Whether a morning ritual or a needed caffeine dose, coffee has become an immense part of many people’s lives. For many visiting a good café is like a mini holiday, the special time to treat themselves with something extraordinary.
The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops, an organization that ranks cafés across the globe, recently uncovered its list of the best spots worldwide. Maybe for some, this even means a world trip visiting every single location.
The ranking is based on data from public votes which equal 30% of the total information collected while the rest of the insights come from an expert panel.
1. Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters in Sydney, Australia
On top of the list is the Australian specialty coffee shop Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters in Sydney’s neighbourhood of Chippendale. Moreover, the brand has locations around the world with a presence in Kuwait, Singapore, Qatar, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia where locals and tourists alike can taste the world’s number one coffee.
The café is known for its coffee beans and its commitment to ethical sourcing that benefits the farmers who grow them. Interestingly, the shop aims to create a connection between its staff and clients, making the coffee world more transparent by allowing customers to ask questions about the brewing process.
Jody Leslie, general manager for Toby’s Estate shared that her whole team was “completely stoked” when they found out. “We’ve been in the coffee game a long time and we know what we do is amazing and we try very hard to be consistent and so to be recognized like this is just amazing,” she added.
2. Onyx Coffee Lab in Rogers, Arkansas
Founded in 2019, the café has grown from a local spot to an international standout, winning second place in the world. Onyx’s baristas are known for crafting seasonal drinks that emphasize sustainable practices and foster a welcoming atmosphere. The café is also designed to be a community gathering space, aiming to make every guest feel seen and heard.
“We are honoured to share this award with not only the top 100 shops around the world mentioned but all the cafes throughout the industry who get up each morning to offer the best hospitality and service to their guests. It is a truly special industry that we get to be a part of and we are thankful for the friendships we have made,” the brand shared in an Instagram post.
3. Gota Coffee Experts in Wien, Austria
Opened in 2017, the café offers a comfortable, clean design with chairs and tables outside in the summer. The idea behind GOTA was to bring a new kind of coffee enjoyment to Vienna – with a direct focus on specialty coffee, sustainable production, and exceptional quality. Initially, the café only offered eight seats, but just a few years after opening, demand grew rapidly. In 2021, the shop expanded to offer an even better experience to the growing number of coffee lovers.
“We are beyond honoured and humbled by this award. From the beginning, our mission has been simple: serve exceptional coffee, create a welcoming space, and build a community of people who love coffee as much as we do,” said the GOTA team in a statement.
4. Proud Mary Coffee in Melbourne, Australia
Proud Mary is renowned for its high-quality beans, in-house roasting, and a menu that blends in coffee with creative brunch options. Established in 2009 by Nolan and Shari Hirte, the café has taken pride in mastering the coffee craft.
Beyond its location in Melbourne, Proud Mary’s impact extends to the US as well, with cafes in Portland, Orgeron and Austin, Texas. Known for its direct relationship with coffee farmers the café serves ethically sourced coffee with a focus on transparency and sustainability.
5. Tim Wendelboe in Oslo, Norway
Founded by a world-known barista – Tim Wendelboe, the café carrying his name focuses on sourcing the best ingredients with the ambition to be among the best coffee bars in the world. What’s more, Tim Wendelboe is a coffee training Centre for members of the public and professionals, offering courses to anyone who is curious and wants to know more.
The shop features a bare-brick espresso bar with an on-site micro-roastery. Moreover, the place is known for its coffee sources from different farms in El Salvador, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Colombia. The shop offers a seasonal menu of coffees and a range of espresso-based drinks with or without milk.
6. Apartment Coffee, Singapore
Yeo Qing He, the award-winning barista who runs Apartment Coffee, has ranked sixth at the 2018 World Brewers Cup. The café boasts a light and spacious interior that blends industrial elements like concrete floors with clean, minimalist aesthetics. This design is supposed by clean white walls, high ceilings, and wooden furniture. A designated corner with plants provides a backdrop for photos.
“We are incredibly honoured to be awarded the 6th Best Coffee Shop in the World and 1st in Asia. This inaugural ranking by @theworlds100bestcoffeeshops is based on the scoring made up of an international jury as well as over 60.000 public votes. As a small independent coffee studio, we are beyond proud to be recognised for the work that we do, as well as to put Singapore on the list with some of the best coffee shops in the world,” the café posted on Instagram.
7. Kawa Coffee in Paris, France
Kawa Coffee has become a key player in Paris’s growing specialty coffee scene. Started in 2016 by Alexis Gagnaire, an experienced roaster and coffee competitor, Kawa began as a wholesale operation before opening its own café near Châtelet. The goal of Gagnaire is to use high-quality, single-origin beans, roasted with care and served as espresso or filter brews like V60. The café’s menu changes depending on the season, offering using drinks to guests.
In addition to serving coffee, Kawa is also involved in education, offering workshops and training for anyone interested in learning more about roasting and brewing. With its mix of good coffee, knowledgeable staff, and a straightforward approach, Kawa has built a strong reputation both locally and internationally.
8. Coffee Anthology in Brisbane, Australia
Coffee Anthology has built a strong reputation for specialty coffee in Brisbane, Australia. Founded by Adam Wang, the café focuses on serving the best beans from roasters such as Almanac and Passport. The coffee is available as espresso, batch brew, and pour-over.
What sets Coffee Anthology apart is its dedication to quality and constant innovation. Just down the street from the main café, there is a place that serves as a test kitchen and training hub, where baristas can refine techniques and experiment with different roasting profiles. With a modest food offering for now, muffins and sandwiches on the way, the spotlight remains firmly on the coffee.
9. Story of Ono in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Story of Ono stands out with its design and inventive drinks. Co-founded by Malaysia Brewers Cup champion Shaun Liew and Syun Hattori of Niko Neko Matcha, the café merges specialty coffee and matcha under one minimalist, marble roof.
Signature offerings like “When Two Worlds Collide”, a fusion of matcha and Ethiopian cold brew, highlight Ono’s playful but precise approach. Moreover, the menu of Japanese-style sando sandwiches, and it’s clear why Ono has become a global favourite. “PJ-based Ono Specialty Coffee & Matcha has made a name for themselves with their sandos and creative drinks,” posted the café on Instagram.
10. Tropicalia Coffee in Bogota, Colombia
This South American shop focuses on tropical flavours, bringing the best to the customers. The café aims to showcase Colombia’s different flavours to the world by selling 100% Colombian coffee. Tropicália Coffee is also deeply involved in social responsibility, working with rural communities and activists to conserve ecosystems and engage in reforestation efforts.
“We have been working with specialty coffees for 15 years. We started with Colo Coffee, which we sold, and Tropicália was born during the pandemic with the purpose of highlighting origin-based roasting and ensuring that the added value remains in the producing country. In this way, we honour the work of coffee growers and promote a collaborative process that directly involves us in every stage, from the farm to the cup,” explained Paola Laguna, director of Tropicália Coffee, to Diners magazine.
“Congratulations to the entire Tropicalia Tostadores de Café team for this incredible achievement,” shared the coffee shop on social media.
Ranking the best cafés in the world celebrates global passion for exceptional coffee while showcasing cafés that blend quality, sustainability, and community. These shops offer a unique coffee experience allowing guests to not just purchase a drink but to celebrate craftsmanship and to learn more about the field.
