13 Asian cafés make it to the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list

Coffee culture in Asia is going strong. We love our traditional brews, from Robusta-based kopis in Singapore to strong yet refreshing iced coffees in Vietnam. There's also an excellent third-wave coffee scene led by hip cafés from Japan to Malaysia, with many spotlighting beans grown in the region. Throw a stone and you're bound to hit a good coffee spot wherever you are in Asia.

If a coffee hop around the region sounds like your dream come true, then you need to check out this hot new list of The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops. Unveiled at CoffeeFest Madrid last week, the ranking recognises cafés that deliver top-notch coffee, barista expertise, ambience, and innovation, among other key indicators. The results were determined by public votes and expert evaluations. 

The coffee shop that emerged as the best in Asia? Apartment Coffee in Singapore! It's also the sixth-best coffee shop in the world, an incredible feat coming from a country so small. Led by 2018 Singapore Brewers Cup Champion Yeo Qing He, Apartment Coffee is known for its chic Scandinavian-inspired space along Selegie Road and its streamlined menu of single-origin coffees, teas, and chocolates. 

Malaysia's Story of Ono is the second best in Asia and No. 9 in the world. Prestigious names are behind this minimalist café: baristas-turned-roasters Curate Coffee Roasters and Niko Neko, Malaysia's top matcha purveyor. Today, this Petaling Jaya spot is known for its fine curation of coffee, matcha, pastries, and sandos. The country made a fine showing, with Ome by Spacebar Coffee (Penang) and Sin See Tai (Malacca) also making the list. 

Clearly, the Philippines is one to watch for coffee lovers. It has four entrants to the list, with Yardstick leading the pack as the third-best coffee shop in Asia and No. 18 worldwide. If you're sticking around Southeast Asia, pay a visit to Anomali Coffee (No. 78) in Bali – its three outlets are conveniently located in Ubud, Kuta and Sanur.

These are the best coffee shops in Asia: 

1. Apartment Coffee, Singapore
2. Story of Ono, Malaysia
3. Yardstick, The Philippines
4. Koffee Mameya Kakeru, Japan
5. Strut Coffee, Korea
6. Espresso Alchemy, China
7. Ome by Spacebar Coffee, Malaysia
8. El Unión Coffee, The Philippines
9. Sin See Tai, Malaysia
10. Anomali Coffee, Indonesia
11. Single Origin, The Philippines
12. Rufous Coffee Roasters, Taiwan
13. Crema & Cream Coffee Roasters, The Philippines

These are the top 100 coffee shops in the world:

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