We went on an epic Kaua’i road trip with the growing Instagram page Hawaii View Ventures to scout out some of the best coffee places on the island. From Poipu to Waimea, we visited an eclectic variety of cafes and restaurants to share them with you. Some were small shops, others had art galleries, and some had estates. From one end of the coffee shop spectrum to the other, you can be sure the coffee scene on Kaua’i is growing, and the involvement some of these shops have with their communities and other local businesses is pretty neat. These were our favorites. If you’re local to the island, or are visiting from the outer islands (or from afar) check out these venues. And if you want some cool photos of Hawaii in your Instagram feed, be sure to follow these guys for some local inspiration. For real, check out this killer Kaua’i sunrise:

Kapa’a Sunrise. For more of these cool captures, check out Hawaii View Ventures on Instagram!

Aloha-N-Paradise

Art gallery adjacent to coffee shop. Check out the local artists!

Located in Waimea on the west side of Kaua’i is a family-ran internet cafe that serves coffee and food. They feature art from various local artists on their wall for sale, and have a homey art-gallery type of atmosphere. The coffee is tailored to every order, and precise measurements are used to brew each cup. They have been opened for 13 years and plan on establishing themselves as one of the coffee staples in Waimea. Be sure to say hi to Candy (the owner) when you’re there.

Little Fish Coffee

AnnaRose serving coffee, smoothies, and ono kine grindz at Little Fish

On the south shore of Kaua’i is a hidden gem called Little Fish Coffee. This family-ran business has been around since 2011, and what started as a hole-in-the wall store in Hanapepe, has now expanded to three locations. This year, they opened a coffee kiosk in Kokee Lodge in Waimea. It has a different vibe than their other locations with a lounge-type feel. Their other coffee shop is right next to Poipu Beach, perfect for snagging an iced coffee or smoothie before heading out into the sun.

They specialize in high end specialty coffee partnering with Kauai Roastery, who makes specialty coffee from Maui and Big Island. They also serve smoothies using locally-sourced products to create exotic flavors with creative names such as Angry Dragon, Monkey Nuts, and Jitterbug. Their fruits are organic, sustainably-sourced, grown, and harvested by local farmers. They also use aquaponic greens from Kauai Roots Farm in Lawaii Valley. Every cup and container their food and drinks are served in are 100% compostable–even straws–to reduce their waste footprint.

With a recylcing program implemented for his stores, they are an Ocean Friendly Restaurant with the Surfrider Foundation. Ethan Page, the owner of Little Fish Coffee is all about doing the right things in a way where everyone will share that value and commit to it also. Regarding Little Fish Coffee, which just went through a big expansion, he stays humble, and commented this about the success of his stores, “Know your kuleana, be sustainable, and serve really good coffee. So far it’s been working.”

We think it’s working for them too, so check it out and definitely try the banana walnut bread.

Kauai COffee

The Kauai Coffee Company

Less than a five minute drive from Little Fish Coffee is Kauai Coffee Company. Yeah, the Kauai Coffee Company–the one with an estate. They have four tours of their estate a day, and take visitors through the entire coffee process. It’s definitely worth a visit. Coffee enthusiasts, and tourists who don’t know anything about coffee will enjoy the trip and the free education. Kauai Coffee Company is the established Kaua’i coffee brand that most people drink. They sell 100% Kaua’i Coffee in bags, as well as in single-serving cups. And if you can’t make it to the location, you can always buy their roasts online…or Foodland, Times, and Costco. Yeah, Costco. Drink their samples, and snag yourself a bag.

What are your thoughts? Do you have any favorite coffee places on the south to west side? Check in later for our next article, when we head east. In the meantime, check out these cool photos of Kaua’i and the rest of the state at Hawaii View Ventures.

If you’re looking for beer, we recommend Kaua’i Brewing Company.