First of all coffeeand then everything else, right? After landing in a new city after a long flight, travelers often have only one thing on their minds: getting a caffeine fix, as quickly as possible. But choosing a coffee shop in a city or neighborhood you're not familiar with can be a risky bet: there's always a chance your drink will be a little bland. Or you might end up with a new favorite spot that will keep you coming back again and again.
To help you find great coffee more easily when you're traveling this summer and beyond, we reached out to coffee experts to get the inside scoop on some of their favorite coffee shops around the world—spots with top-notch coffee, culture, and aesthetics to match.
Here are the cafes coffee experts love to visit when traveling. Just be aware that you might have to book a flight afterward.
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Amber Cafe And Mocha coffee in Tokyo, Japan
“This is a time capsule. A classic Kissaten in Tokyo's Ginza district. They focus on aged coffees, which is what I always order. They age the coffees on site for decades. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to taste Brazilian coffees harvested in the 1950s and Colombian coffees from the 1960s, which is a very unique experience.
“Another store I always stop at in Tokyo is Mocha coffee in the Daikanyama district. It is a beautiful shop with glass walls and lots of natural light that only serves coffee from Yemen. I like to have a cup of coffee, whatever the owner recommends, and enjoy it with a slice of one of their cakes. — Miguel Mezafounder, Paradise Coffee Roasters in Hilo, Hawaii
Boujou Coffee in Marseille, France
“This is a small, woman-run café in the Malmousque neighborhood of the 7th arrondissement. I love this place because they have a rotating filter coffee menu from local roasters and they make filter coffee. It’s also a one-minute walk from the ocean and along the Corniche Kennedy, which is a lovely little urban promenade by the sea. A coffee and a walk is how I like to start my day.” — Gabriella Mannfounder, Baba Cool in Brooklyn, New York
Said Artisan in Florence, Italy
“Outside of Puerto Rico, my favorite coffee shop is Ditta Artigianale in Florence, Italy. Ditta Artigianale’s specialty coffee line was founded in 2013 by three-time Italian barista champion Francesco Sanapo and Caffè Corsini president Patrick Hoffer. Not only is their coffee delicious, but the coffees themselves are definitely worth a visit. I love ordering an espresso.” — Rebecca Atienza, specialty coffee producer and founder, Hacienda San Pedro in Jayuya and San Juan, Puerto Rico
Raggamuffin Cafe in Kingston, Jamaica
“Not only is the food and coffee top notch, but the cafe also has an incredible mission to provide employment opportunities for deaf people. Raggamuffin works closely with Deaf Can! Coffee, also located in Kingston, and provides resources and employment to youth through the program. Nestled on the bustling Lady Musgrave Road, it’s a great place to people watch, enjoy the beautiful Jamaican weather, and enjoy some truly incredible food and drink. My favorite things to order are all the variations of their açaí bowls and the golden milk latte with an extra touch of turmeric. It’s delicious and makes you feel good!” — Nikisha Baileyfounder, Win-win coffee in Philadelphia
Pergamino Cafe in Medellin, Colombia
““Since I spend a lot of time traveling to coffee-producing countries, I am fortunate to be able to try many different coffee shops along the way. I love going to Pergamino Cafe when I am in Medellin, Colombia. It is located in the El Poblado neighborhood and I love the vibe of the neighborhood and this particular cafe. Great coffee and food, and a great place to sit and watch daily life go by while sipping on delicious Colombian coffee.” — Jeremy Perkins, owner, Piston Coffee Roasters on Vancouver Island
Anthracite Coffee in Jeju, South Korea
“I came across Anthracite Coffeewhere I found some of the most sophisticated brewing equipment inside a old starch factory converted into a cafestill covered in moss and stone floors. My favorite order? A V60 with their Natural Bean Ethiopian coffee. » — Roland Hornefounder and CEO, WatchHouse Cafe in the UK and New York
“During my travels in Ethiopia, I was able to taste freshly roasted and brewed Ethiopian coffee on the streets of Addis Ababa. If you are in Addis Ababa, visit Fendika Cultural Center And Haile Seaside Resort to Arba Minch for the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, Dukamo Coffee in Awassa for a good cup of Ethiopian coffee. At Fendika and Haile Resort I will have Jebena Coffeecoffee prepared in the Ethiopian style in a clay pot. At Dukamo Coffee, I will always opt for filtered Ethiopian beans Daye Bensa farm.” – Eskedar Tilahunfounder, Eskedar Coffee in Vilnius, Lithuania
La Manchuria Cafe in Cartagena, Colombia
“I don’t usually look for specific coffee chains, but I would say La Manchuria Cafe in Cartagena, Colombia. We stumbled upon their shop while walking around the city, looking for a break from the heat. Unfortunately, there was no electricity when we walked in and the only option was an iced brew. The shop is super cool and they were very welcoming. When I travel to coffee growing regions, I always try to connect with the farmers. When we mentioned that we were going to Medellin the next day, they connected us with someone to set up a tour of the farm, which was a few hours outside of the city. We ended up driving about 3.5 hours into the mountains for a tour of the farm. Once there, we did a tasting and several pours (my preferred brewing method) to really taste the intricacies of their coffees. » —Colin Princi, Founder and Head Roaster, Corberosa Coffee in San Luis Obispo County, California
Coffee Terzi in Bologna, Italy
““They have very innovative drinks, an incredible selection of espressos and very knowledgeable baristas. The owner, Manuel Terzi, is extremely passionate about the craft and art of coffee.” — Jay Isais, Vice President of Coffee and Sourcing, The coffee bean and the tea leaf in California
The Factory in Girona, Catalonia, Spain
“La Fabrica is a great cafe run by a former professional cyclist and his wife, and it has a great atmosphere, coffee, and food. It also has a nice outdoor terrace and feels tucked away in the city. My favorite order is a cortado and something delicious to eat. Among the cycling community, this is one of the best cafes with great coffee, food, and a great location. » — Aaron Olson, owner, Handlebar coffee in Santa Barbara, California
Cafe 96B in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
“They work closely with coffee farmers in Vietnam and serve some of the best coffee grown in that country. It is one of the few coffee shops in the world that offers Liberica coffees, as well as excellent Robusta and Arabica coffees. Here, I usually order a cup of Robusta or Liberica brewed by Aeropress.” — Meza
