Coffee Tasting in Hilo

Question

I know there are coffee tours and different coffee shops and farms, but do you know of any cafes or coffee shops that offers several different types of Hawaiian coffee that you can buy cups to taste of different brands?

Answer

Hilo and the surrounding Puna and Hamakua regions on the Big Island offer several options for tasting a variety of Hawaiian coffees without necessarily booking a full farm tour. While most Kona coffee tasting is concentrated on the Kona side, Hilo has some specialty cafés and local roasters that allow you to sample different beans by the cup.

Here are some places in Hilo where you can taste and purchase multiple types of Hawaiian coffee:

Hilo Coffee Mill Café – Located just outside Hilo, they offer tastings of their own locally grown beans. You can try different roast levels and blends in small sample cups and purchase whole beans or ground coffee to take home.
Kona Coffee & Tea Company – Hilo location – Although primarily a Kona brand, they have a Hilo outlet where you can sample a variety of Kona and other Hawaiian coffees by the cup. They offer flights of coffee for tasting multiple types side by side.
Simply Natural Café / Specialty Coffee Shops in Hilo – Several local cafés rotate offerings from multiple Hawaiian coffee farms, sometimes offering “coffee flights” of 3–4 different coffees for tasting. Ask the barista for sampler options; many are happy to brew small cups for sampling.

Other tips for coffee tasting in Hilo:

Many small roasters in Hilo sell sample packs (1–2 oz) of different varieties. Some allow in-store tasting before purchase.
Some farmers’ markets, like the Hilo Farmers’ Market, have multiple local coffee vendors where you can try brewed coffee and talk directly with growers about flavor notes and origin.
While not as abundant as on the Kona side, Hilo’s coffee offerings tend to include Puna and Ka‘u region beans, which are different in flavor profile from Kona coffees — slightly fruitier or more acidic — so it’s a nice chance to diversify your tasting experience.

Summary: If your goal is to taste multiple Hawaiian coffees by the cup in Hilo, your best bets are Hilo Coffee Mill, Kona Coffee & Tea Company (Hilo outlet), and small local cafés that offer sampler flights. Complement that with stops at farmers’ markets to try single-origin beans from nearby farms.

Coffee Tasting in Hilo

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