KAPA‘A — Sometimes a drink out of the “secret menu” is just what the doctor ordered. Despite the extensive espresso/latte, latte, coffee and tea offerings, Ken Kubota of Coffeetalks at Pono Market in Kapa‘a was able to dive into his
KAPA‘A — Sometimes a drink out of the “secret menu” is just what the doctor ordered.
Despite the extensive espresso/latte, latte, coffee and tea offerings, Ken Kubota of Coffeetalks at Pono Market in Kapa‘a was able to dive into his vault of secret menus and concoct what he described as a Snickers latte, available either hot or iced, with or without whipped cream.
For the ice cream aficionados, Kubota said the Roselani Express, a scoop of ice cream topped with a shot of espresso, is the perfect pick-me-up for warm days.
“Wait until it kicks in,” Kubota said with his trademark smile from behind the counter lined with offerings from the nook in the busy market.
In addition to the extensive offerings of drinks, Kubota also offers Roselani ice cream in coffee, haupia, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla bean, kona mud pie, mango and cream and guava sherbert as scoops or in ice cream-based drinks.
“Everyone knows where Pono Market is,” Kubota said. “We just changed the sign, so now it’s Coffeetalks at Pono Market. That took effect Jan. 1.”
The coffee drinks are the mainstay of Coffeetalks, available brewed in 12-ounce, 16-ounce and 20-ounce sizes, along with hot tea, hot chocolate, chai latte — and “dirty” chai latte, laced with a shot of espresso.
In addition to brewed, coffee lovers can enjoy the Americano, or espresso over a cup of hot water. These drinks are also available iced.
“The Snickers latte is from the secret menu,” Kubota said. “Basically, it’s three shots of espresso, Ghirardelli ground chocolate, Ghirardelli deli syrup and hazelnut syrup mixed to resemble the taste of the Snickers chocolate bar.”
While enjoying the Roselani Express, a scoop of Roselani ice cream topped with a shot of espresso, diners can also join in the conversation with the Very Important People who visit the coffee outlet, which takes up a corner of the popular Pono Market.
Those visitors come almost daily to solve the problems of the world over a cup of Joe, the newspapers and good companionship, leading to the name — Coffeetalks at Pono Market.
