What Big Island Coffee Roasters does

Big Island Coffee Roasters is a privately held, founder-led specialty coffee company founded in 2010 in Puna, Hawaii and now headquartered in Hilo. It sources 100% Hawaiian coffees directly from a network of 24+ family farms across the Kona, Ka'u, Maui, and Puna regions, then mills, grades, and small-batch roasts the coffees at its own East Hawaii micro-mill (opened 2014) using a roasted-to-order production model. Its product portfolio spans whole-bean and ground coffees, nitrogen-sealed compostable single-serve packets, green (unroasted) beans for home roasters, Mamaki herbal tea, and Espresso Bites edible coffee bars, supported by multi-tier subscription clubs (Taster's through Roaster's Club, plus a Barrel Aged Club) priced from $45 to $145 per month. The business model is predominantly direct-to-consumer e-commerce at bigislandcoffeeroasters.com, complemented by a flagship retail cafe at 76 Kalaniana'ole St in Hilo, a wholesale program that includes an exclusive hospitality partnership at The Hideout in The Laylow (Autograph Collection), and international shipping to six countries including a dedicated Japanese storefront. Premium unit pricing (e.g., Kona Peaberry at $26 per 4oz up to $349 per 5lb, Kona Geisha at $99 per 10oz) reflects the brand's positioning at the top of the Hawaiian specialty coffee segment, and the company has accumulated multiple industry awards including a 2022 Good Food Award, 2023 World Coffee Innovation Awards Best Specialty Coffee Roaster, and a 94-point Coffee Review rating in June 2025 — the highest among Kona peaberries.

Name

Big Island Coffee Roasters

Legal name

Big Island Coffee Roasters

Website

https://bigislandcoffeeroasters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Island Coffee Roasters is a Hilo, Hawaii-based specialty coffee company that mills, roasts-to-order, and ships 100% Hawaiian coffees direct to consumers worldwide, supported by multi-tier subscriptions, a flagship cafe, and a wholesale program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Roasted Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Coffee, Tea & Cacao Experiences (Roastery Tours, Tastings) (THAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Specialty Hawaiian coffee
• Single-origin coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Roasted-to-order coffee
• Edible coffee bars

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Direct Coffee Product Sales: One-time purchase of individual coffee products including whole bean, ground, and single-serve formats. Products include Kona, Ka'u, Maui, and other Hawaiian origin coffees at various roast levels.
2. Subscription (Hawaiian Coffee of the Month Club): Recurring monthly subscription delivering 1-4 bags of curated Hawaiian coffees. Tiers: Taster's Club ($45/month, 1 bag), Cupper's Club ($78/month, 2 bags), Explorer's Club ($109/month, 3 bags), Roaster's Club ($145/month, 4 bags), Barrel Aged Club ($45/month, 1 bag).
3. Espresso Bites: Edible coffee bars available in Mixed, Classic, Sea Salt, and Latte varieties. Made without stabilizers or preservatives. Winner of Good Food Award.
4. Merchandise and Apparel: Branded merchandise including Explorer Shirts, hoodies, mugs, travel towels, and coffee-related accessories.
5. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards redeemable online and in-store, available in denominations from $10 to $150.
6. Cafe Sales: Physical cafe in Hilo offering brewed coffees, lattes, pastries, and house-made syrups. Open daily 6:30AM-5PM at 76 Kalaniana'ole St, Hilo HI 96720.
7. Wholesale/Bulk: Wholesale program for retailers and businesses including bulk coffee orders for offices and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Big Island Coffee Roasters is a specialty craft coffee company that roasts and sells 100% Hawaiian coffees sourced directly from family farms across the Hawaiian islands. Coffees are roasted-to-order after purchase and shipped fresh, with offerings spanning whole bean, ground, single-serve instant packets, green (unroasted) beans, and Edible Espresso Bites coffee bars. The company also operates a multi-tier monthly subscription (Hawaiian Coffee of the Month Club), a flagship cafe and roastery in Hilo, Hawaii, and a wholesale program for retailers, hotels, and offices.

Product overview

Big Island Coffee Roasters is a specialty Hawaiian coffee company offering a diverse portfolio of single-origin coffees, blends, subscriptions, and complementary products. The core offering centers on 100% authentic Hawaiian coffees from multiple regions: Kona (Kona Peaberry, Kona Moon, Kona Bloom), Ka'u (Ka'u Morning Glory, Ka'u Black Honey, Ka'u Darkwood), Maui (Maui Mokka, Maui Mellow, Maui Mana), and Puna. Products span whole bean coffees, single-serve instant packets, green unroasted beans for home roasting, and the innovative Espresso Bites edible coffee bars. The company operates subscription services through its Hawaiian Coffee of the Month Club with multiple tiers, plus a physical Hilo Cafe & Roastery. Supporting offerings include branded apparel, merchandise, and gift cards. The business model emphasizes farm-direct sourcing, small-batch roasting-to-order, and sustainability practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kona Peaberry Coffee 100% Kona Peaberry coffee rated 94 points by Coffee Review, featuring notes of caramel, cinnamon, maple, and plum. Available in Medium Light and Medium Dark roasts.
• Kona Moon Dark Roast Dark roast 100% Kona coffee with notes of dark chocolate, hazelnut, and graham cracker. A smooth, balanced dark roast.
• Kona Bloom Light Roast Light roast 100% Kona coffee featuring honey-butter, peach, jasmine, and cacao notes. A delicate and floral light roast option.
• Maui Mokka Limited micro-lot 100% Maui coffee with brownie brittle, caramel, barley malt, roasted nuts, and cinnamon spice notes. Medium-Dark roast featuring small, pearl-like beans.
• Ka'u Black Honey Coffee 100% Ka'u coffee processed using the black honey method featuring maple butter, tamarind, wildflower honey, and dates. Sun-dried for 20-30 days for jammy intensity.
• Single Serve Instant Coffee Packets Nitrogen-sealed, compostable single-serve coffee packets for travel. Available in 5-pack or 10-pack varieties featuring Kona Moon Dark Roast and Hawai'i 'Aina Medium Roast. Simply add hot water and steep for 5 minutes.
• Green Coffee Beans (Unroasted) Unroasted green Hawaiian coffee beans for home roasting. Includes Kona Peaberry ($55), Kona Coffee ($49), and Ka'u Coffee ($45) green beans.
• Espresso Bites Edible Coffee Bars Smooth and creamy edible coffee bars made from 100% Hawaiian coffee. Available in Mixed Pack, Classic, Sea Salt, and Latte varieties. No stabilizers or preservatives. Featured on Good Morning America.
• Mamaki Tea Caffeine-free Hawaiian herbal tisane from the native Māmaki plant. Naturally sweet and slightly earthy with hazelnut, bamboo, and honey notes. Grown at 4,000 feet on Mauna Loa volcanic slopes using regenerative practices.
• Hawaiian Coffee of the Month Club (Subscription) Monthly subscription delivering new Hawaiian coffees with free shipping. Tiers include Taster's Club (1 bag/$45), Cupper's Club (2 bags/$78), Explorer's Club (3 bags/$109), and Roaster's Club (4 bags/$145). Features exclusive micro-lots and limited releases.
• Barrel Aged Coffee Subscription Specialized subscription featuring barrel-aged Hawaiian coffees. One 10oz bag per month at $45 with free shipping.
• Kona Coffee Collection Bundle A trio collection featuring Kona Peaberry, Kona Moon, and Kona Bloom coffees. Best selling collection priced at $65.
• Apparel & Merchandise Branded apparel including Explorer T-shirts ($26), Fleece Zip Explorer Hoodies ($45), Big Island Dri-Fit Tanks ($26), and limited edition mugs and merchandise featuring local Hawaiian artist designs.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards redeemable online and in-store. Available in denominations from $10 to $150. Delivered by email with one-year expiration.
• Hilo Cafe & Roastery Service Physical cafe at 76 Kalaniana'ole St, Hilo HI 96720, offering brewed coffees, lattes, pastries, and house-made syrups. Open daily 6:30AM-5PM. Bulk coffee ordering available for offices and events.
• Pueo Espresso & Breakfast Blend 100% world blend espresso with fudge, blackberry, and butterscotch notes. Dark roast offering.
• Swiss Water Decaf Coffee Peru-origin Swiss Water process decaffeinated coffee with roasted nuts and baked bread tasting notes. $20 per 10oz.

Quantifiable outcome

• $9.2 million paid directly to Hawai'i coffee farmers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hideout at The LaylowcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022The Laylow, Autograph Collection selected Big Island Coffee Roasters as its exclusive coffee provider for the Hideout cafe. The hotel was ranked in Travel + Leisure's 2022 Top 500 best hotels in the world. This partnership provides access to luxury hospitality market and exposure to international travelers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Koa Coffee: Direct peer - premium Hawaiian/Kona coffee specialist offering 100% Kona and Hawaiian blends online with similar DTC subscription model. Most directly comparable competitor in the authentic Hawaiian coffee niche.
• Greenwell Farms: Direct peer - historic Kona coffee farm and roaster operating since 1850, offering 100% Kona single-origin coffees with farm-direct positioning comparable to Big Island's farm-to-cup model.
• Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation: Direct peer - Hawaiian coffee roaster specializing in Kona and Hawaiian estate coffees with farm-direct sourcing and online DTC sales, serving similar premium Hawaiian coffee customers.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Direct peer - specialty third-wave coffee roaster with strong sustainability focus, direct farm relationships, and educational content strategy mirroring Big Island's approach. Comparable specialty DTC model with similar subscription offerings.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Direct peer - leading third-wave specialty coffee roaster with cafe-retail hybrid model, subscription service, and premium single-origin focus. Nestle-owned, providing scale comparison for what a venture-backed specialty coffee brand can achieve.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Direct peer - specialty coffee roaster known for direct trade, single-origin focus, and cafe-retail hybrid model. Acquired by Peet's Coffee; represents comparable specialty DTC + wholesale + cafe business.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Direct peer - specialty coffee pioneer with strong direct-trade sourcing program, barista training, and cafe-retail model. Comparable third-wave positioning with similar premium DTC and wholesale strategy.
• Kicking Horse Coffee: Direct peer - Canadian specialty coffee roaster with strong DTC e-commerce, subscription model, and premium positioning. Comparable in operational model (roasted-to-order, online-first) though differentiated by geography.

Emerging players

• Paradise Roasters: Emerging player - specialty micro-roaster focusing on rare Hawaiian varieties including Kona, Ka'u, and Maui, similar to Big Island's curated Hawaiian portfolio. Smaller scale but overlapping niche focus on premium Hawaiian origins.

Broad incumbents

• Peet's Coffee: Broad incumbent - large established specialty coffee company with broad portfolio including Hawaiian offerings. Represents the scale ceiling Big Island could potentially approach through M&A or organic growth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bigislandcoffeeroasters
• Facebookfacebook.com/bigislandcoffeeroasters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Island Coffee Roasters