White Nene Coffee Roasters isn’t your average café story. It starts with a van, a dream, and the volcanic slopes of Kona. Owner Mark Kove, already a standout in the U.S. Coffee Roasting scene, shares how he’s taken his passion for roasting to the next level. Operating from his roastery tucked in Holualoa, Hawai‘i, Mark leads a close-knit team with a signature trailer setup and a growing roster of local farm partners. White Nene is on a mission to spotlight the island’s often overlooked coffee regions, especially Ka‘ū.
Sourcing Smarter, Not Wider
While some roasters aim for global reach, Mark keeps things personal. He focuses on working closely with a handful of Hawai‘i farmers who are just as passionate as he is. One of his most exciting partnerships is with Delvin from Cloud Rest Farm in Ka‘ū. Their collaboration started from a simple Google search and has now grown into an experimental and flavorful friendship. They’ve explored unique fermentation techniques like using champagne yeast and have continued pushing the envelope on small-batch quality.
Key Relationships Include:
- Cloud Rest Farm (Ka‘ū)
- Kraig Lee's Geisha and SL varietals (Kona)
- Franck Carisey's Red Bourbon (Kona)
Mark’s loyalty to these growers not only helps elevate their beans but also gives customers a true taste of the Big Island’s range and richness.
Roasting Day In and Day Out
Inside the small-batch roastery, the team is roasting 500 to 600 pounds of coffee each week using a 6-pound roaster. That’s over 100 batches a week, which creates an exhausting but rewarding rhythm. Mark dreams of upgrading to a bigger machine and eventually building a brick-and-mortar café. His vision extends beyond roasting to creating a space where the community can gather, learn, taste, and connect through coffee.
Plans for the Future:
- A larger commercial roaster
- Dedicated cupping and education space
- Brick-and-mortar location blending café and roastery
White Nene On the Move
From catering island events in their trusty VW Vanagon to hand-delivering orders to local partners, White Nene runs on hustle and heart. Their presence is already felt across multiple islands, from Maui’s Ignition Coffee to O‘ahu’s Better Daze and Sunset Provisions. Still, Kona remains their home base, where most wholesale orders are fulfilled and relationships are built face to face.
Where You Can Find White Nene Coffee:
- Maui: Ignition Coffee (retail and espresso)
- O‘ahu: Better Daze, Sunset Provisions, occasional placements at Kaimana Hotel
- Big Island: Primarily local delivery and direct drop-offs in Kona
Community First, Coffee Always
Mark's story is a tribute to staying grounded while dreaming big. Whether he’s giving a free latte to the FedEx driver who loves their beans or planning future community cuppings, White Nene is more than a business. It’s a community roastery with a heart.
Video Summary:
Aloha from One of Hawaiʻi’s Finest
“Howzit, everyone?” That’s how the conversation starts with none other than Mark Kove, owner of White Nene Coffee Roasters. Known as one of Hawaiʻi’s top roasters and a multiple-time national finalist, Mark has already made waves in the coffee community as a Hawaiʻi Roasting Regional Champion. But as he’ll tell you—this journey didn’t start in a showroom. It started in a van.
From Van Life to Four Seasons
Last year, Mark purchased a 1980 Vanagon. Over the course of a year, he restored it—mechanically and cosmetically—before shipping it to Oʻahu for more work. When shipping delays left him stranded, he had no problem sleeping inside the van.
“It was actually really comfortable,” he laughed. “Way cheaper than a $300 hotel room for just a few hours of sleep!”
That van has since become more than just a ride. It made its debut at a Five-Day Cisco event at the Four Seasons in December. It was a mad scramble to get everything ready, but the coffee was a hit. 400 people, great feedback, and an amazing team.
Sourcing Coffee the Hawaiʻi Way
What makes White Nene special isn’t just the roast—it’s the relationships. Mark’s connection with Kaʻū coffee farmer Delvin from Cloud Rest Farm began with a random Google search: “Kaʻū coffee farmer.” From that one click, a strong partnership was born.
“Delvin was young, excited, willing to try anything—just like me,” Mark explained. They even experimented fermenting coffee with champagne yeast. That curiosity has turned into something really rewarding.
In fact, Mark says 2025 will be the year they source as much coffee as possible from Delvin. But it’s not just about scaling—it’s about depth.
“I prefer going deeper with a few farmers rather than wider with many. Right now we work with about five or six, and maybe we’ll add two more this year.”
Hawaii Grown, Globally Inspired
While White Nene is passionate about showcasing Hawaiʻi-grown beans, they also carry coffee from Guatemala, Peru, Colombia, and Honduras—mainly for wholesale accounts. These are sourced through Royal Coffee in Oakland and delivered every four months.
The Hawaiian selection includes beans from five farmers, including standout names like Kraig Lee (Kona Farm Direct) and Franck Carisey (Uluwehi Coffee Farm), offering Geisha, SL, and Red Bourbon varieties. Still, Delvin’s wine-natural coffee remains their most stocked.
“There’s a friendly rivalry between Kraig Lee and Franck,” Mark smiled. “Both first-place winners. It’s cool seeing that excellence.”
Roasting Day In, Day Out
Mark jokes that he practically lives in the roastery—and it’s not far from the truth.
“Right now, we’re roasting about 500–600 pounds a week. This six-pound roaster puts out around 100 batches, and it takes about three and a half full days to get through it all.”
It’s intense and repetitive, he admits. “Sometimes my love for roasting feels like it’s getting a little stale. But that’s why I’m excited for the next season—we’re bringing in a new roaster, expanding the space, and trying convection roasting. Just getting that fire back.”
Big Dreams for 2025
So what’s on the horizon?
Definitely locking in a bigger roaster. More catering events. And ideally—finally opening a brick-and-mortar café. I want a roastery where people can come see the roasting in action. Maybe even host community cuppings, education events—just giving back through coffee.
Where to Find White Nene Coffee
If you’re on Maui, you might spot White Nene coffee at Ignition Coffee, either in their espresso blends or for retail.
On Oʻahu, you can find their roasts at Better Daze, Sunset Provisions (Kaimana Hotel), and occasionally at Try Coffee.
Still, most of their wholesale accounts are on Hawaiʻi Island. “Being here in Kona, we can hand-deliver to partners quickly, and they appreciate that responsiveness.”
Local Love, One Cup at a Time
Even FedEx drivers are fans. “FedEx driver Carl on O'ahu orders White Nene's coffee for his friends . And Mark's local FedEx driver in Kona decides to drop things off at the trailer instead of his house - Mark hooks him up with a free latte as thanks.”
Wrapping It Up
Mark's got his eyes on 2025 and beyond. “We’ll definitely be at the Hawaiʻi Coffee Association event this year—it’s in Kona.”
Whether in a van, trailer, or soon a café, White Nene Coffee Roasters is doing more than serving coffee—they’re cultivating community, one meaningful connection at a time.
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