ChadLou's Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Oʻahu

Coffee here’s always great - I’ve been going here for years and the quality never diminishes. One thing I will say since moving to their “newer” corner location is that I’m disappointed with the layout of the shop. When they moved in to the corner location I assumed the awkward narrow hallway where you line up, order your coffee, wait, and then squeeze back to the front of the line to grab your coffee (that is, if you can even hear your name being called) was just a temporary configuration while they worked out the kinks of their layout. They’ve been at this location for over a year now and it appears that there is no effort to change from this layout. It’s a bit upsetting for me as a local because I feel like most of the space at this location is taken up by their tasting room, which in my opinion is an activity more geared toward tourists. It kind of feels like the locals and everyday coffee drinkers are squeezed to the side to give a more grand experience for those who pay more. Although I love their coffee, this isn’t really a place where I can grab a coffee to-go on the way to work anymore because the order and pickup process is really just uncomfortable for me.

I was prompted to write this review when I saw someone else complain about it and realized I wasn’t the only one who had thoughts. Maybe they’ll put more effort into a comfortable layout if they hear more honest feedback from customers. Still giving them 5 stars though because they are probably one of the top two coffee places in Kailua and definitely the best coffee on this block...

My fiancé is a regular customer and always drinks the Makapu'u Mocha.

I saw that on Chadlou's website that they have coffee tasting sessions and decided to book one (super smooth and easy process), and Jake and I had an amazing time at the engaging session hosted by the owner, Matt.

He guided us through a fascinating journey of coffee history and sensory exploration using the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) cupping protocol, all centered around their exceptional, freshly roasted beans—some roasted just the day before!

Our favorite roasts were the single origin Yemen Mokha Mattar and their signature flagship blend, Boat Ramp—both truly stood out in flavor and character.

As a budding barista with hopes of getting into coffee roasting, the session with Matt was incredibly meaningful and inspirational. His passion for coffee is contagious, and he went above and beyond by giving us a behind-the-scenes tour of the roastery. I left feeling more curious, motivated, and deeply appreciative of the craft.

My fiancé, a long-time regular at Chadlou’s, was still blown away by the session and walked away with a newfound appreciation for coffee and his daily cup. He is now ready to venture into filter coffees after realising that there are so many exciting tasting notes from the session.

Huge thanks to Matt and Chadlou’s for such an unforgettable experience.

Highly recommended for coffee lovers at any level and for all customers - new or...

The bean selection is crazy! Note that the bags themselves are pretty minimalist design (very cute) but go on their website to get more information on each type or the master list with prices and some tasting highlights near the order window. I got an iced kula latte (lavender syrup), very refreshing and balanced for a hot day (great espresso pull). The staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable (I bought some beans as a gift and we had a great chat about the source farm, the beans, and a price reminder - some limited edition beans are a bit pricy but they’re a great treat/gift). Also got a recommendation to do the Honu latte hot (Carmel and Mac nut syrup) so I’ll have to come back on a cooler day go get that as well. Thanks so much for the help and...