World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops to Present Continental Rankings at World of Coffee

DUBAI – Qahwa World × Buna Kurs

The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops has entered into a strategic agreement with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) to present its continental Top 100 rankings during upcoming World of Coffee exhibitions starting in 2026.

Under the agreement, the continental rankings will be officially unveiled as part of the World of Coffee program, integrating the recognition initiative into one of the specialty coffee industry’s most influential global trade platforms.

The collaboration will debut at World of Coffee San Diego (April 10–12, 2026), where the Top 100 coffee shops for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean will be announced. The program will then continue at World of Coffee Brussels (June 25–27, 2026), featuring the presentation of Europe’s Top 100 coffee shops.

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Integration into the Global Specialty Coffee Platform

Developed by Neodrinks, The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops forms part of a broader international recognition framework that includes global, continental, and national rankings. The selection system combines evaluations from industry professionals with public voting to identify coffee shops contributing to excellence and innovation within specialty coffee.

By incorporating the continental announcements into official SCA programming, the rankings will gain direct exposure to producers, roasters, baristas, retailers, and equipment manufacturers attending World of Coffee events.

César Ramírez, founder of the initiative, described the agreement as a natural step in the platform’s evolution, positioning the rankings within the sector’s leading professional forums.

SCA CEO Yannis Apostolopoulos stated that the collaboration provides an opportunity to celebrate specialty coffee professionals and coffee shops shaping the industry’s future during World of Coffee gatherings.

Read also: The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 Unveiled in Madrid

Strengthening International Visibility

Organized by the Specialty Coffee Association, World of Coffee rotates annually across major global cities and is widely regarded as one of the most important trade events in the specialty coffee sector. The exhibitions typically feature large-scale trade shows, educational programs, competitions, and professional networking forums.

The integration of continental rankings into these events marks a significant milestone in the international consolidation of The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops initiative, reinforcing its global visibility and institutional alignment within the specialty coffee ecosystem.

Additional continental announcements are expected as the 2026 World of Coffee calendar progresses.

Six Middle East Coffee Shops Enter The World’s Top 100 List 2026

Singapore – QAHWA WORLD

Six coffee shops from the Middle East have earned positions in the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 ranking, announced on 16 February during CoffeeFest Madrid 2026, marking a significant milestone for the region’s speciality coffee sector.

The United Arab Emirates secured two placements in the global Top 100, reinforcing its status as a rapidly expanding hub for speciality coffee. Qatar and Oman achieved their first-ever entries in the ranking, while Turkey returned to the list through Meet Lab Coffee, reflecting the region’s growing influence on the international coffee stage.

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Middle East Coffee Shops in the 2026 Top 100

  • Benchmark Coffee, United Arab Emirates

  • Harvest Coffee, Qatar

  • Meet Lab Coffee, Turkey

  • Azura – The Coffee Company, Oman

  • Cypher Urban Roastery, United Arab Emirates

  • Flat White Specialty Coffee, Qatar

The 2026 ranking highlights the rise of new global capitals of quality coffee while underscoring the consolidation of a diverse and innovative international coffee community. The United States led the list with nine selected coffee shops, alongside strong representation from South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

Evaluation Criteria

The ranking combines assessments from more than 800 professional judges across all continents with public voting that surpassed 350,000 votes in this edition. In total, over 15,000 coffee shops worldwide were analysed.

Positioned as a benchmark for the industry, The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops is the first global ranking dedicated to recognising excellence in coffee. Beyond product quality, the evaluation considers the overall café experience, innovation, and contribution to coffee culture.

The inclusion of six Middle Eastern coffee shops in the 2026 list reflects the region’s accelerating development in speciality coffee standards, craftsmanship, and hospitality, further strengthening its presence on the global coffee map.