US and Australia Top the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 Rankings

Madrid, Spain - Onyx Coffee Lab, an Arkansas United States of America-based roastery, has been named the best coffee shop in the world at the 2026 edition of 'The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops', an industry ranking that highlights the surging global specialty coffee movement.

The announcement was made Monday Februuary 16, during CoffeeFest Madrid, where organizers unveiled a list dominated by the United States, Australia and emerging coffee hubs in Latin America and Asia.

The ranking, now in its second year, is the result of a massive data-gathering effort involving more than 800 professional judges and a public vote that surpassed 350,000 participants.

In total, 15,000 establishments were scrutinized before the final 100 were selected.

The results reflect a broadening map of coffee excellence. While the United States led the count with nine shops, Australia followed with seven and Peru secured five spots.

Spain, Honduras and Taiwan each placed four establishments on the list.

The World 100 Best Coffee Shops Chief Executive Officer, Cesar Ramirez, said the ranking serves to validate a rapidly maturing industry.

"In the end, we are embracing global trends. Coffee shop culture continues to grow and this ranking aims to give greater visibility to more coffee shops worldwide," Ramirez said during the presentation.

The Top Performers

Onyx Coffee Lab took the top spot, cited for its technical innovation and a commitment to sustainability, including the use of solar energy.

The shop operates under the motto "Never Settle for Good Enough."

Completing the top three for 2026 are Tim Wendelboe in Oslo, Norway, identified as a legendary name in European specialty coffee, and Alquimia Coffee in Santa Ana, El Salvador, a micro-roastery praised for its direct-from-origin model.

Eloise Dubuisson, General Manager at Kerry, parent company of title sponsor DaVinci Gourmet, highlighted the impact these businesses have beyond the cup.

"The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops is the global benchmark celebrating the cafés shaping the future of coffee," Dubuisson stated, adding that "we extend our congratulations to all 100 ranked coffee shops recognised for their creative craftsmanship, innovative spirit, and meaningful influence on the global coffee landscape."

The shops were evaluated on a rigorous set of criteria including coffee quality, barista technique, sustainability practices, and space design.

The international jury featured experts from every continent, highlighting the industry's push toward a global standard.

Organizers hope the list will serve as a definitive guide for consumers while acting as a professional benchmark for an industry increasingly driven by innovation capacity and service consistency.