This is the only S'pore cafe to make the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list, twice in a row

Apartment Coffee ranks sixth on the list & has been crowned the best coffee shop in Asia

On Monday (Feb 16), the second edition of the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking was revealed at CoffeeFest Madrid 2026.

And one Singaporean café has made the cut, ranking impressively high.

Apartment Coffee retains its sixth-place spot in the 2026 ranking, the only café from Singapore to feature on the list this year.

It holds the same position it earned in 2025, and has been crowned the best coffee shop in Asia for the second year in a row. So, who’s behind the café, and how did it manage to clinch such a prestigious award not once, but twice in a row?

Apartment Coffee was founded in 2018

Apartment Coffee was first established along Lavender Street eight years ago, by Champion, Yeo Qing He, before it moved to its current premises in Selegie in 2022. It also recently expanded to Serangoon, with the opening of Apartment Roastery in Jun 2025.

The café is well-known for its minimalist, tranquil interior of white walls and natural accents, which offers an escape from the city’s constant buzz. It has a short, curated menu that highlights the craft behind each pour-over coffee cup, from careful bean selection to precise roasting and brewing.

In fact, their beans are carefully selected firsthand during the team’s travels to renowned coffee regions like Colombia, Costa Rica, Rwanda and Kenya.

Yeo said in an interview with The Straits Times that the “focus on experience” differentiates Apartment Coffee from other local coffee shops. “This is also why we don’t do takeaways at our coffee studio,” he added.

Over the years, the café has amassed numerous accolades, including second place in the Singapore Brewers Cup 2022 and first place at the Singapore Roaster Forum 2019. Its sixth-place finish in the 2026 World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking is the latest addition to its growing list of achievements.

Other notable mentions

The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops List is an annual event that ranks cafés around the globe across nine criteria, including the quality of coffee, the barista expertise, sustainability practices, consistency and innovation.

It has quickly earned a reputation as the coffee world’s equivalent of the Michelin Guide. The event’s credibility stems from a transparent voting system that combines expert opinions (70%) with public opinion (30%), alongside a nomination and final selection process.

Given how well-loved Apartment Coffee is, it wouldn’t be surprising if the café makes the list a third time in the coming year.

Apart from Apartment Coffee, there are other notable mentions, including 14 cafés from Asia that made the 2026 World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list.

Among the highest-ranking Asian entries are Malaysia’s Story Of Ono in Petaling Jaya, which climbed one spot to eighth this year.

South Korea’s Momos Coffee Flagship Store ranks 22nd, while Japan’s Ult Coffee comes in at 24th. Last year’s honorees also return, including Japan’s Koffee Mameya Kakeru (28th), China’s Espresso Alchemy (31st), and the Philippines’ Yardstick (34th).

Taiwan maintains a strong presence with four newcomers: Coffee Sind (36th), Keep Coffee Roastery (46th), Tomorrow Coffee Roasters (57th), and Coffee Stopover Black (78th).

Other first-time entrants include South Korea’s Ruli Coffee (51st), Thailand’s Fika & Co. Cafe (61st), and Malaysia’s Coffee Stain in Kuala Lumpur (84th).

Featured Image Credit: Apartment Coffee/ Daryl “Dino” via Google Reviews

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