The World's Best Coffee Shop Is in This Surprising Midwestern State
A new ranking has crowned the best coffee shops around the globe, and the top spot went to a cafe right here in the U.S.-but you won't find it in New York City or Seattle.
Top 100 Coffee Shops gathered input from coffee experts and industry professionals, as well as the results of public voting. Each shop was nominated by the public or experts and then evaluated by eight key criteria: quality of coffee, barista expertise, customer service, innovation, ambiance and atmosphere, sustainability practices, food and pastry quality, and community. Expert input was weighted at 70 percent, while public results were weighted at 30 percent of the coffee shops' total scores.
When the results were calculated, Onyx Coffee Lab in Rogers, Arkansas was crowned the best coffee shop in the world, beating out nominees everywhere from Egypt to Peru.
Rogers is a fast-growing city in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, with the number-one winner located in a historic building downtown. The interior design leans into brick-walled industrialism, with scores of greenery and ample sunlight providing natural touches. And the standout cafe is much more than a coffee shop-it has a tasting restaurant, taqueria, bakery, and cocktail lounge. It's even a 2026 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Bar.
Innovative drinks like the key lime latte and matcha colada soda showcase trailblazing talent that earned Onyx its nomination.
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While the company's headquarters snagged the award for best in the world, the brand has expanded to eight other locations across Arkansas and ships products internationally.
A Diverse Group of American Coffee Shops Made the World's Top 100 List
The next U.S. coffee shop to make the top 100 list came in at number 12. Arcane Estate Coffee is based in New York City, bringing renowned Panamanian coffee to the West Village. Founder Edgar Acosta-Masferrer hails from the western province of Chiriquí, where elevation, microclimates, and volcanic soil create some of the world's best brews. Arcane exclusively sources from Acosta-Masferrer's family farm and neighboring properties. The chic cafe is swathed in dark wood paneling accented by deep reds.
Blendin Coffee Club in Sugar Land, Texas, was the next U.S. nominee to make the list, ranking 20th in the world and 7th in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The modern, sun-flooded cafe serves fresh-roasted, traceable beans in Houston.
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The other top five American contenders are both from a somewhat unexpected state-Alabama. Coming in at 43, Birmingham's Domestique is a sustainable shop featuring simple, health-minded coffees produced with fair wages. In Montgomery, Prevail Mixes crafts roasting with southern hospitality, earning it the number 66 spot.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM.