It’s Friday, which means we’ve made it through the week (just barely), and what better way to celebrate than by talking about coffee? Whether it’s your morning pick-me-up, your mid-afternoon motivation, or your excuse to escape a Zoom call, coffee is the fuel that keeps the world running.

Now, let’s be clear—Team SBA is no expert on who brews the absolute best coffee. We know outsourcing, legal support, and business efficiency—but selecting the world’s top coffee spots? That’s a robustly contestable exercise, and we fully expect caffeine connoisseurs to have strong opinions (as they should!).

So, with that friendly disclaimer out of the way, here’s a Friday-fueled, highly subjective list of some of the most iconic and beloved coffee shops around the world.

1. Café Central – Vienna, Austria

Vienna takes its coffee culture seriously, and Café Central is the crème de la crème. Once frequented by intellectuals like Sigmund Freud, this grand café serves coffee with a side of history. Order a Wiener Melange, a rich blend of espresso and steamed milk, and soak in the stunning architecture.

2. Truth Coffee – Cape Town, South Africa

If steampunk aesthetics and incredible coffee sound like your vibe, Truth Coffee is your spot. It’s been named the world’s best coffee shop multiple times, and for good reason. Their resurrection blend is strong enough to wake up even the sleepiest of souls.

3. Toby’s Estate – Sydney, Australia

Australia knows its coffee, and Toby’s Estate is one of the finest. Their baristas treat coffee like an art form, and their single-origin beans are a must-try. Grab a flat white, sit by the harbor, and enjoy the sunshine.

4. Café de Flore – Paris, France

One of the oldest and most iconic coffeehouses in Paris, Café de Flore is the perfect place to sip an espresso while channeling your inner Hemingway. The people-watching here is next level, and the café crème is pure perfection.

5. Blue Bottle Coffee – Tokyo, Japan

Minimalist, sleek, and obsessed with quality, Blue Bottle Coffee Tokyo is a paradise for third-wave coffee lovers. If you love precision-brewed pour-overs, this is your mecca.

6. Café Tortoni – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dating back to 1858, Café Tortoni is a Buenos Aires institution. The chandeliers, marble tables, and classic Argentinian café con leche make for a coffee experience like no other.

7. Tim Wendelboe – Oslo, Norway

Run by a World Barista Champion, Tim Wendelboe is all about light roasts and Nordic-style brews. It’s a must-visit for coffee purists who appreciate beans at their absolute best.

8. Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Portland, USA

One of the pioneers of the third-wave coffee movement, Stumptown is a household name in specialty coffee. If you love cold brew, theirs is legendary.

9. Café Kitsuné – Seoul, South Korea

Trendy, stylish, and oh-so-aesthetic, Café Kitsuné serves up Japanese-French-inspired coffee culture with a side of matcha lattes and fox-shaped cookies.

10. Kaffeine – London, UK

This Aussie-owned coffee shop in London is where you’ll find some of the best flat whites in the city. If you’re after strong coffee with no fuss, Kaffeine is the place to be.

The Final Sip

There you have it – a caffeine-fueled world tour of some of the best coffee shops on the planet. Is this list exhaustive? Absolutely not. Could it start some friendly debates? We sure hope so.

And really, Friday is the perfect day for this discussion. As we wrap up the week and (hopefully) ease into a more relaxed weekend, it’s the ideal time to daydream about sipping coffee in a scenic café somewhere far away.

Got a coffee shop that deserves a place on this list? Drop it in the comments! Team SBA is always open to recommendations—just don’t ask us to judge a barista competition anytime soon.