TRY Coffee
Specialty coffee café in Ward Centre/BoxJelly focused on rotating international roasters, pour-overs, espresso drinks, and a quiet work-friendly setting. Best suited to coffee-focused visits rather than full meals.
- Work-friendly atmosphere
- Rotating coffee selection
- Pour-over and espresso drinks
- Inside BoxJelly at Ward Centre
TRY Coffee is a specialty coffee bar tucked on the second floor of BoxJelly in Ward Centre, and it stands out for doing one thing especially well: coffee with focus. This is not a broad brunch stop or a casual dessert café. It is a destination for travelers who care about pour-overs, espresso, and rotating beans, with a calm setting that suits a slow morning or a work session.
What it does best
The core appeal is the rotating roaster program. TRY Coffee leans into guest coffees from international roasters, so the menu changes in a way that keeps regulars interested and gives visitors a chance to taste something specific and well-curated. Espresso drinks, manual brew, cold brew, tea, and matcha all sit comfortably in that specialty-coffee lane. The drink list is concise rather than sprawling, which is part of the point: this is a place built around precision and variety, not a long menu of food options.
That focus also makes it a smart stop for coffee travelers who like to compare origin, roast style, and brew method in one sitting. The shop’s founder, Timothy “TK” Yamada, brings a serious coffee background to the concept, and that sense of craft shows up in the way the café positions itself as a coffee-first space rather than a generic café.
The feel of the place
The setting is quiet, compact, and work-friendly, with the added character of being inside a coworking space rather than at street level. That gives TRY Coffee a more tucked-away feel than many Honolulu cafés. It is a good fit for reading, laptop time, or a low-key catch-up over good coffee.
Practical access matters here: the café sits in Ward Centre with garage parking and bridge access, so it is easy once you know where you are going, but it is not an obvious quick-stop from the sidewalk.
Caveats and best fit
The main tradeoff is scope. TRY Coffee is strongest when judged as a specialty coffee bar, and less compelling if you want a full breakfast, a big pastry case, or a quick one-and-done meal stop. The food side is not the draw here, and that narrowness is part of its identity.
Best for coffee lovers, remote workers, and travelers who want a thoughtful cup in a quieter setting. Those looking for a lively brunch scene or a wider menu will likely be happier elsewhere.
