This cafe is offers expensive, organic Kona coffee, and other goods. They have free wifi, and an "alternative atmosphere." It isnt a horrible cafe, just not that great. The owner/manager Saifon is incredibly rude. She is very snobby, and offers very poor customer service. You can find other cafe's in the area that offer better customer service, and better baristas.
Review Source:Free Wifi, + (paid) Internet cafe & great coffee!
My husband and i were looking for an Internet cafe originally and found this online, so originally was just going for the Internet
When we got there, we discover it was a proper casual cafe, so we decided to order a bagel with tomato & avocado to share and 1 coffee between the 2 of us, since we have had bad coffee one after another in whole of Hawaii, we didn't want to order too much in case it's bad
You can pay to use her computer to print things, or you can have free wifi if you order things. There is very limited free wifi place in Kona, so it was a real bonus!
When we got our coffee and food, we were pleasantly surprised! It was the best coffee we had in Hawaii. ( I mean espresso coffee, as we don't care for American coffee) the capacino was just right and creamy, not watery like all the other bad coffee we have had. The food tasted really fresh too! So different from all the typical cheesy  hamburger from other cafe! This cafe is tucked away from the street front, so it was a bit hard to find, but once you are there, it was a good sunny and quiet spot to hang out. We were there for 2 hrs, and can see a number of regulars hang out there
The female owner was an absolute classic! I smirked when I saw other reviews about the attitude, because there definite was plenty! But we found her completely refreshing! She is one of those cafe owner you imagine in a French movie with a 'take it of leave it' attitude, so funny to watch! We heard her tell a customer not to compare her to Starbucks! Â Since that would be an insult! Once she warmed up to you, she is gold! A very groovy chick whom I think 'good for you!' She was helpful to us the minute we walk in, and we LOVED her attitude! So don't be taken back by it. Once you sit down, she is great to chat with! I don't understand how other reviewer can give her a bad rap about the coconut water in a REAL coconut! ( unless they prefer a highly processed coconut water with preservative in a packet from supermarket???) it doesn't get better than the real coconut when it comes to natural juice!
For my gluten free diet, this place was amazing. We went for breakfast and came back later for lunch. I had a GF scone and later one of several sandwich options. Try the coconut milk in your iced Americano and you will be in heaven. My complaints are minor. The adorable boy at the counter was in way over his head due to high demand - he needed another set of hands. Also, if a cafe advertises GF sandwiches, they should spend $10 at Walmart and buy a separate toaster to avoid cross contamination (I am glad staff warned me about the toaster situation).
Review Source:Two coffees + two pastries = $26? Â Really? Â
This is a funk-dog little place which manages to jam a kitchen, bar, espresso bar, lunch counter and one computer for surfing the internet into about a 12 X 12 foot space. Â The good: wonderfully delicious, organic Kona coffee and crazy good fresh-made scones. Â The bad: the prices are absolutely absurd! Â A latte, a mocha, and two scones rang up a $26 tab. The ugly: very slow service seems to cater to a local haole crowd that camps out indefinitely, taking up what few seats there are, jabbering at the top of their lungs.
We went here because we wanted to support a local coffee shop instead of a big corporate chain. Â Next time, it's Starbucks, baby.
We loved visiting this little coffee house/bar during the Ironman Triathlon. Â The staff was so nice, welcoming, appreciative of our business, and friendly. Â Other places in Kona during this weekend were rude to all the tourists and seemed annoyed at how busy they were. Â The nice woman that made me and my friends drink after drink after the race handled everything smoothly and was very courteous. Â I'll go back here everytime I'm in Kona!!!!
Review Source:I'm obsessed with coconut water, and there was none to be found on the big island! Even the farmers market didn't have it the day I went )= But I did find them here!! I was so happy, until I took a sip. It was just okay. She was really nice about it and asked if we wanted to try another cause she didn't want us to have a bad one. Haven't tried anything else but the service is great.
Review Source:EDIT: Came for breakfast an coffee this morning. Greeted mildly by a younger girl with no cafe enthusiasm. I know it's 6:45, but it's your job!
Started ordering breakfast, Papaya with cottage cheese, OUT of papaya. She explains she and her boss were out of town for the weekend and hadn't gotten the shopping done. (HELLO! It's Tuesday, not Monday) so we asked what they -did- have, and her reply was, well we have everything else (gving us attitude like we were crazy people for ordering a papaya anyways.) So we ordered the breakfast sandwich, (which has avocado) she goes into the kitchen, looks around and says "we don't have any avocado." I'm sorry, but at this point, I stopped listening to her and couldn't believe that my boss still ordered a mocha (which turned out to suck! it's crazy how different baristas at the same coffee shop can make the same drink totally different) We ended up skipping on the food, paying over-price for an average drink, and left to saunter down the road in search of reliable food service local.
Result: Even though we would love to say that we'd come back for the good mocha, even though over priced, we won't be coming back. Relationship status: without cafe.
Oh yah, and all of their pastries that they boast about were gone, and there were two "day old" scones that we saw in the day old bin the day before. YUCK.
-------------------
Sooo glad that we came here BEFORE reading the reviews on Yelp.
Ordered a double mocha and the barista asked if we wanted it here or to-go, because if you get it for there, you get more because of the size of the cup. So we got it for there, drank some, then got a Togo cup for the rest. Better mocha than some other coffee places around, plus has breakfast! (we came midday but plan to try out breakfast another morning.)
Barista was friendly and talked with me about the cooking situation. They only have 1 person working at a time so when it gets busy, it's seriously BUSY, because 1 person does all the short-order cooking, ringing up, and drink-making.
Only downside and my only reason for my 4 stars, is the prices! $6.50 for a double mocha?! We don't even pay that in the bay area!!!
Last night, I went to the Poetry Slam at Alii Buzz. It usually starts on Fridays from 9 or 930pm. It is known for being a coffee shop, but they also serve gluten free breads, cookies, fruit smoothies, beer, mixed drinks, hot wraps, toasted organic sandwiches, an appetizer sized meatball plate for only $3.50 and MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, the hummus with pita bread and fresh vegetables with Parmesan cheese on top. This hummus was the best I have tasted in this town ! I haven't been to a poetry slam in a while, ok, its been a long time. I need to go more often. I often feel the same that these poets write about. But, I just cannot find the words. There was sooo much emotion in these writings: fear, anger, madness, sympathy, love, hate, longing, fondness and yearning. I loved the poem about someone cheating on you. It brought back all of those feelings of being betrayed. I could sympathize. I empathized. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the poem about being positive. This male person who lives in Hawaii basically wrote about...how we live in Hawaii, paradise, sweet ocean surrounds us and beauty engulfs us...so why the drama? Why do you have hatred inside of you ? Why are you so negative ? Let that negativity go. LOVED IT. As many different writers there were, there were different poems. Writings. Short essays. Long Excerpts. Varied. Variety. Personalities. It was FABULOUS. Inspiring. Wonderful. I highly recommend.... Alii Buzz Poetry Slam evenings. Friday nights, below Splashers and the Indian Restaurant. If you like to write. If you like to listen. If you want to participate or listen in. If you need inspiration. If your having a bad day. If you have had a good day. If you like to write songs. If you like to rap. Come. Enjoy. Feel. Sharon-Marie Olson is a wonderful host , she makes everyone feel welcome and special. I had a wonderful time, Sharon, the poets, the writers, the speakers...Thank you and Aloha
Paige Cobb, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Stopped in this morning before our sub tour for an iced coffee. The barista brewed a shot, poured it over ice then added water. She filled it to the top in a hot cup and handed it to me. It was almost 5$!!!! I asked for cream she kind of just shrugged me off and handed it to me. I then asked for a straw same thing. If you are looking for a bit I aloha. This is not the place. Very bland customer service and the coffee was terrible. I ended up throwing it away.
Review Source:We liked breakfast so much here that we came back twice in our week in Kona. Â
Both times we split a BLT on a soft bagel. Â The tomato was very ripe and generously cut. Â The amount of bacon varied but was adequate. The lettuce a dark green leaf variety. Â We enjoyed a brewed Kona coffee and fresh squeezed orange juice ("The juice will take a few minutes because I have to cut and squeeze the oranges, is that OK?"). Â The OJ was about 12 ounces with a few ice cubes and was delicious. Â On the second visit, a green gecko about two inches long walked along the outdoor bar toward my OJ, then calmly slipped into a crack in the bar.)
This hidden gem is in an alley off Ali'i Drive between Whaler's tourist store and Splasher's restarurant. Â Seating is very, very limited and there was just one girl taking orders and making the food when we visited.
The view of tourists walking on Ali'i and across the street at the public canoe lot was a treat, too.
If you can find Ali'i Buzz, give it a try.
I came here for the first time when I had just moved here. I ordered a wrap and smoothie. The portion was so small, that I was still hungry. The smoothie was big but so thick that I couldn't finish it. I was bummed I spent a couple dollars more then I wished I had.
Recently I went in for a second time. I was kinda excited to try their fresh coconut water. So I paid $7 and I watched her pull out a coconut (right off the tree with the husk kind), she took it outside and poked it with a metal tool. She then came up and handed it to me. I was totally not expecting that and was kind of shocked. I drank 5 small sips and it was done. Then I had to awkwardly carry it to my car (cuz I didnt want to look like a tourist) and cracked it up at home so I could justify spending $9 (with tip).
I went here during my first visit to Kona and what a great find! The iced coffee I had hit the spot, espicially after a long day learning to paddle surf. The owner and the other server at the store were super friendly and knowledgeable about the area and gave us great suggestions for dinner later that evening. The location was a bit crowded, due to the cruise port right outside, but it's easy to find and the coffee was just the caffeine kick I needed to get me motivated to get back in the water.
Review Source:Ali'i Buzz deserves zero stars. The owner/manager/head barista is horribly rude. I went in this morning looking for a quick breakfast. When I asked the woman working the counter if she had smoothies for breakfast, she replied, "We have them all day." I thought the answer was a little sarcastic but gave her the benefit of the doubt. I know the restaurant is located near a cruise ship port  and it must be hard dealing with tourists all day. I then made the mistake of asking for the flavors. Without looking up from the bar, she silently pointed to a sign behind her head. Again, I passed her behavior off as rude but understandable. After purchasing the smoothie, which was gross, I walked over to another store to purchase a bottle of water. When I pulled out my wallet, I realized she had short changed me by $6. I went back and very nicely told her that she had miscalculated the transaction. I showed her my change and explained the mistake. In the middle of my explanation, she yelled, "Sshhhh. I'm trying to do the math in my head and you're not helping!" Ummmm, trying to do the math in your head? I gave her $20.02  for a $7.02 smoothie. That's an even $13.00. If you can't do that math in your head you have no business owning a restaurant. The worst part about the whole thing was that she didn't believe me! She fished the receipt out of the trash. After realizing what she'd done, she tried to make up the difference but still only gave me 12.00!!!! It was unbelievable. It's one thing to be a jerk but its a whole other issue when you're rude AND stupid. Fail.
Review Source:Coffee barista was just flat out strange. I asked specifically if the iced coffee was just hot brewed coffee over ice or if it was specifically made to be iced coffee, and barista shrugged me off with: "Whatever, we do both, it doesn't really matter, whatever you want it to be..." It was hard not to be taken aback by that response. Anyway, so I mistakenly gave the benefit of the doubt and ordered it anyway. Barista put ice in a cup, then pumped hot coffee into it.
I guess the concept of ice melting into water when exposed to heat is still a mystery to some adults. Very unfortunate. It was like dirty iced water with a hint of coffee flavoring. I brought it back, and barista offered to put in a shot of espresso, so I took the offer. Still weak. Another shot. After that, it just tasted bad, so I ended up throwing it away anyway. But I felt better knowing they tried to fix it. Still, I wouldn't go back, and wouldn't recommend it.
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