For true coffee lovers, a café isn’t just a place to grab a drink — it’s a destination, a pilgrimage, and sometimes, a second home. Around the world, passionate baristas, thoughtful design, and extraordinary beans come together to create coffee shops that go beyond expectations.
In this article, we explore ten of the world’s most iconic and inspiring coffee shops — places where flavor, craft, and culture meet.
1. Tim Wendelboe – Oslo, Norway
Owned by former World Barista Champion Tim Wendelboe, this small roastery and espresso bar is a Scandinavian temple to clarity, acidity, and precision.
Located in the Grünerløkka district, the minimalist interior focuses all attention on the cup. Coffees are sourced directly from producers and roasted lightly to highlight origin characteristics.
Must try: A washed Ethiopian filter coffee brewed to perfection.
2. The Coffee Collective – Copenhagen, Denmark
Pioneers in the Nordic coffee movement, The Coffee Collective blends innovation with sustainability.
Their Godthåbsvej location includes a roastery, café, and training center. Beans are directly traded with farmers, and transparency is proudly displayed on the walls.
Must try: A V60 brew with beans from their long-term partners in Kenya or Honduras.
3. Café de L’Ambre – Tokyo, Japan
This legendary café in Ginza has been open since 1948, serving only one thing: coffee.
Founder Ichiro Sekiguchi believed in slow brewing and deep aging. Beans are roasted in-house and aged for up to 10 years, then brewed using siphons for an old-world experience.
Must try: An aged Colombian siphon coffee — rich, smoky, and unforgettable.
4. Black Fox Coffee – New York City, USA
Black Fox blends high-end third-wave coffee with a modern New York aesthetic. With locations in Manhattan, it features a rotating selection of international roasters alongside house blends.
Service is polished and efficient, and pastries are curated to match the brew.
Must try: Espresso from a guest roaster paired with a seasonal pastry.
5. Proud Mary – Melbourne, Australia
In the coffee capital of the Southern Hemisphere, Proud Mary is an icon.
They roast their own beans, champion direct trade, and push boundaries with experimental fermentation lots. The café vibe is warm, relaxed, and always buzzing with locals and tourists.
Must try: A Panama Geisha served as a pour-over.
6. Café do Moço – Curitiba, Brazil
At the forefront of Brazil’s specialty scene, Café do Moço sources from its own farm and offers curated cupping sessions.
Their baristas are skilled and friendly, and the shop is a space for learning — from flavor chemistry to Brazilian varietals.
Must try: A fermented natural Yellow Bourbon brewed as an AeroPress.
7. Gardelli Specialty Coffees – Forlì, Italy
Italy is known for espresso, but Rubens Gardelli brings a new wave of precision to the Italian tradition.
His roastery café offers light-roasted, competition-level coffees, meticulously brewed with attention to terroir. The experience blends Italian hospitality with global standards.
Must try: A signature espresso blend featuring African and Latin American beans.
8. 3FE – Dublin, Ireland
Started by Irish Barista Champion Colin Harmon, 3FE has become one of Europe’s most respected roaster-cafés.
Their flagship location includes a training lab, roastery, and café where hospitality and technique are perfectly balanced.
Must try: A flat white paired with locally baked sourdough toast.
9. Buna 42 – Mexico City, Mexico
Part of a vibrant coffee renaissance in Mexico, Buna 42 is equal parts roaster, lab, and cultural space.
They work closely with indigenous coffee producers and showcase beans from Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Veracruz with full transparency and storytelling.
Must try: A washed Mexican coffee from Chiapas brewed as a Chemex.
10. SCA Café – Seoul, South Korea
Seoul’s café scene is booming, and SCA Café is a gem for those seeking design, innovation, and specialty precision.
Baristas here often compete at the highest levels, and the café doubles as a showroom for modern brewing gear.
Must try: A hand-dripped Ethiopian Yirgacheffe served in a ceramic tulip cup.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just Coffee Shops
The world’s best coffee shops offer more than good drinks — they offer stories, craft, and connection.
Whether you’re sipping in Tokyo, São Paulo, or Copenhagen, these cafés remind us that coffee is a global language of care, curiosity, and creativity. If you’re a coffee lover, consider this your travel checklist.
Your next favorite cup might just be a plane ride away.
