The 2025 “best” coffee shop in the world

It’s official: the greatest coffee shop in the world is located in Sydney.

At least that’s what a recent list of the world’s best cafés discovered, with the Australian city taking the top spot over longtime rival Melbourne.

Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters in Sydney was named the world’s greatest coffee shop, followed by Tim Wendelboe in Oslo, Norway; Onyx Coffee Lab in Arkansas; Gota Coffee Experts in Vienna, Austria; and Proud Mary Coffee in Melbourne.

Additionally, Singapore, France, Malaysia, and Colombia were home to the top ten coffee shops.

According to the ranking’s website, cafés throughout the world were evaluated on a number of criteria, including customer service, sustainability measures, and the quality of the food and coffee. According to the “World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops,” the final selection was made after considering both expert judgment and public opinion.

Toby’s Estate general manager Jody Leslie told CNN Travel that her entire staff was “ecstatic” upon hearing the outcome.

“We’ve been in the coffee business for a long time, and we know what we do is fantastic. We work hard to be consistent, so it’s just incredible to be recognized like this,” she added.

Although it has locations throughout Australia and Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, and the Middle East, its flagship store in Sydney’s southwest Chippendale district was recognized.

Since the announcement, Leslie said, sales have increased and more people have been in to sample her team’s coffee. On February 27, Toby’s Estate will hold a complimentary coffee day as a way to thank patrons for their support.

The main store for Toby’s Estate has a roastery on-site that roasts fresh beans every day, as well as a brew bar where coffee is produced in front of patrons.

In 1997, barrister Toby Smith launched the coffee franchise out of his mother’s garage in Woolloomooloo, an eastern Sydney suburb beside the harbor.

Onyx Coffee Lab, located in Arkansas, came in second. It was unclear whether the company’s three locations—Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Springdale—made the list. Gota Coffee in Vienna, which came in third, also thanked the accolade on social media.

“We are proud to share this award with all of the cafes in the industry who wake up every morning to provide the best hospitality and service to their guests, in addition to the top 100 shops mentioned worldwide,” Onyx Coffee Lab wrote on Instagram.

Gota Coffee wrote on Instagram, “This journey has been fueled by passion, precision, and the incredible support of our coffee-loving community.” “One brew at a time, let’s push the limits of coffee culture!”

Melbourne versus Sydney

The cafe culture in Australia is well-known for its laid-back vibes and the spirit of competition among baristas who strive to make the ideal coffee.

Avocado toast and flat whites, which originated in Australia (although many New Zealanders contest the flat white’s provenance), are served in Australian cafés that have sprung up in major cities across the world.

Sydney and Melbourne have a long-standing rivalry in Australia, not least because of which city makes the better coffee.

With a coffee heritage that began when Italian immigrants brought their espresso machines and café customs to the city during World War II, Melbourne has long been considered the nation’s coffee capital.

The pride of Melbourne coffee lovers has been bruised in recent years by Sydney’s coffee scene, which has fought too hard. Last year, the American magazine Food & Wine ranked the top 10 coffee-loving towns in the world, and Harbor City surpassed Melbourne. Melbourne came in at number ten, and Sydney came in at number three.

Melbourne’s Proud Mary café, which came in at number four on the list of the top 100 coffee shops worldwide, was deemed a “standout” café by the magazine.

The reputation of Melbourne’s coffee wasn’t damaged by that alone. Despite referring to Melbourne as the “unofficial coffee capital of the world,” the Australian travel website Wotif.com named Canberra’s The Cupping Room the “best flat white” in 2023.

If the lists can agree on anything, it’s that Australia will win.

“Our victory, in my opinion, benefits the entire nation. According to Leslie of Toby’s Estate, “Australian coffee is, in my opinion, the best in the world, so it doesn’t come down to Sydney and Melbourne.” “Everyone benefits when we are strong as a nation.”

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