The world's best coffee? Australia dominates new international top list
Australia has cemented its place as one of the best coffee producers in the world, with seven Aussie cafes crowned in the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops awards for 2026.
Four of the venues are in Sydney, which has beaten Melbourne with two places, and one Brisbane coffee shop also made the list.
More than 15,000 cafes around the world were judged by an international panel of coffee experts alongside more than 350,000 public votes.
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Four Aussie cafes have been named among the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops awards for 2026. Getty
The only other country with more placements than Australia was the US with nine spots.
Only Coffee Project in Crows Nest, Sydney scored the best result for the country in fourth place.
The cafe described the win as an "unbelievable honour".
"We are beyond grateful, proud, and feeling so incredibly loved right now," they said.
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Only Coffee Project in Crows Nest, Sydney was fourth in the ranking. Instagram @onlycoffeeproject
"This achievement belongs to our amazing team who show up every day with passion and heart.
"To our loyal customers who choose us, support us, and fill our space with life, and we really thank you."
They also thanked their "incredible suppliers who source and provide the beautiful coffees we serve, your dedication to quality makes every cup special".
Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters at Chippendale, Sydney took out the fifth spot.
The Chippendale store is Toby's Estate's flagship location, with this latest award cementing its status as one of the country's leading coffee brands.
Jody Leslie, General Manager of Toby's Estate said the team is "incredibly proud to stand alongside such an inspiring group of coffee operators from around the world", adding that it is a "privilege to be in such great company".
"At Toby's Estate, we see recognition like this as both an honour and a responsibility," they added.
"It motivates us to continue innovating, pushing the boundaries and building experiences that move the industry forward."
Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters at Chippendale in Sydney took out the fifth spot. Instagram @tobysestatecoffee
Nich Rae, Head of Coffee at Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters, told nine.com.au this is their second year being included on the prestigious list.
He said their Chippendale cafe which also houses their coffee roasting operation, has changed in its over a decade of operation, as has Australian's love of coffee.
"It's such an important part of our lives now," Rae said.
"As the suburbs change and the people change, one thing that's probably stayed true is everyone loves a coffee in the morning and some brekkie."
Chippendale cafe is Toby's Estate's flagship location. Instagram @tobyscoffeeestate
He said the cafe is the busiest in the morning, and then in the summer by mid-morning "we see a big switch from hot coffee to ice coffee".
"From lunchtime we just get a surge of iced lattes, iced long blacks, everything iced, matches, you name it."
Rae said they sell as many lattes as they do cappuccinos, followed by flat whites.
His go-to is an espresso.
Rae said they sell as many lattes as they do cappuccinos, followed by flat whites. Supplied
"If I'm at work, I drink espressos, five, six, seven espressos every day," he said.
"Once you understand how hard it is to get the coffee all the way from origin, from the cherry all the way to inside your cup, I think just a clean, good quality cup of coffee, that's my favourite these days."
In the afternoon, he'll choose a cappuccino.
Beta Coffee in Surry Hills in Sydney placed 13th on the list.
Beta Coffee in Surry Hills in Sydney placed 13th on the list. Instagram @beta_coffee
The cafe aims to push the boundaries of coffee, community, and hospitality "by challenging traditional coffee service models".
A spokesperson for Beta Coffee said they are "super humbled to be counted amongst so many of our heroes" in the awards.
"We don't take this lightly and we are truly grateful for your trust in us."
Proud Mary Coffee in Melbourne took out 27th place in this year's awards, and is a hotspot for coffee lovers and food enthusiasts.
Proud Mary Coffee in Melbourne took out the 27th place in this year's awards. Instagram @proudmarycoffee
"Known for its exceptional coffee program, the café takes pride in sourcing high quality coffees through longstanding producer relationships, delivering magic in every cup," the company states.
Coffee Anthology in the Brisbane CBD placed 29th for 2026.
The specialty coffee shop also serves breakfast and pastries and is known for its innovative dishes.
The cafe describe their achievement as a "a proud moment but also a moment of reflection" and a "reminder of what we've been working on, what we already have, and where we can continue to improve in order to create an even better coffee experience".
Coffee Anthology in the Brisbane CBD placed 29th for 2026. Instagram @coffeeanthology
"This achievement didn't happen overnight. It's built day by day, cup by cup" and also thanked "everyone who walks through our doors".
"Thank you as well to The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops for organising this platform and bringing the global coffee community closer together," they continued.
"Congratulations to all the cafes on the list and to every cafe, whether listed or not.
"We know that it's the daily effort, the small details, and the shared commitment to quality that continue to move this industry forward."
Vacation Coffee in Melbourne just made it onto the list in the 100th spot. Getty
Single O in Surry Hills, Sydney made it to 53rd on the list. This coffee shop is beloved in the community and is well known for its excellent coffee and innovative techniques.
Vacation Coffee in Melbourne just made it onto the list in the 100th spot. Here, they roast the highest quality specialty coffee using natural processes.
You can view the full list of winners here.
Australia not only hosts some of the best cafes and coffee brands in the world, but is also home to award winning baristas including Jack Simpson who was named the 2025 World Barista Champion, and Gabrel Tan who won the 2026 Australia Barista Championships after five years of competing.
Australia hosts some of the best cafes and coffee brands in the world, as well as award winning baristas. Getty
Australians consume approximately 2.2 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee every year, or 16.3 million cups of coffee each day.
Our favourite barista coffee is a latte, which is the top choice for up to 39 per cent of Aussies, followed by a cappuccino, which is preferred by 29 per cent, and 24 per cent love a flat white.
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