Cape Town ranks amongst world's 100 best coffee shops

Cape Town has no shortage of stylish salons and roasteries to choose from, but one spot in particular has proven itself among the best of the best, clinching a spot on the world's best coffee shops list, for a second year in a row. 

Espressolab in De Waterkant has ranked 40th in the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list for 2026. They've missed the top 10 this year, but the ranking remains a considerable nod, as more than 15,000 coffee shops worldwide were evaluated.

You'll also be happy to know that locally, their perfect roast is also available at an EspressoLab outlet at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. As part of the Espressolab global family, they have over 400+ retail stores worldwide.     

The Cape Town–based speciality coffee roastery, however, has been quietly shaping the city’s coffee scene since 2009. Known for roasting small, boutique batches, they are considered among the early pioneers of the speciality coffee movement both locally and internationally. 

Working closely with producers around the world - from Ethiopia, Peru, and Colombia, Espressolab focuses on showcasing the character of each coffee while "championing responsible sourcing, sustainability and environmentally conscious practices at every stage of the process."

The 10 best coffee shops in the World in 2026:

1. Onyx Coffee LAB, USA
2. Tim Wendelboe, Norway
3. Alquimia Coffee, El Salvador
4. Only Coffee Project, Crows Nest, Australia
5. Toby's Estate Coffee Roasters, Australia
6. Apartment Coffee, Singapore
7. Gota Coffee Experts, Austria
8. Story of Ono, Malaysia
9. Tropicalia Coffee, Colombia
10. Tanat, France 

SEE: The 26 best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town

Another popular coffee spot in the city worth checking out is Truth Coffee Roasting - described as a cathedral of sorts to coffee with The 'Colossus’ (a 1947 Probat coffee roaster run entirely on bio-diesel) and ‘Professor Jones’ Fabulous Coffee Bean Contraption’, a giant blender that takes pride of place and blends much of the beans roasted on-site.

Add Honest Chocolate to your list for all the right reasons to enjoy a brew, and don't skip a taste-test of their bean-to-bar dark chocolate either. 

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