Lion Coffee

Honolulu, HI

Lion Coffee stands as one of America's oldest major coffee companies, with a remarkable history spanning over 160 years. Originally founded in 1864 in Toledo, Ohio, by C.C. Warren, Lion Coffee began with humble beginnings when Warren started roasting coffee in a friend's barn. Despite an early setback when the barn burned down due to his inexperience, Warren persevered and established Lion Coffee as one of the first roasted, pre-weighed coffees in America. The company flourished under Alvin Mansfield Woolson, a Civil War veteran and Pony Express Station-Master who purchased Lion Coffee in 1872. Woolson revolutionized coffee packaging by introducing sealed 1-pound tin containers, setting new standards for freshness and quality. He pioneered promotional campaigns where consumers could redeem lion heads for gifts, creating the first bulk mail system in U.S. history. By the mid-1890s, Lion Coffee had become the second largest coffee roaster in the world, processing a million pounds per week. After various ownership changes and a period of dormancy in the 1960s-70s, Lion Coffee found new life in 1979 when entrepreneur Jim Delano discovered the available trademark rights and brought the brand to Hawaii. This marked a pivotal transformation as Lion Coffee established its permanent home in the Islands of Aloha, where it quickly became Hawaii's favorite coffee brand. Today, Lion Coffee operates from a 55,000 square-foot facility in Honolulu, serving as the largest roaster of Kona Coffee in the world and Hawaii's largest coffee company. The company maintains its commitment to excellence through meticulous hand-selection of Arabica coffee beans, careful roasting processes, and rigorous quality control standards. Every batch is cupped to ensure freshness and optimal taste. Lion Coffee has earned multiple "Hawaii's Best" awards from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser's People's Choice Awards (2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018), reflecting its strong local following. The company specializes in 100% Hawaiian coffees, including premium Kona blends, as well as signature flavored coffees featuring Hawaii-inspired tastes like Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Toasted Coconut, and Vanilla Macadamia Nut. As part of the Hawaii Coffee Company family, Lion Coffee shares a mission with sister brands Royal Kona Coffee, Royal Hawaiian Coffee, and Hawaiian Islands Tea to deliver exceptional coffee experiences. The company's facility offers roastery tours and houses the Lion Café and General Store, demonstrating its commitment to community engagement and coffee education. Lion Coffee's philosophy centers on creating quality blends using 100% Arabica beans with Hawaii-inspired flavors, making each cup "the closest thing to a morning walk on the beach." With over 160 years of wisdom in every cup, Lion Coffee continues to uphold its founding principles of quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction while celebrating the spirit of Aloha.

Founded

1864

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Available Coffees

Cafe Honolulu Coffee

Lion Coffee • Honolulu, HI

$13.95 · $1.40/oz

BlendMedium

Cafe Honolulu is Lion Coffee's medium-roast house blend with a European café character and a pleasant aroma. A spirited Honolulu cup that strolls on the tongue—easy black or with cream.