The world’s best places to order a coffee

On Tokyo’s buzzing coffee scene, this light-filled corner café is a standout. It’s set amid Jimbōchō’s specialist secondhand bookshops, a 20-minute stroll from Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo. Pull up a stool and peruse the beans lined along the counter – strictly single origin and lightly roasted in house. The pour-over coffees are sublimely fruity and floral, with a tasting trio for aficionados. Still, no one’s judging if you drop by for a latte and flaky cinnamon roll – the perfect pick-me-up after a morning’s bookshelf browsing.

Set in the grand, glass-roofed Galleria, next to the Duomo, the iconic Camparino bar has been in situ for more than a century. Come the evening, it’s an upscale haunt for Campari-fuelled cocktails – but to admire its Art Nouveau detailing in peace, drop by first thing for a coffee. Do as the locals do and quaff a swift espresso at the curving, inlaid bar, or ask a bow-tied barman to rustle up a caffè shakerato – Italy’s frothy, syrup-laced take on the iced coffee.

In-the-know locals adore this tiny, pared-back coffee spot, on blink-and-you’ll-miss-it rue Villédo. Laptops are banned and, with no WiFi, conversation and coffee are the focus – sip a super-smooth filter brew or creamy café noisette. The food here’s as simple as it is delicious, from jam-slathered sourdough (baked in house) to salted caramel cookies. If there’s no space, grab a takeaway and walk to the Palais Royal, with its rambling roses, clipped lime trees and soothing central fountain. Or meander back to the nearby Mandarin Oriental, Paris via rue St-Honoré’s boutiques.

Three friends are behind this smart startup, which has turned four tired newsstand kiosks into sleek, street-side coffee stops. Its friendly baristas serve up impeccable small-batch coffees, whether you’re after a punchy double espresso or velvety cortado. They’re accompanied by a globetrotting array of reading material, from The New York Times to arty independent magazines. If you’re staying at Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, drop by the outpost on Passeig de Sant Joan.

For a great cup of coffee on the Upper West Side, make for this inviting all-rounder on Columbus Avenue. Blends at Black Press Coffee come courtesy of Brooklyn’s acclaimed Parlor roastery – try the toffee-fragranced Wallabout or mellow Columbian decaf. Coffees run from cold brews and cortados to homemade syrup-infused lattes, while the counter’s stacked with glossy doughnuts and peanut-butter cookies. Perch on a stool alongside the laptop-tapping locals, or get a cup to go and head for nearby Central Park.