KopeMapsNewsletter
Search farms, roasters, cafes
Dark green shop front with open white doors, a Slow Black Coffee sign, and three wooden chairs.
Two people look at shelves in a white shop interior with Slow Black Coffee and Koana signs.
Yellow circular Koana sign with a white mountain outline above gold stars, a labeled barrel, rocks, and a basket.
122 photos

Coffee Shop · Tours

Koana Retail

A masterclass in 'slow coffee' in Mountain View, where Brian's precision-brewed pour-overs and the signature spicy Chocolate Lava shot are genuinely good for those who want an educational, owner-led experience.

Mountain View, Big Island Google 5.0 (439 ratings)

Drink hereBuy beansTourShips direct
Drink here
Hours listed
Buy beans
Online shopships direct
Farm visit
Book directbooking link
Coffee source
Origin not verified
Character
Hidden gem
DirectionsOfficial websiteTour availability

Data collected 5 months ago (May 16, 2026). Spot an error?

Outbound booking, shop, and website links may be measured with referral parameters. Paid or sponsored placements do not determine KopeMaps rankings.

The verdict

Field notes

Hidden gem Chill Locals + tourists

A masterclass in 'slow coffee' in Mountain View, where Brian's precision-brewed pour-overs and the signature spicy Chocolate Lava shot are genuinely good for those who want an educational, owner-led experience. You can smell the beans before you choose, and the conversation is as much a part of the visit as the caffeine. If you're looking for a quick drive-thru, a caramel latte, or any drink with milk, this isn't it—this is a destination for the coffee purist.
KopeMaps, field notes
Where it is
tucked away in Mountain View village
What's unique
strictly black coffee and pour-overs with aroma sniffers and a spicy Chocolate Lava shot

Plan the stop

What you can do here

Drink
Plan a cup or tasting
Buy
Online shop
Tour
Book direct

Who it suits

Best for

  1. Specialty coffee

    Focus on 'slow coffee,' pour-overs, pH levels, and 'coffee purists' who want an educational experience.

  2. Purposeful outing

    Described as a 'destination' and a 'hidden gem' worth a detour between Hilo and Volcano.

  3. Bean shopping

    Reviews mention smelling beans before choosing and buying locally made products and beans.

Receipt

The facts

Size
Smallsmall local shop with browseable goods
Wait
Walk right up
Setting
Roadside
Parking
Free parking
Outdoor seating
Yes
Kid-friendly
Yes

In their words

The story

Koana began in 2019 in the historic village of Mountain View, Hawai‘i. What started as a specialty pour-over café has grown into a space dedicated to honoring Hawaiian coffee — its farmers, its the spirit of aloha woven into every bean. We source directly from award-winning Big Island growers, working with people who share the same passion, integrity, and devotion to craft. In 2025, we introduced Art of Coffee, an immersive Omakase-style tasting experience designed to help guests slow down, connect, and discover Hawai‘i coffee in a deeper, more meaningful way. At Koana, coffee is both science and art — shaped by nature, guided by hands, and shared with heart.

Awards
  • BEST Coffee Shop in The State of Hawai'i · Food & Wine Magazine · 2022
  • The Top 100 Coffee Shops in the United States · Yelp · 2025
  • The Hawai‘i Green Business Award · State of Hawai‘i · 2024
  • The Hawai‘i Green Business Award · State of Hawai‘i · 2025
  • The Top 100 Best Coffee Shops in the United States · Yelp · 2022
In the press
  • Food & Wine Magazine · 2022
  • Yelp · 2025
  • Yelp · 2022

122 photos

Photos

Two people look at shelves in a white shop interior with Slow Black Coffee and Koana signs.
Yellow circular Koana sign with a white mountain outline above gold stars, a labeled barrel, rocks, and a basket.
Cafe interior with a glowing Koana mountain logo, white service counter, seating, and wall menu boards.
Dark green shop front with open white doors, a Slow Black Coffee sign, and three wooden chairs.
Yellow circular neon sign reading Koana with a white mountain outline on a shop wall, beside a pick-up sign and merchandise.
Brewing counter with two pour-over stations, a glass siphon brewer, a grinder, and bean jars on a white wood wall.
A hand holds a black pouch of Koana Chocolate Lava Mix with a white label and a mountain logo.
Yellow Koana mountain sign on a white plank wall above a garland, dark rocks, and a rope-wrapped barrel.
Three glass drippers brew coffee on a wooden counter, with timers, a gooseneck kettle, and a slow coffee sign.
White shop counter holding glass tubes of ground coffee, each fitted with a metal funnel and black rubber bulb, with handwritten sample tags.
Two Koana paper cups and a red Spicy Lava Chocolate Mix bag sit on a white outdoor picnic table.
Outdoor coffee stand behind a stick fence, with a COFFEE sign, patron and liability signs, and a Koana banner.

12 of 122 shown

Common questions

Visiting Koana Retail

What days and hours is Koana open?

Koana is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. They are closed on Mondays and Sundays, so plan your visit accordingly.

Can I work from Koana with a laptop?

Koana is noted as quiet and work-friendly. Check their website at alohakoana.com to confirm wifi availability before making the trip out to Mountain View.

Do they serve lattes or milk-based coffee drinks?

Koana specializes in specialty pour-over coffee and is geared toward the coffee purist—they are not set up for milk-based drinks, caramel lattes, or drive-thru-style orders. If that's what you're after, this isn't the right stop.

What is the 'Art of Coffee' experience at Koana?

Introduced in 2025, Art of Coffee is an Omakase-style immersive tasting designed to help guests slow down and explore Hawaiian coffee more deeply. Check alohakoana.com for current details and how to book.

Do they sell beans and ship to the mainland?

Yes, Koana ships beans directly. They exclusively source from Big Island farms, so what you order online reflects the same local-only philosophy as their in-shop offerings.

What makes Koana worth the drive to Mountain View?

Food & Wine Magazine named Koana the 'Best Coffee Shop in Hawai'i' in 2022. They partner exclusively with Big Island farms and award-winning growers, and the shop itself is a sustainably built, site-specific space featuring local art—a genuinely distinctive visit.

Collections

Featured in

Best Coffee in Hilo

Big Island · Hilo

Hilo's coffee scene punches well above its size — Hāmākua-grown beans, indie roasters, and the rainy-side cafés worth a slow Saturday.

Same island

Nearby Coffee

Koana Retail

Mountain View, Big Island
Directions