"Top Coffee Shop of 2025 Revealed"

A recent ranking of the world’s top coffee shops has put Sydney in the spotlight, with Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters being crowned the best coffee shop globally. The Sydney-based café outshined its longtime rival, Melbourne, claiming the coveted top spot. Onyx Coffee Lab of Arkansas came in second, followed by Gota Coffee Experts of Vienna, Austria, Proud Mary Coffee of Melbourne, and Tim Wendelboe of Oslo, Norway.

The top 10 coffee shops also hailed from international destinations such as Singapore, France, Malaysia, and Colombia. Cafés were evaluated on a range of criteria, including the quality of their coffee and food, sustainability practices, and customer service. Public opinions and expert assessments played a role in determining the final rankings for the “World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops.”

Jody Leslie, the general manager of Toby’s Estate, expressed her team's excitement when they learned about the achievement. “We’ve been in the coffee game a long time and we know what we do is amazing,” Leslie shared with CNN Travel. “We try very hard to be consistent, and so to be recognized like this is just amazing.”

The award recognized Toby’s Estate’s flagship location in Chippendale, a vibrant neighborhood in Sydney’s southwest. However, the café has expanded its reach, with branches across Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, including Singapore and Indonesia. Since the announcement, sales have soared as curious visitors flock to experience Toby’s Estate’s renowned coffee. To celebrate and show appreciation for their loyal customers, Toby’s Estate will host a free coffee day on February 27.

The Chippendale flagship features a brew bar where coffee is prepared in front of customers, along with an on-site roastery that freshly roasts beans daily. Toby’s Estate was founded in 1997 by lawyer Toby Smith, who started the business in his mother’s garage in the harborside suburb of Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

In second place, Arkansas-based Onyx Coffee Lab has three locations in Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Springdale, although it was not specified which branch earned the recognition. Gota Coffee in Vienna ranked third and also expressed its gratitude on social media. Onyx Coffee Lab posted on Instagram, "This journey has been fueled by passion, precision, and the incredible support of our coffee-loving community." Meanwhile, Gota Coffee shared, “Here’s to pushing the boundaries of coffee culture, one brew at a time!”

The Ongoing Sydney vs. Melbourne Coffee Rivalry

Australia’s coffee culture is known for its cool vibes and competitive spirit, with café owners constantly striving for the perfect brew. While Australian cafés have gained international fame, the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne is particularly fierce when it comes to which city offers the best coffee.

Historically, Melbourne has been considered Australia’s coffee capital, with a coffee culture that began after World War II when Italian immigrants introduced espresso machines and café traditions. However, in recent years, Sydney’s coffee scene has grown significantly, and the city has even surpassed Melbourne in global coffee rankings. In 2024, Sydney was ranked the third-best city for coffee by Food & Wine magazine, while Melbourne came in at number 10.

Melbourne’s Proud Mary, a café ranked fourth in the "World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops" list, was described as a “standout.” However, this wasn’t the only blow to Melbourne’s coffee pride. In 2023, Wotif.com awarded Canberra’s The Cupping Room the title of having the "best flat white," despite Melbourne’s reputation as the "unofficial coffee capital of the world."

Though the competition remains heated between the two cities, Toby’s Estate's win is seen as a broader victory for Australian coffee. Leslie emphasized, “I think our win is a win for the country. Australian coffee is, I think, the best in the world, and so it doesn’t come down to Sydney and Melbourne. We want to be strong as a country, and that helps everyone.”

As the world’s coffee culture continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Australia remains a powerhouse in the global coffee scene, and Sydney’s Toby’s Estate is now at the forefront of that reputation.