Three Travel Stars
World-class coffee, a destination in itself
Independent café guide
Find Better Cafés, One Honest Review at a Time.
Independent reviews of cafés and coffee shops — rated on preparation, coffee quality, and consistency. No paid placements, no sponsorships, just honest recommendations.
The rating system
The Travel Stars
Like Michelin, but for coffee. A café can earn up to three Travel Stars for the quality of its coffee — judged over multiple anonymous visits.
Three Travel Stars
A destination café
Two Travel Stars
Worth going out of your way
One Travel Star
Worth a stop
Café of note
Noteworthy to visit
The Ratings
The Travel Stars
The Travel Stars are for coffee quality only. It is the highest award a cafe can earn in our rating system. Similar to Michelin, a cafe can earn up to three stars.
Coffee quality only
Coffee shops are evaluated based on:
- Quality of preparation
- Quality of coffee
- Consistency over time and across the menu
Two Travel Stars
Excellent coffee, worth going out of your way for
One Travel Star
Great coffee, worth seeking out
Cafe of note
Not yet star-rated, but still noteworthy to visit
Other Awards
Additional awards recognize the details that make a cafe memorable beyond the star rating.
HospitalityRoaster curationSignature drinksUnique experiencePastry & viennoiserieAmbiance
The Team
The Standards
Our inspectors are anonymous, unaffiliated, highly skilled, thoroughly trained, and held to strict, objective standards.
No pay-to-play
We do not accept paid placements or sponsorships for ratings.
Anonymous inspectors
Inspectors remain anonymous, and cafes are not notified when they are up for review.
No affiliation
Inspectors cannot be affiliated with the cafe they are reviewing.
Multiple visits
Each cafe is inspected by multiple inspectors over multiple visits.
Up-to-date
Cafes are continually up for evaluation. Ratings can be updated at any time.
Quality inspectors
Highly skilled specialty coffee professionals who are thoroughly trained.
Inspectors can't rate any cafe they have a connection to. Reviews are conducted over multiple visits, by multiple inspectors.
City Guides
Modern coffee cities across Southeast Asia
Dedicated country sections covering every Southeast Asian country, with modern city stops for cafe hunting, roaster visits, and travel-friendly coffee planning.
11
Countries
147
Cities listed
Borneo
Brunei
Compact urban stops for calm cafes, hotel lounges, and roaster-led espresso bars.
4 cities
Bandar Seri BegawanKuala BelaitSeriaTutong
Explore cafésMainland Southeast Asia
Cambodia
Heritage streets, fast-growing waterfronts, and resort cities with improving specialty coffee.
7 cities
Phnom PenhSiem ReapBattambangSihanoukvilleKampotKepPoipet
Explore cafésMaritime Southeast Asia
Indonesia
A deep city network from Java's design cafes to Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and Bali roasters.
27 cities
JakartaBandungSurabayaYogyakartaSemarangSurakartaMalangDenpasarMedanPalembangBatamTanjung PinangPekanbaruPadangPontianakBanjarmasinBalikpapanSamarindaMakassarManadoMataramJayapuraTangerangSouth TangerangBekasiBogorDepok
Explore cafésMainland Southeast Asia
Laos
Riverside capitals, mountain towns, and slow-travel cities with destination cafes.
6 cities
VientianeLuang PrabangPakseSavannakhetThakhekVang Vieng
Explore cafésMainland and Borneo
Malaysia
Mature cafe culture across the Klang Valley, heritage cities, island hubs, and Borneo ports.
24 cities
Kuala LumpurPetaling JayaSubang JayaShah AlamPutrajayaCyberjayaGeorge TownJohor BahruIskandar PuteriMalaccaIpohSerembanKuantanKuala TerengganuKota BharuAlor SetarLangkawiKota KinabaluKuchingMiriSibuBintuluSandakanTawau
Explore cafésMainland Southeast Asia
Myanmar
Major urban centers and cultural cities where independent cafes anchor practical city notes.
13 cities
YangonMandalayNaypyidawBaganNyaung-UMawlamyineTaunggyiNyaung ShwePatheinPyin Oo LwinMyeikDaweiSittwe
Explore cafésMaritime Southeast Asia
Philippines
Metro districts, island capitals, creative university towns, and gateway cities with serious coffee.
27 cities
ManilaMakatiTaguigQuezon CityPasigMandaluyongCebu CityMandaueLapu-LapuDavao CityCagayan de OroIloilo CityBacolodBaguioAngelesClarkOlongapoSubicBatangas CityLipaNagaLegazpiDumagueteTaclobanPuerto PrincesaGeneral SantosZamboanga City
Explore cafésIsland city-state
Singapore
One dense guide for neighborhood cafes, world-class roasters, hotel bars, and hawker coffee stops.
1 city
Singapore
Explore cafésMainland Southeast Asia
Thailand
Capital neighborhoods, northern roaster towns, beach cities, and regional business centers.
14 cities
BangkokChiang MaiPhuketPattayaHua HinKrabiKoh SamuiSurat ThaniHat YaiChiang RaiKhon KaenNakhon RatchasimaUdon ThaniAyutthaya
Explore cafésIsland Southeast Asia
Timor-Leste
Emerging urban guides focused on Dili and the country's most useful regional stops.
7 cities
DiliBaucauMalianaSuaiLiquicaSameAileu
Explore cafésMainland Southeast Asia
Vietnam
Modern cafe cities from Hanoi and Saigon to coastal hubs, highland coffee towns, and island escapes.
17 cities
Ho Chi Minh CityHanoiDa NangHoi AnHueNha TrangDa LatCan ThoHai PhongVung TauQuy NhonPhu QuocHa LongBuon Ma ThuotPhan ThietSa PaPleiku
Explore cafésLearn the craft
Brewing Guides
Step-by-step guides written by working baristas. Calm, useful, and free of jargon.
Pour Over
Bright, articulate cups with full control over extraction and clarity.
8 min readRead Guide
Espresso
Dial in pressure, dose, and grind for a balanced, syrupy shot.
12 min readRead Guide
French Press
A heavier, full-bodied brew that highlights chocolate and nuttier roasts.
6 min readRead Guide
Aeropress
Versatile and forgiving — clean, sweet, and travel-ready.
5 min readRead Guide
Cold Brew
Smooth, low-acid concentrate built for slow extraction overnight.
10 min readRead Guide