coffee Roasters, Greenwell Farms and Lion Coffee. Broad incumbents are Counter Culture Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee, Intelligentsia Coffee and Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Kicking Horse Coffee is listed as an emerging player.
Does Honolulu Coffee have an API?
No public API is recorded for Honolulu Coffee.
What industry is Honolulu Coffee in?
Honolulu Coffee's product category is Specialty Coffee. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFADAA, Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave), with a secondary code of AFAFADAD, Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 5810.