Coffee Or Tea

This is a good place for milktea, always consistent with the flavor it doesn’t change like coffee and the boba is always fresh. There are other flavored drinks available that my friends order but I stick to milktea so I have no opinion on those. The place is clean and air conditioned so you can sit in small groups with not alot of trouble.

My favorite boba place in the Leeward area! So far, I’ve had the chocolate, black sesame, almond, and taro. My favorite is the almond (if you love almond cookies, you’ll love it too!). The service here is quick and courteous. Make sure you bring cash because they don’t take cards! Parking can be a hassle during dinner hours so bring your patience as well.

OK, this is a cute Little shop with tables & A good size menu. However, I went in to get a boba drink & made the mistake of not bringing my cash with me. I was informed that they only take cash. I walked back to my car. I had no cash. I walked back to the tea place to ask about an ATM. I hiked to the nearest ATM & paid a fee.
The ‘grande’ boba is small & there is no ice blended in it to make it last a long time! The flavor is good, but not stellar.
I won’t make the trip back to this place, regardless. Step into the 21^st century! Accept debit cards, at the very least!

I love Coffee or Tea. Of course everyone has originally been to the McCully location, so its pretty similar. The menu is very clear, with pictures, and easy to read. They have drinks but also classic Chinese shave ice desserts with red bean, green beans, grass jelly, etc— love this! Had my usual jasmine green milk tea with bubbles and yep, just as good as ever. I love the new location, its right across Pearlridge Shopping Center in the center where Curryhouse is located, but further in the back. Lets just say… finally there is a good bubble tea place in Aiea!

CASH ONLY FRIENDS.
Watermelon bubble tea, when its in season. lol
Other than that milk tea is my and my minis fave

Coffee or Tea is excellent! They have found the perfect formula for a great experience:
Tasty and affordable product + assertive and friendly customer service + clean dining area + relaxing and inviting atmosphere = great experience
Another factor to their equation is FREE WIFI for customers! You can find the password by asking the cashier for the notecard with the network name and wifi password on it, simple enough.
I visited Coffee or Tea on a Sunday evening. The dining area was half way full with parties of two or more. All of the customers seemed to be relaxed and comfortable. The music was at a nice volume, not too loud or soft. The other customers were engaging in conversations and the employees kept busy, either restocking ingredients, cleaning or making new batches of coffee/​tea.
I expressed my interest in getting an iced coffee and the employee gave me a sample in a cute little cup without me even asking (assertive)! My sample was delicious so I decided to get the large size with pearls (about $ 4.50). The iced coffee tastes really great, there is a strong coffee flavor yet there are notes of chocolate as well. You may even ask for them to adjust the sweetness, I preferred a little less sweetener in mines and it came out divine.
The only thing that I noticed was (probably only because I brought my laptop with me this time) that there was no outlet for the customers to use — but if you are just planning to meet up with friends over an iced tea or coffee then the no-​outlet factor is probably not a huge deal. It definitely is not a deal breaker for me. It was also a tad chilly inside so if you are sensitive to cold temperature like me and are planning to stay inside Coffee or Tea for a while be sure to bring a small jacket.
Coffee or Tea is a perfect spot for a simple get together with a friend or family member, a treat day for yourself or even a nice dessert date-​night type of place. Next time I will try the milk tea that all the other Unilocalers are raving about (and I will use my check-​in offer — 10% off any beverage).

I love it! Excellent.
1. customer service
2. cleanliness
3. best milk tea I ever had
4. yummy vanilla cream roll 3pcs.

I love this place!!! Been coming here for years. Mostly to the town one in mccully but they both are the same! Great bubble drinks and their bubble is so good.
Quality milk tea and the make it really fast for you so if you’re in a rush, this is the place to go!

SMILE & Friendly even when busy.
Also Non-​Dairy treat for those that are sensitive to Dairy, this is a nice alternative
Bubble tea (Honey Dew, Taro, Black Sesame) very flavorful compared to other same name locations. I’m returning to this location to fill that Bubble Tea craving!

Coffee or Tea? That’s the question.
Actually, the question is more like Coffee, tea, shaved ice, cheesecake, Smoothie or Shake, Tapioca pearls or no pearls, coffee jello, custard pudding, or thick toast!!! This is what goes through my brain right before entering the store. I’m an indecisive mess because I want almost everything every time I go.
Drinks are large and can come in larger gallon-​sized containers for sharing (of course!). Each item is packed with flavor. Seating is limited and a bit cramped. Its not a place to spend long hours sitting and working or reading. I like taking advantage of their happy hour discounts. If you’re not here during happy hour, check-​in on Unilocal and receive a discount as well.
I would give this place more stars, but they ONLY accept cash.

I’ve only known about the Coffee or Tea at the McCully location and never knew that they had one in Pearl Kai til I recently Unilocaled a bubble drink that was in the area since I was craving that day. I’ve been to this location twice already one during noon and one during the evening since I’ve been hanging around this area catering to my west side friends. Its a great central location among other restaurants in the area.
I really love anything boba and I’ve only tried the two different coffees here. I’ve tried the special ice coffee (momi coffee) and the mocha frappé. The special ice coffee wasn’t that great. It was pretty bland. But the mocha frappé was so goood! It’s different from other mocha frappé I’ve tasted. It was a sweetness to it that they put which made it taste a little bit better. I tried it again with decaf and it wasn’t the same.
It’s CASH ONLY. Lots of parking in the Pearl Kai lot area. If you check into Unilocal,you get 10% off your order. The prices ranges from $ 2– $ 5.50 depending on what you get. There’s really a lot to choose from. I didn’t really like the tapioca balls though. It was slightly hard and a lot of them stuck together. Overall, it was mediocre for me for both experiences. I’d still come back to try other flavors but it wouldn’t be my first choice for boba drinks.

I love coffee or tea! I was so excited to know that they opened a location in pearl kai shopping center because it’s closer to home :)
Drinks range from $ 3-​$ 6 depending on what you order and what size etc.
My favorite drinks here are the green tea shake & original milk tea both WITH tapioca pearls! Their tapioca pearls are my FAVORITE — so flavorful and the perfect texture.
When I went in today I saw a sign saying you get 10% off any drink Monday-​Friday if you post /​have them on Instagram or Facebook :) also 10% off if you check in on Unilocal!Also, cash only!
Whoever says they don’t like it here obviously have been ordering the wrong things in my opinion or mixing the wrong things together BUT I can say you can honestly never go wrong with the tapioca pearls… it’s seriously like no other!
Customer service is always really good also, very friendly, nice, and helpful. I’ll always be a returning customer here :)

One of my friends told me that she liked Coffee or Tea? the most, of all the boba places on the island. I know that this shop is in McCully Shopping Center, but I didn’t realize until recently that they have a Pearl Kai location as well.
It’s nice that this shop is open later, but be forewarned: there is no public restroom, which I found odd because this was a tea place. Shouldn’t drink places offer a restroom for their customers?
The BF and I went here late one Friday evening, and I guess this place must be pretty popular, as there was a steady stream of customers coming in and out of the store. Many of them didn’t linger to enjoy their drinks, but there was plenty of seating so we just enjoyed our boba at one of the café tables.
The menu’s pretty extensive here, but we just went with our «usuals» that we typically get from any boba place. I did enjoy my milk tea from here – I’ve been on a quest to find the best of the best when it comes to milk tea, ever since I moved back to Oahu – and this version didn’t disappoint.
Here’s what we got:
«Milk Tea»: I tend to be a purist and go with the regular milk tea when there isn’t any chocolaty or mocha option. I often get mine sans boba … not that I don’t like boba, but I don’t like having to chew the tapioca balls while I’m enjoying my drink. I approved of this milk tea because it really did remind me of the Taiwanese tea that I so often enjoyed in So Cal. There were chocolate/​mocha options here for milk tea, but I wanted to try the original during my first visit just to see what it tasted like. It was refreshing and had just enough flavor and sweetness; it wasn’t overly sweet but it wasn’t watery like some of the other milk teas I’ve had recently. I would definitely order this original again.
«Taro Tea»: The BF likes taro and he ordered a regular taro milk tea with boba. He said the flavor was good and it was consistent with some of our other milk tea places. He also said the boba was chewy but not overly mushy, a quality that’s really important to him when it comes to boba.
«Chocolate Milk Tea»: If I’m in the mood for something chocolaty, I would go for this milk tea. Some of the other chocolate-​flavored milk teas that I’ve had in the past reminded me of chocolate milk (definitely not a bad thing), so I’m interested to see what this version would taste like.
«Mocha Frappé Shake»: Not only does Coffee or Tea? offer a plethora of milk teas, but they also feature an extensive selection of shakes. This «Mocha Frappé Shake» would be at the top of my to-​try list. It’s more expensive than the milk tea drinks, but since I love mocha flavors, this one is worth giving a shot.
«Iced Caffe Mocha»: If I want a different caffeinated drink, this is the one I would order. I prefer iced coffee to regular hot coffee, but I can’t drink straight-​up black coffee yet. Iced mochas tend to be my go-​to when it comes to coffee, so I anticipate trying this version one day.

Coffee or tea is one of my favorite places to get milk tea!!! I will drive from Mililani just to get some except when I know they are working on Kam Highway.
I always get the taro milk tea with bubbles. The bubbles can be hit or miss. Sometimes they’re overcooked, sometimes they’re undercooked & sometimes they are just right! There are 3 sizes to choose from. I always get the grande & instantly regret it when I start drinking.
I enjoy this location a lot more than the town location because of the parking situation. It’s so much easier to find parking here during non peak hours.
The workers are very friendly & I enjoy catching up with my friends here. The shave ice looks delicious & they have a few different choices to choose from.
Enjoy picking out your beverage of choice!

Hey. Can I confide in you? Can you keep a secret? Okay, I’m gonna dish, but this doesn’t leave the vault… k?
I’ve been on a no dessert, very low sugar diet since around mid January, after reading the Sugar Impact Diet book and was horrified at the propaganda I found. So I’ve been extra vigilant to eschew even balsamic vinegar and catsup (the correct pronunciation), basically anything with added sugar, even going so far as banning most fruit and tiramisu.
So I’m strolling in Honolulu, while Lesley is getting her insane workout on, and I come across Coffee or Tea. Since I had a papaya with fruity pebbles a few days prior, I said, what the heck, live a little. Youz on da islands, mon. *said in the 2^nd worst Jamaican accent you’ve ever heard*
So’s I strolls in, and checks out their modest menu, beseeching a large coconut milk tea with boba. After what seems like a 4 minute wait, I pop my straw in and inhale. Oh my… best milk tea I’ve ever had. My pleasure receptors were… recepting, and I was in total bliss.
Slurp after delicious slurp, I basked in the sugary rush. That JJ Virgin must be a quack, because I’ve never had something so delightfully toothsome and creamy. And then it happened… the audible sucking sonance. My cup ran dry… but I was not satiated yet. What to do…
Now remember, IN THE VAULT. So I walk back up to the counter and order a JUMBO size coconut milk tea with boba… for my «friend».
I haven’t been that happy in a coon’s age

Jasmine Milk Green Tea. Green Jasmine Tea Milk. Either way, you get the point. I used to get their Milk Tea — LOVE! But then I got hooked on their Jasmine Green Milk Tea with custard. Not a huge fan of the Boba, but the custard I love!
Check in on Unilocal and you get 10% off!
By the way, they’re cash only.
The McCully location and the Pearl Kai location both have ample parking — no need to worry about that! ATMs are nearby in case you forget that I just told you that it’s cash only.
Drinks usually run around $ 5 – 8 dollars, depending on the size you want.
Enjoy!

Coffee or Tea is a go to for Milk Tea. They make a better milk tea than most, I’ve even bought a gallon to take home to get my fix. If you are not going to drink it right away, don’t get boba or ice and it will keep in the fridge for later.
My other go to is their Honey Green Tea Crushed Ice Drinks – think slushy – which come in flavors like Plum, Lychee, and Mango. These are perfect on a hot day, sweet, but balanced by the green tea, ice cold and super refreshing.
Free parking and fast service. Definitely check them out.

Cash ONLY & if you’re not sure of what to order, you can ask for samples. =) +1
This place reminds me of the numerous Taiwanese boba/​milk tea places in Cali.
Caramel milk tea with boba: A
Very sweet caramel taste, boba was good & chewy.
Lavender milk tea with milk: A
Sweet milk tea with hint of lavender, nor as sweet as caramel though. Boba was also good & chewy.
Nice clean & chill place with AC to hangout with friends.
Tip: Unilocal check in gets you 10% off your order.

I can’t believe I wrote such a short review for coffee or tea. Shame on me!
Coffee or Tea was one of the few milktea place about 16 years. Today there’s many milktea joints but Coffee or Tea is one the best milktea place in Hawaii.
My usual here is the jasmine green milktea with half sugar. That means half green tea & half milk tea so I feel better about drinking milktea often. Coffee or tea has the best soft Boba but I usually skip on that. Their
milktea is smooth & flavorful.
My children loves their green tea shake and mango smoothie. If you like mango smoothie on slushy side you can ask for no milk. We’ve also tried their peach, grape, lychee, lemon smoothies as well.
As for service, they are awesome. Staff here work hard and keep this place neat & clean. The atmosphere here is modern and classy. It’s a nice place to chat with your friends or do some quiet work. But please do bring your best manners because you can’t just hangout here for free.

I love this place! Out of all the tea joints on the island, Coffee or Tea is hands down the best!
I’ve tried many drinks their from Taro shake w/​pudding, papaya shake, watermelon smoothie, winter melon milk tea, from lychee to kiwi green tea w/​tea jello! Everything is so yummy!
Who cares if it’s cash only! There has to be a ATM nearby.