The Best Coffee in the World: Updated Guide & Our Selection

How do you know which is the best coffee in the world?

Taste is Subjective, But Quality is Not

Although preferences vary widely, some standards help identify truly exceptional coffee. The best beans share common features: they’re grown in nutrient-rich soil, often at high altitudes, and handled with care throughout harvesting and processing. Many of the best coffees come from high-quality coffee cherries, grown in environments that promote complex flavour development.

Quality coffee is almost always traceable, meaning the label will tell you where it’s from, how it was processed, and what variety it is. These markers point to transparency, ethical practices, and artisanal quality, characteristics that ensure not just a better-tasting cup, but also a more responsible one. This commitment to quality enhances the entire coffee experience.

Moreover, certain farms and producers have consistently demonstrated superior results, often winning accolades and top scores in international competitions. It’s this reputation, built over time and grounded in quality, that elevates a coffee from great to legendary.

Traceability: A Key Indicator of Quality

Although individual taste preferences vary widely, the hallmarks of coffee quality remain consistent. These include the origin of the beans, the coffee variety, the methods used during cultivation and processing, and the overall traceability of the coffee. Like with wine, someone might swear by a full-bodied Jamaican Blue Mountain, while another coffee lover raves about the floral delicacy of Panamanian Geisha. What unites them is a standard of excellence—certain farms, regions, and producers are recognised globally for consistent, high-quality output.

These elite coffees don’t just stand out because of hype, but because they meet exacting criteria, often receiving accolades and top scores in global competitions. Customers seeking premium coffee often cite traceability as a key decision-making factor.

Yearly Variations Matter for Good Coffee Beans

Coffee is an agricultural product, which means each harvest is subject to the forces of nature. Rainfall, sunlight, temperature fluctuations, and even soil composition can change from year to year, affecting the flavour profile of a crop. This is why the best coffee in the world is never static—it shifts depending on the vintage. Like wine vintages, coffee harvests can produce different nuances and tastes, even from the same farm. So, part of the joy of seeking out the world’s best coffee beans is embracing these evolving characteristics year after year.

The best coffee in the world according to global competitions

The coffee world is full of prestigious competitions that aim to recognise and reward the best lots each year.

Cup of Excellence (COE)

Perhaps the most famous, the COE awards exceptional coffees based on rigorous tastings. Each coffee is evaluated and scored by industry professionals.

Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Scoring

The SCA uses a 100-point scale to evaluate coffee on multiple criteria:

• Fragrance and aroma
• Acidity
• Body
• Sweetness
• Flavour complexity
• Aftertaste

A score over 80 qualifies a coffee as “specialty”. Exceptional coffees can score above 90, placing them in a rarefied tier.

What is Specialty Coffee?

Specialty coffee is considered to be the quality coffee, due to its exemplary traceability and meticulous work from producer to roaster. This knowledge of the production chain guarantees a quality not found in other coffees. This type of coffee represents just under 10% of the world’s coffee production. These are mainly micro-lots, which can be rare and can therefore be bought at a high price. However, the selling price is not necessarily a guarantee of quality. As a result, it is distinguished mainly by its rating above 80/100 according to the SCA rating protocol.

This scoring protocol is established by the SCA on several criteria such as: Aromatic aspects of the coffee ;

• The aromas of the ground coffee during brewing;
• The acidity of the coffee;
• The body of the coffee;
• The taste profile of the coffee;
• Sweetness of coffee;
• etc.

These criteria are analysed during the analysis of the green coffee in the first instance, and then during a standardised tasting, the “cupping”. After scoring, there are several categories:

• Exceptional coffees (score 80 +)
• Grand Cru coffees (score 86 +)
• Experienced coffees (score 89 +)

At MaxiCoffee, we have a wide selection of specialty coffee beans. These coffees are often the result of meticulously harvested coffee cherries, expert processing, and precise roasting.

Grand crus: the world’s finest coffees

Although the choice is very subjective, there are a few countries and coffee plantations that stand out because of the rarity and taste profile of their coffee.

Maxicoffee’s selection of speciality coffees

Cafés Lugat Coffee Beans Huehuetenango from Guatemala – 250g

Huehuetenango coffee beans from Northwest Guatemala. This specialty coffee, sourced and freshly roasted by the Cafés Lugat roasting team, will offer you gourmet notes of chocolate with moderately spicy undertones. 100% Arabica. Medium+ roast designed for good espressi.

Tanat Blend 189 Coffee Beans – 200g

Specialty coffee blend grown in Brazil and Honduras. After being roasted by Tanat, a French roastery, this coffee reveals all its aromatic richness around Caramel and Hazelnut.

How to Choose the Best Coffee for You

Start by thinking about what flavours you enjoy. Do you prefer something fruity and floral? Go for African origins like Ethiopia. Like chocolate and caramel notes? Latin American coffees may be your best bet. Also consider brew method: some coffees shine in espresso, while others are best for filter or cold brew. Finally, don’t ignore freshness, always check the roast date and grind just before brewing for maximum flavour.

At the end of the day, the best coffee in the world may not be the best coffee beans for you. Take the time to visit a few coffee shops and test as many varieties and flavours as you can. Your new favourite is only a few sips away!)

There’s no single answer, because the best coffee in the world depends on your preferences. But by looking at traceability, SCA scores, and expert selections, you can get closer to your perfect cup. Whether you’re drawn to the fruity complexity of a Panamanian Geisha or the smooth flavours of Jamaican Blue Mountain, the world of specialty coffee is waiting to be explored, one cup at a time.