The World’s 10 Best Coffee Cities Ranked

Traveling coffee lovers know the pain: checking into a hotel, craving a decent cup, and being handed a sad, bitter Americano made from pre-ground mystery beans. You want to know—where can you find great coffee when you’re abroad? MSN recently published a list of the “World’s Best Coffee Cities,” but without clear criteria. So we dug into the list, city by city, to see which ones live up to the hype—and which don’t.

According to MSN, the top 10 cities for coffee are: 10. Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 9. Vancouver (Canada), 8. Vienna (Austria), 7. Reykjavik (Iceland), 6. Honolulu (USA), 5. Rome (Italy), 4. San Francisco (USA), 3. Taipei (Taiwan), 2. Melbourne (Australia), and 1. Havana (Cuba).

What Makes a City a ‘Best Coffee City’?

MSN didn’t explain how it chose these cities, only offering a vague prompt: “Where can coffee lovers escape bad hotel coffee?” That leaves a lot open to interpretation. Are we ranking cities for café culture, coffee quality, accessibility, variety, or something else? Without clear metrics, the list feels more like a curated travel moodboard than a data-backed ranking. Still, each city has something to offer coffee drinkers—if you know where to look.

Honorable Mentions and Head-Scratchers

Some entries spark debate. Take Honolulu: it’s a great city for coffee if you’re after Kona or Ka‘u beans, often roasted elsewhere and brought in. Most of the best cups come from off-island roasters, so it’s less about local production and more about access to imported specialty lots. Then there’s Havana. Cuban coffee culture is strong, especially with the iconic café cubano—espresso with sugar added during, not after, brewing. Results vary wildly. Some are bright and balanced, others harsh and astringent. The milk supply is state-controlled, often coming from powdered imports, which can mask rather than enhance flavor. Still, spots like El Escorial are making moves toward more consistent, higher-quality espresso.

Cities That Deliver: Top-Tier Coffee Experiences

Melbourne (2) and Vienna (8) are perennial favorites for good reason. Melbourne is known for its laneway cafés, rigorous espresso standards, and deep third-wave roots. Vienna blends historic coffeehouse tradition with modern specialty sensibilities. Taipei (3) offers an incredible mix of traditional tea culture and cutting-edge coffee innovation, especially in filter and single-origin offerings. San Francisco (4) and Vancouver (9) provide access to top-tier roasters, direct-trade programs, and diverse café scenes rooted in both local and global influences.

The Wild Cards: Addis Ababa, Reykjavik, and Rome

Addis Ababa (10), as the birthplace of Arabica coffee, naturally belongs on any list. While infrastructure and access can be inconsistent for travelers, the city is a pilgrimage site for coffee origins enthusiasts. Reykjavik (7) punches above its weight with high per-capita coffee consumption, strong local roasting talent, and a focus on sustainability. Rome (5) may be more famous for its espresso culture than innovation, but you’ll still find skilled baristas pulling traditional shots with remarkable consistency.

Havana and Oakland: The Controversial Picks

Havana (1) topping the list raised eyebrows. While Cuban coffee has charm—especially in its traditional forms—the overall quality and consistency can be hit-or-miss. The use of powdered milk and inconsistent roast levels add variables most specialty drinkers would rather control. Honolulu (6), while not bad, also feels like an outlier compared to more established specialty hubs. Some might argue cities like Portland, Berlin, or Tokyo deserve a spot—but that’s the fun of these lists.

Why These Cities Made the Cut

Though unexplained by MSN, we can guess the criteria: access to quality beans, vibrant café scenes, cultural integration of coffee, and traveler-friendly coffee experiences. Cities like Melbourne and Vienna have long histories supporting coffee as a social and culinary staple. Others, like Addis Ababa and Taipei, represent either the origin story or rapid evolution of specialty coffee culture. Even Havana, despite its challenges, offers a unique and culturally rich coffee encounter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a city one of the best for coffee?

A top coffee city typically offers easy access to high-quality beans, a vibrant café culture, skilled baristas, and a mix of traditional and innovative brewing. It’s a place where coffee drinkers can reliably find great espresso, pour-over, or single-origin experiences without hunting down specialty shops.

Why is Havana ranked number one?

Havana topped MSN’s list, likely due to its iconic coffee culture, strong espresso traditions like café cubano, and the cultural experience around coffee. However, quality and consistency vary widely, and some travelers report mixed experiences with execution and ingredient availability.

Which city is best for specialty coffee?

Cities like Melbourne, Vancouver, and Taipei are often considered better for specialty coffee due to their developed third-wave scenes, access to direct-trade beans, and focus on quality brewing methods like filter and espresso.

Is Addis Ababa good for coffee travelers?

Yes, as the birthplace of Arabica, Addis Ababa is essential for coffee origin tourism. While infrastructure for travelers can be inconsistent, the city offers deep cultural and historical ties to coffee that are unmatched.

Why isn’t Seattle or Berlin on the list?

MSN didn’t reveal its criteria, so it’s unclear why well-known coffee cities like Seattle or Berlin were left out. The list seems to prioritize cultural experience and novelty over pure specialty coffee density or innovation.

Does Havana really have the best coffee?

Not necessarily. While Havana has a strong coffee tradition, especially with drinks like café cubano, the quality is inconsistent, and access to fresh, high-quality beans can be limited. Some cafés do excellent work, but it’s not uniformly the “best.”

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