✦ How we score

Every cup, scored the same way.

One 10-point scale. Three things that matter. Every venue visited before it goes on the list.

✦ The scale

Three things make up the *score*

Ten points, split across what actually makes a specialty coffee bar great.

Coffee quality

6.0 / 10

The biggest share of the score. Sourcing, roasting, and what actually ends up in the cup. A place has to be about the coffee to score high here.

Craft and service

2.5 / 10

Barista skill, consistency across visits, and genuine care behind the bar.

Ambiance

1.5 / 10

The room, the feel, and whether it is somewhere you actually want to stay.

✦ The stance

Coffee identity, not just a nice *room*

We score coffee identity, not simply whether a place is pleasant to sit in. A great restaurant with decent coffee is a great restaurant. It is not a coffee destination, and the score says so, even if the espresso machine cost more than a car.

Nothing scores a perfect ten. The scale is capped on purpose, because there is always another cup out there that could be a little better.

✦ The verdict

What the *labels* mean

Solid pick

Below 8

A dependable specialty stop. Worth going.

Standout

8 and up

One of the better cafés in its city. Go out of your way.

Exceptional

9 and up

A genuine destination. Plan the trip around it.

✦ The rules we hold

No favours, no *filler*

  • ✦Every venue is visited before it is listed.
  • ✦No ads, no pay to play, no sponsored placements.
  • ✦Ties are broken by consistency across repeat visits.
  • ✦Being on the list is the endorsement.

See the scores in action.

Explore the guides →