Located in the Kalihi area of Hawaii, Lion Coffee Factory has set up its roasting plant.
Lion Coffee is the most well-known, with the largest track record and scale in Hawaii, truly the king of coffee just as the packaging claims!
When it comes to Hawaiian souvenirs, chocolates and macadamia nuts are hard to pass up, but coffee is also very popular.
Hawaii has a warm climate throughout the year and slightly acidic red soil rich in iron created by volcanic eruptions, making it an optimal environment for coffee cultivation.
At the factory, you can observe how coffee is made, sample different coffees, and it has become a very popular tourist spot for coffee lovers!
History of Lion Coffee
There are many coffee brands in Hawaii, but among them, Lion Coffee has the oldest history and is the most well-known.
It was originally a brand born in Toledo, Ohio, USA in 1864, and by the 1890s, it had established a position and name recognition as the second largest coffee company in the world.
However, major internal troubles occurred afterward, leading to the company’s bankruptcy in the 1950s.
After that, Lion Coffee disappeared from the market for a while, but a major turning point came in 1979 when a Hawaiian company bought Lion Coffee!
With Kona coffee grown on the Big Island of Hawaii becoming one of the “world’s top three brands,” and flavored coffee becoming a hit with tourists visiting Hawaii, the brand was able to make a successful comeback as a Hawaiian brand.
Well, most of Lion Coffee’s products are actually blends of Brazilian and Colombian beans, though. Haha.
In 1989, it was selected as one of the 500 fastest-growing companies in America, and its business has been running smoothly ever since.
By the way, Lion Coffee, Royal Kona Coffee, and Hawaiian Islands Tea are all operated by a single company called Hawaii Coffee Company.
The location of that company is the Lion Coffee Factory, and there is also a Lion Cafe on-site where you can drink coffee.
Factory Tour at Lion Coffee Factory
The factory tour completely requires advance reservations through the website, and drop-in participation on the day is not allowed.
The times are from 10:00 to 10:30 and 13:00 to 13:30, with Japanese tours every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and English tours on Wednesdays!
The fee is $10 per person (limited to ages 12 and up), and the capacity per session is 6 people.
If you are joining the tour, make sure to arrive about 15 minutes before it starts!
Until the tour begins, you can adjust your time by drinking coffee at the cafe inside the factory or looking at products in the shop.
Lion Coffee Tour Report
This time, I actually went on the factory tour, so I would like to report on the details!
*The photos were taken in the past with permission, but currently, all photo and video recording is completely prohibited.
Factory Warehouse Packed with Coffee
First of all, when you step inside the factory, you will see mountains of carefully selected coffee beans from all over the world piled up in the warehouse.
Hawaii Coffee Company was founded in 1864 (a very long time ago in the mid-19th century), and since it is the oldest coffee company in America, its scale is not limited only to coffee beans harvested in Hawaii.
The reason why Lion Coffee and Royal Kona Coffee are the cheapest in Hawaii is because they are blended with coffee beans from these various countries.
Because it is cheap and delicious coffee, it might be continuously winning first place in Hawaii’s popularity polls!
Giant Roasting Machine
Coffee beans are put into a massive circular machine and roasted while spinning around and around.
At this point, the fragrant aroma of coffee fills the air.
Beans that have been roasted for just the right amount of time are called “medium roast,” resulting in the brown-colored coffee beans you often see as retail products.
When the roasting time is extended, it becomes a “dark roast,” creating darker-colored coffee beans with a stronger aroma.
There are also many “light roast” products in Hawaiian coffee, which have a shorter roasting time!
In addition, the product changes depending on the method used to dry the coffee beans!
The “natural process,” where the coffee cherries are dried just as they are harvested, results in a richer flavor and increased depth.
The “washed process,” where only the coffee beans are extracted and dried, results in a refreshing and easy-to-drink coffee.
Even with the same coffee beans, these methods can turn them into completely different products!
By the way, besides the roasting and drying methods, there is also flavoring.
Actually, Lion Coffee is a brand well-known for flavored coffees such as vanilla and chocolate.
Large Coffee Grinder
Once the flavoring process is complete, the beans are finely and carefully ground using this giant coffee mill.
Sometimes they skip this process and package the coffee in its whole bean state!
Coffee connoisseurs usually grind their beans right before drinking to enjoy the aroma, but since it is common for people to buy powdered coffee, they go through this step.
Here, they accurately divide the amount of coffee to be packaged!
Packing Machine Producing Products One After Another
At the packing machine connected to the grinder, the products come out sealed without being touched by human hands.
With coffee being produced at an incredible speed, the staff members packing the cardboard boxes look very busy!
Brands with high sales volumes are naturally large in scale, and I was impressed by how well-established their manufacturing processes and hygiene management systems are.
Everyone was wearing masks and hats properly, which gave off a vibe reminiscent of strict Japanese hygiene standards. Haha.
It is said that about 80% of the coffee consumed in Hawaii comes from the Hawaii Coffee Company.
Whether it is served at fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s or luxury hotels like the Halekulani, it is provided in many places across Hawaii.
Because they produce a large volume and have an established system, they offer great cost performance compared to other brands.
Actually, Tea is Also Popular in Hawaii
They are not only focusing on coffee but also on a tea called “Hawaiian Islands Tea.”
While Lion Coffee is characterized by its subtle sweet flavors, that dedication is actually reflected in their teas as well!
They all feature tropical flavors unique to Hawaii, and these are also delicious.
Just like the coffee, they are sold in various shops.
Get Souvenirs at Lion Cafe
At the end of the factory tour, you get coffee samples and a non-sale keychain.
The tour requires a fee, but you receive souvenirs worth about that amount, so it feels like a great deal!
You also receive a 10% off coupon that can be used inside the shop, so please enjoy some shopping as well.
The attached shop stocks exclusive flavors that can only be bought here, so definitely pick some up as souvenirs!
Basic Information of Lion Coffee Factory
| Name | Lion Coffee Factory |
| Address | 1555 Kalani St, Honolulu, HI 96817 |
| Map | |
| Hours | 6:30 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Closed | None |
| Restroom | Available |
| Parking | Available (Free) |
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