The 7 hottest coffee spots shops you must try on Maui

Whether you need a strong espresso before a sunrise hike or a slow morning cup with nothing to do but watch the palm trees sway, Maui’s coffee scene is lovable and it runs deep.

Hawaii is the only state in the US that grows coffee, and right here on Maui, more than 50 farms cultivate it across 500 acres, giving the island its own distinct coffee culture that goes well beyond a good café.

Here are seven spots you can’t ignore:

Espresso Mafia, Makawao

If you’re spending any time upcountry, Espresso Mafia on Baldwin Avenue is a must-visit. It’s a small espresso bar with a reputation of excellence, built on perfect espresso shots and the kind of warm, island-style service that makes you feel right at home in the islands.

Regulars and visitors alike mention the well-balanced drinks: nothing over-engineered, nothing forgettable. The seasonal menu rotates, so you might find a honey-forward latte or a coconut-style cold brew depending on when you’re there. Either way, it’s the kind of place that keeps a loyal following.

Try the honey cream latte.

📍 3617 Baldwin Ave, Makawao, 4.9 stars on Google Maps

Akamai Coffee Co., Kahului and Kihei

Akamai has built its reputation the right way: on genuinely good espresso and the kind of warm, unpretentious service that makes a drive-thru feel like a neighborhood spot. The Honey Bee latte is the crowd favorite, a tropical-leaning drink with strong espresso undertones that coffee lovers keep coming back for.

They also sell bags of locally grown and roasted beans if you want to bring something home. Conveniently located near the airport in Kahului, it’s become a first stop off the plane for a lot of repeat visitors, which tells you everything you need to know.

Try the N.O.L.A latte (New Orleans style cold brew with chicory and slightly sweetened milk).

📍 100 Pakaula St, Kahului (drive-thru; other locations available), 4.7 stars on Google maps

Maui Coffee Roasters, Kahului

Maui Coffee Roasters has been a Kahului institution for good reason. Located just minutes from the airport, it works equally well as a first stop when you land or a final cup before you fly home, and of course it’s worth a visit any time in between.

The coffee draws real praise from purists: customers love the Ka’u drip with distinct berry notes, the Americano with hints of citrus and macadamia nut, a lavender iced coffee, and a reishi coconut that keep people coming back.

The food menu holds its own too, with made-to-order bagel sandwiches, croissants, and pastries from local bakers. They also carry a broad selection of Hawaiian beans to take home, plus coffee accessories and locally made goods.

Worth noting: the shop received commendations from Maui first responders for their support during the Lahaina fires, a reminder that good coffee and good community values can go together.

Try the Ka’u drip coffee.

📍 444 Hana Hwy, Kahului, 4.5 stars on Google maps

The Coffee Store in Napili, West Maui

West Maui is resort-heavy, which makes The Coffee Store in Napili a genuinely refreshing find. Tucked into Napili Plaza, it’s run by a small team that bakes its own pastries in-house which is a rarity on Maui since many cafés stock Costco goods.

Choose from yummy selections like coconut mocha, the Mexilatte, the espresso macchiato, and the cold brew. The baked goods have their own following: peanut butter bars, almond joy bars, lilikoi blueberry scones, and banana bread that people come back for specifically.

West side visitors are known to stop here every single day of their trip. It’s the kind of neighborhood spot that west side regulars and returning visitors treat like their own, which is about the best thing you can say about a coffee shop.

Try the Mexilatte.

📍 5095 Napilihau St, Lahaina, 4.6 stars on Google Maps

Wailuku Coffee Company, Wailuku

Wailuku Coffee Company is the kind of place that rewards you for slowing down (stop and think about that for second). Set on Market Street in Old Town Wailuku, it’s got a genuinely local feel with local art on the walls, reggae playing in the background, outlets if you need them, and a menu that goes well beyond coffee.

People love the V60 filter coffee and flat whites, and the food earns its own attention: bagel sandwiches, chickpea wraps, smoothie bowls, berry scones, and a lemonade made with local lemons. It’s the kind of café where you come in for coffee and end up staying for lunch.

Also a good spot to recharge after the Waihee Ridge hike or a morning exploring the Iao Valley area.

Try the Kona coffee pour over.

📍 26 N Market St, Wailuku, 4.6 stars on Google Maps

Paia Bay Coffee & Bar, Paia

Paia Bay Coffee & Bar is easy to love, and it’s a lot more than a coffee stop. The menu ranges from specialty lattes — think rose, lavender, and vegan coconut macadamia — to espresso martinis, full brunch plates, and local-forward dishes like peanut butter pineapple waffles and banana bread French toast.

It’s lively and laid-back at the same time, with the kind of personality that makes it a fun ritual before you hit the Road to Hana. If you happen to be there on a Saturday, Funk Brunch is its own thing entirely.

Worth noting: Paia Bay is a certified platinum ocean-friendly restaurant, which fits right in with Paia’s general ethos of taking care of the ‘aina (land).

Try the vegan coconut macadamia latte.

📍 120 Hana Hwy, Paia, 4.4 stars on Google Maps

O’o Farm, Kula

O’o Farm isn’t really a coffee shop, it’s a coffee experience worth building a morning around. The coffee and brunch tour starts with a proper tasting of estate-grown beans, with guides who know the cultivation and roasting process inside and out.

The beans have a bright, berry-forward flavor with a light coffee finish: the kind of cup that makes you think differently about what you’ve been drinking. After the tasting, you walk the farm, sample coffee cherries straight off the plant, and learn how it all comes together before sitting down to a farm-to-table brunch made almost entirely from what’s growing around you.

Set in Kula at around 3,000 feet with sweeping views of the West Maui Mountains, it’s one of those experiences that shows up repeatedly as a trip highlight. Reservation required.

📍 651 Waipoli Rd, Kula, 4.8 stars on Google Maps