Hilo Ice Coffee

While exploring Hilo we stopped at Hilo Iced Coffee, which operates out of a mobile truck and feels very much like a local staple. It is casual and no-frills, but that is part of the charm. I ordered the ube iced latte and it was easily one of the prettiest drinks I had on the trip. The purple color is vibrant and eye catching without feeling gimmicky. More importantly, it tastes as good as it looks. It was lightly sweet, well balanced, and still very much coffee forward, not overly sugary like some flavored lattes can be. Service was quick and friendly, and it is the kind of spot that makes you slow down for a minute and just enjoy your drink. If you are on the Hilo side and want something a little different from your standard iced coffee order, the ube latte is absolutely worth trying.

Hilo iced coffee was one of our favorites places to grab coffee when in Hilo. We drove all the way from pepeekeo every day so we could have all those amazing options. My hubby and I each got a coffee and a matcha to share. We made sure we tried something different every time, usually staff recommended, just to see what were a “go” or a “no.” Honestly, every thing we ordered exceeded our expectations. “Honey girl” was a clear winner for us, the mix of Mac nut milk and honey, chef’s kiss- 10/10. And if you’re not feeling something too sweet, their namesake “Hilo iced coffee” hit the spot- 9/10. We also tried their black sesame coffee and matcha, both were 10/10. We had the chance to also try the strawberry matcha and while I can see the hype for strawberry matches are real, the strawberry Pu

I got the Honey Girl and it was the best coffee drink I have ever had. The server was kind and they split their strawberry lemonade in to two cups for my kids to share. Simply excellent.

It may be a food truck, but trust me, these folks take coffee culture to a level that makes Starbucks seem like kindergarten. My only complaint: how do you decide what to order when you literally want to try everything on the menu? Orange blossom or Black sesame latte? Thai iced tea (made with coconut milk) or Lilikoi Cheesecake frappucino? I finally went with the Vietnamese iced coffee. Never had it before, but knew that it would be crafted competently here. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this was the BEST espresso beverage I have ever tasted! Super bold espresso flavor tempered with exactly the right amount of sweetness and cream! Five stars is not enough for this business. I will definitely be a customer for life!

Awesome little food truck of coffee here. The staff were friendly and chill, the coffee was fresh, good prices, overall better than the other coffee places within a 5 minute drive of here. I'd pick this over them any day of the week. Support local businesses!