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International Ranking Highlights Seven Brazilian Cafés in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Curitiba; Cupping Café (SP) is the Highest Ranked at 8th Place.
Seven cafés from Brazil were recognized in the inaugural list of The South America’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2025, released last Saturday (25). The ranking, which evaluates establishments across the continent, included notable addresses located in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Curitiba, signaling the strength of the national specialty coffee market. This information was highlighted by CNN.
The highest-ranked national café was Cupping Café, from São Paulo, which achieved 8th place overall. This continental recognition adds to another recent achievement of the establishment, which had already appeared on the list of the 100 best in the world earlier this year. The result reinforces the maturation of the specialty coffee scene in Brazil, going beyond production to shine in service and consumer experience.
The Spotlight on Cupping Café and the Impact of Recognition
Cupping Café, which secured 8th place in the South American ranking, is the best-positioned Brazilian address on the list. Located in Vila Madalena, São Paulo, the café has been operating since 2017 with a total focus on specialty coffee producers from Brazil, bringing beans from regions such as São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Bahia. According to CNN, the company also has its own roastery, supplying to other businesses and controlling the quality of the beans from origin to cup.
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The impact of being featured in international rankings is tangible for businesses. Gabriel Penteado, barista and roasting master at Cupping, told CNN that, after the establishment made it onto the global list (92nd place in February), the traffic in the location doubled. “We had a ‘boom’ at first and adapted to this flow. Today, many people from outside come here and we receive visits from professionals from all over the world,” explained Penteado, who described the distinction as “very gratifying” and a “recognition of the seriousness of our work.”
Meet the Other Brazilian Cafés That Were Awarded
In addition to Cupping, six other cafés from Brazil were highlighted in the continental selection. Rio de Janeiro had a strong presence with three addresses: Coffee Five (20th place), located in the city center since 2018; Mato Café (64th), situated in Arpoador and known for its cookies and coffees from small producers; and Café ao Léu (67th), with locations in Copacabana and Leblon, which also operates as a roastery.
São Paulo added two more names: Kofi & Co (61st), with locations in Chácara Santo Antônio and in partnership with Le Cordon Bleu; and Kof – King of the Fork (66th), in Pinheiros, which combines cycling culture with specialty coffees since 2014. Closing the national list, Lucca Cafés Especiais (69th), from Curitiba (PR), was celebrated. According to CNN, the shop in Batel has over 20 years in the market and offers more than 30 Brazilian microlots with its own artisanal roasting.
The South American Podium and the Ranking Methodology
Although cafés from Brazil have shown strength, the top of the overall podium went to Colombia. Tropicalia Coffee, from Bogotá, was voted the best café in South America in 2025. The second place went to Kafi Wasi Café Tostaduría (Arequipa, Peru) and the third to Holaste! Specialty Coffee (Puerto Natales, Chile). Cupping Café (8th) was the only representative from Brazil in the Continental Top 10.
The selection, as detailed by CNN based on information from The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops, had a rigorous voting process. The final result was composed of a weight of 70% from votes by over 200 professional judges from the coffee industry. The remaining 30% were determined through an online public vote, held globally in September.
The evaluation process considered key criteria to define the 100 best establishments. Judges and the public evaluated factors such as coffee quality, barista experience, customer service, menu innovation, establishment environment, adopted sustainability practices, food quality offered, and the overall consistency of the experience over time.
Do you frequent any of these awarded Brazilian cafés? Do you think this list reflects the reality of the specialty coffee scene in Brazil? Leave your opinion in the comments, we want to know which café from your city also deserved to be on this ranking!
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