Celebrate International Coffee Day by discovering where to savor the world’s finest brews.

In celebration of International Coffee Day – because who needs an excuse – let’s raise our cups.

Our passion for coffee stretches far beyond the Seattle giant that introduced 'tall', 'grande', and 'venti' to our lingo.

The world’s best coffee hails from every corner of the globe. From 15th-century Arab origins to the 1843 debut of the first commercial espresso machine by a French inventor.

There have been some significant advancements since then – and we're not just talking about the Frappuccino.

"Consumers are increasingly curious about the origins of their beans, and the methods used to harvest and roast them," says Nick Clark of Flight Coffee Unlimited in New Zealand. "With so many factors influencing a perfect cup, the coffee industry has had to adapt to meet rising expectations."

Grab another cup, then keep reading to find out where to enjoy the best coffee worldwide.

Wellington, New Zealand

While the iconic flat white – essentially a latte with less milk – was believed to have been created in Sydney, it truly found its perfection in Wellington, New Zealand, where it has become the country's unofficial drink of choice.

"Wellingtonians are experts when it comes to coffee, and the quality around the city is exceptional," says Clark. "Being a small city, there's plenty of interaction between coffee lovers and baristas, which helps the industry thrive and improve."

Local favorite: Flat white. It’s practically a way of life.

Best spots: It’s hard to go wrong with coffee in New Zealand.

Some of Wellington’s top coffee spots include Flight Coffee Hangar and Lamason Brew Bar.

Melbourne, Australia

"The coffee culture in Melbourne is absolutely phenomenal," says Pete Licata, former World Barista Champion from the U.S. Coffee is so deeply embedded in Melbourne’s lifestyle that the city even hosts a yearly coffee expo.

Local favorite: Piccolo latte.

While classics like lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites are still popular, the piccolo latte – with less milk to let the espresso shine – has become the drink of choice.

Top spots: “It’s nearly impossible to get a bad cup of coffee in Melbourne,” says Licata.

For true coffee connoisseurs, check out Axil Coffeehouse Roasters in Hawthorn, Auction Rooms in North Melbourne, and Dead Man Espresso in South Melbourne.

Hidden Secrets Tours offers unique café culture walking tours.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Coffee is ingrained in Vietnam's culture, and the country ranks among the world’s largest coffee producers.

During Vietnam’s colonial era under France, coffee plantations were established across the country in the late 19th century. If you're in Hanoi, you won’t have to search far for a top-notch cup of coffee.

Don’t expect to find a flat white or an Americano here.

Coffee is traditionally brewed through a filter, dripping into a single cup below. This method, which may even predate the pour-over style popular in US hipster cafes, creates a rich, intense brew that is either sipped black or sweetened with condensed milk. This practice dates back to when fresh milk was scarce in Vietnam.

A local favorite, and Instagram sensation, is ca phe trung – egg coffee, where a creamy, meringue-like egg foam tops a rich black coffee. Cafe Giang is famous for making one of the best in the city.

Local favorites: caphe den (thick, slow-brewed black coffee), caphe sua (black coffee with sweetened condensed milk), or coconut coffee (frozen coconut milk mixed with bold black coffee and topped with shaved coconut ice – more dessert than drink).

Top spots: Visit Cafe Dinh (hidden at 13 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi), Loading T, Cafe Duy Tri (serving since 1936), and Xofa Cafe & Bistro for a delicious coconut coffee.

London

About 15 years ago, Aussies and Kiwis introduced the city to its first espresso-focused coffee shops, bringing their cherished flat whites along. Since then, modern cafés have continued to pop up all over London. While tea may still hold the crown in England, London now offers some seriously great coffee.

Local favorite: Flat white or cappuccino.

Top spots: East London is home to the city's highest concentration of quality coffee shops. Must-visit cafés include Allpress, Climpson & Sons, and Caravan.

Iceland

Following the Dutch, Scandinavians have the highest coffee consumption per capita globally. While Finland leads the pack, Iceland is equally obsessed with coffee. A generation ago, coffee and cake was a typical afternoon treat, but the focus was more on the cake than the coffee. Today, it’s hard to stroll down a street without spotting a café.

In Iceland, the absence of large commercial coffee chains has allowed local businesses to thrive.

Local favorite: Latte or cappuccino.

Top spots: With seven cafés and its own roastery, Kaffitar is Iceland's closest answer to a coffee chain. Stofan and Reykjavik Roasters are popular among the hipster crowd.

Rome, Italy

Coffee is deeply embedded in Italian culture, and it's rare to find a local who doesn’t drink it. However, despite Italy’s coffee legacy, some critics argue that the country has been slow to embrace modern barista techniques, making it a challenge to find a truly great espresso.

With some of the country’s top baristas calling it home, Rome is your best chance for a superb cup of coffee.

Local favorite: Espresso.

Tradition dictates that milky coffees should only be enjoyed at breakfast.

Top spots: Rosati at Piazza del Popolo, Sant’ Eustachio near the Pantheon, and Giolitti, just a few blocks from the Trevi Fountain, are all beloved by locals and visitors alike.

Singapore

Coffee has long been a cornerstone of life in Singapore, with the centuries-old tradition of kopitiam (coffee shop culture). However, it’s only in recent years that the city has fully embraced modern espresso methods. Today, latté art is a standard feature in most cafés.

Local favorite: Latte, mocha, or cappuccino.

Top spots: Jovena recommends Strangers’ Reunion in Chinatown, Dutch Colony at Pasar Bella marketplace, and Bukit Timah, as well as Chye Seng Huat Hardware in Little India.

Seattle

If there’s one city in the U.S. that’s always ahead of the curve, it’s Seattle. The green mermaid is just a small part of the city's thriving coffee scene.

“In Seattle, coffee is our liquid sunshine,” says Joshua Boyt, a coffee consultant and former SCA World Barista competition judge. “The passion for the brew, combined with the sheer volume of coffee shops in the city, has fostered a culture of constant innovation, driven by both competition and camaraderie.”

Local favorites: Espresso, cappuccino, or a single-origin pour.

Top spots: Victrola Coffee Roasters in Capitol Hill, Empire Espresso in Columbia City, and Seattle Coffee Works downtown are all excellent choices.

Austria

Coffee is such a vital part of Viennese life that in 2011, UNESCO recognized the city's coffeehouses as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

However, modern coffee experts like Vienna-based blogger Lameen Abdul-Malik of From Coffee With Love admit that while these iconic coffeehouses serve as public living rooms for chatting, reading, and enjoying strudel, they still fall short in terms of cutting-edge coffee technology and service expectations.

Since Vienna hosted the World Barista Championships in 2012, things have been changing. New-style independent coffee shops have begun to emerge, according to Abdul-Malik.

Local order: Espresso or cappuccino at a modern café. Or, try a Wiener Melange (similar to a cappuccino, but typically topped with cream) at a classic coffeehouse.

Top spots: Abdul-Malik recommends Caffe Couture or Coffee Pirates. For traditional coffee and exquisite cakes, head to Demel.

Nigeria

While coffee is believed to have originated in Africa – with historians tracing it back to pre-15th-century Ethiopia – Nigeria has been slow to adopt coffee culture. However, this is changing, and predictions show that Nigerians will drink 23% more coffee in 2020 than in previous years. Coffee culture is brewing there, so get ahead of the curve by visiting and sampling the local brew.

In 2012, brothers Ngozi and Chijioke Dozie, both US business school graduates, founded Cafe Neo in Lagos to foster entrepreneurship and offer high-quality coffee. Today, they’re no longer the only ones pushing for better coffee in the country.

Local favorites: Regular filtered coffee, served black or with milk, or their take on a Frappuccino.

Top spots: Neo Cafe, Art Cafe, and Delis Cafe (located inside Delis Grocery at 1291 Akin Adesola Street), all in Lagos' Victoria Island.

Our passion for coffee extends beyond the Seattle chain that introduced tall, grande, and venti to our everyday lingo.