World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026: 14 Asian cafes make the global list

It’s no secret that coffee culture in Asia has levelled up. From meticulous pour-overs in Japan to Singapore’s old-school kopi and Vietnam’s slow-dripped cà phê phin, the region takes its caffeine seriously. Now, that obsession has global receipts.

The second edition of The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops was unveiled at CoffeeFest Madrid 2026. And out of 100 spots worldwide, 14 Asian cafés made the cut.

Leading the pack is Apartment Coffee in Singapore, landing at an impressive No.6 globally, making it the highest-ranked café in Asia. The minimalist space is known for its precise pour-overs using single-origin beans from Costa Rica, Rwanda and Kenya, plus a team that genuinely enjoys geeking out about your cup. Close behind at No.8 is Story of Ono in Kuala Lumpur, a stylish spot blending specialty coffee with matcha and Japanese sandos.

Elsewhere on the list, Taiwan emerged as a quiet powerhouse with four cafés ranked, while Japan, South Korea and Malaysia each secured two spots.

Here are the Asian cafés that made the 2026 ranking:

6. Apartment Coffee, Singapore
8. Story of Ono, Malaysia
22. Momos Coffee Flagship Store, Korea
24. Ult Coffee, Japan
28. Koffee Mameya Kakeru, Japan
31. Espresso Alchemy, China
34. Yardstick, Philippines
36. Coffee Sind, Taiwan
46. KEEP Coffee Roastery, Taiwan
51. Ruli Coffee, Korea
57. Tomorrow Coffee Roasters, Taiwan
61. Fika & Co. Cafe, Thailand
78. Coffee Stopover Black, Taiwan
84. Coffee Stain, Malaysia

The rankings combine public votes (30%) and expert panel evaluations (70%), assessing everything from bean quality and barista expertise to sustainability and overall atmosphere. So, it’s definitely a coffee snob-approved list.

If you specifically look for good cafes when you’re travelling, bookmark this list for your 2026 travels. And for those travelling outside of Asia, check out the full list of the best 100 coffee shops in the world.

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