HCA Conference 2025: A Weekend in Kona Full of Coffee, Connection & Inspiration

There are times when work feels less like a job and more like a celebration of everything we love—and the HCA (Hawai‘i Coffee Association) Conference this past weekend in Kona was exactly that.

Our owner, Brian, and General Manager, Rachel (me!), headed to the Big Island of Hawai‘i to take part in this annual gathering of Hawai‘i coffee professionals, producers, and innovators. It’s always a privilege to be surrounded by the vibrant community that makes locally grown Hawaiian coffee so special, and this year was no exception.

The HCA Conference offers a rare opportunity to connect with every part of the coffee supply chain—from growers and processors to roasters and equipment manufacturers. Being able to meet face-to-face with the people who dedicate their lives to this craft is both humbling and energizing. It’s a reminder of the care and expertise poured into each cup of coffee, long before it reaches our roastery.

One of the highlights is always seeing what other professionals across the islands (and beyond) are working on. The level of innovation, dedication, and artistry in every aspect of the specialty coffee industry is nothing short of inspiring. A big congratulations to all the growers who competed this year—we love seeing the bar continue to rise and being part of such a dynamic and supportive coffee community in Hawai‘i.

We also had the pleasure of spending time with some of our amazing partners: Carl and Erica from Kona Bae, Tessa from Savor Brands, and the whole Miranda Farms family. These relationships are the backbone of our work, and we’re so grateful for the time together.

The conference really delivered on coffee education and learning opportunities. Presentations from experts like Tim Heinze provided valuable insight into best practices and cutting-edge developments in coffee processing and where the specialty coffee world is headed. We were excited to see equipment from Roastronix up close and hear about the capabilities of iFillsystems—thank you, Jonathan, for the demos!

It was great reconnecting with friends from across the coffee world, including Liz and Payman of Hawaiian Goat, Mark from White Nene, Ben from Outpost, John Greenwell, Abby from Monarch Coffee Farm, Miles from Silver Cloud Coffee Farm, PCR, Delvin from Navarro Farms, Fred Cowell from Kona Hills, and many others including Big Island Coffee Roasters, Ka’u Coffee Mill, and Franke of Uluwehi. The aloha spirit was alive and well all weekend long.

It wasn’t just familiar faces—this year we had the chance to meet some incredible new people, including Brenda from Pohaku Coffee Farm and the team from Kaua’i Coffee. There were so many meaningful conversations and moments that we wish we could list everyone!

A heartfelt mahalo to the Hawai‘i Coffee Association and Outrigger for hosting such a beautiful event. From the sessions to the surroundings, everything was a perfect reminder of why we love what we do.

We’re returning home energized, inspired, and more connected than ever. Here's to another year of learning, growing, and sharing great coffee. See you all at HCA Conference 2026!