World's best coffee shop is chain you've likely never even heard of

Usually, the coffee shops getting the biggest attention are based in cities already known for serious coffee culture, whether that is Melbourne, Copenhagen, or somewhere else with an established reputation for specialty roasting, barista craft, and long queues outside the doors.

That is part of what makes the latest global list stand out, as The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking for 2026 was compiled from more than 15,000 nominated cafés around the world, with the final results decided using a mix of public voting and the opinions of 800 coffee experts.

As noted by Food & Wine, judging was based on eight separate criteria, including coffee quality, consistency, barista expertise, atmosphere, and sustainability practices. So, while there was always going to be interest in which shop came out on top, the eventual winner was not from one of the more obvious coffee capitals.

Instead, the title of best coffee shop in the world for 2026 has gone to Onyx Coffee Lab, a chain with eight locations across Arkansas in the US.

(Instagram/@onyxcoffeelab)

The result is a significant one for the company, as it marks the first time a US-born brand has taken the number one spot on the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list.

It also represents an improvement on the previous year, after Onyx placed second in the inaugural 2025 ranking, when Australia’s Toby’s Estate finished top.

Andrea Allen, founder of Onyx Coffee Lab, said the recognition still feels surreal.

Andrea Allen, Onyx Coffee Lab’s founder, says: “Honestly, it feels amazing and a little bit unbelievable to be mentioned with other shops that are our peers and that we look up to.”

Allen also said the win carries extra weight because of where the business is based, explaining: “It feels exciting that quality and excellence can transcend trendy or popular geographical locations, and it brings legitimacy to the high level of execution our team is doing here in Arkansas.”

Part of what appears to have helped distinguish Onyx is its focus on transparency throughout the supply chain. The company publishes trade data in real time, including details related to sourcing, pricing, and sustainability.

Allen said that approach has been central to the business for years, saying: “This idea practice began more than a decade ago, and we are still one of the only coffee companies doing this…Our commitment from the beginning to the end of the supply chain is evident in every coffee we roast.”

Onyx was followed in the ranking by Tim Wendelboe in Oslo, Norway, in second place and Alquimia Coffee in San Salvador, El Salvador, in third.

The wider list also highlighted a strong year for American coffee shops more broadly, with nine US venues making the top 100 overall, more than any other country.

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