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Over the past decade, Japan has seriously stepped up its coffee game. Tokyo in particular is now globally renowned for its cafés and roasters, even pioneering a new category of coffee experience with omakase-style tasting courses. That growing reputation has now been recognised internationally, with two Japanese coffee spots included in the second edition of The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list.
Announced at CoffeeFest Madrid 2026, The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops evaluated cafés across the globe based on criteria including coffee quality, barista expertise, customer service, innovation, ambience, sustainability practices, food and pastry offerings, and overall consistency. Expert panel evaluations (70 percent) and public votes (30 percent) were combined to determine the final ranking.
The two cafés that made the cut from Japan were Ult Coffee in Osaka (No 24) and Tokyo’s Koffee Mameya Kakeru (No 28).
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Osaka’s Ult Coffee was founded by the 2023 World Barista Champion, Boram Um, and offers coffee drinkers rare and meticulously sourced speciality beans on par with what's used at coffee competitions.
Koffee Mameya Kakeru has become a must-visit for coffee fans in the capital as one of the first spots to offer coffee tasting courses. Here, guests can sample various roasts prepared in different styles, including cold brew, milk brew, filter coffee and espresso. You can also order coffee by the cup using your bean of choice, with options ranging from light and fruity single-origin varieties to dark, robust blends.
To see the full list of the best 100 coffee shops in the world, visit the website.
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