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22 November, 2024

Remitly’s study reveals the best cities of coffee in Australia and New Zealand

Edited by Travel Weekly

New research from Remitly has revealed the coffee capitals of Australia and New Zealand, with Queensland ranking as the top destination that coffee-lovers should visit.

To crown the top coffee hotspot of Oceania, they analysed multiple data points, including over 2.37 million customer reviews on Google Maps and over 4,000 Instagram posts, to create an index. All data was adjusted for city population sizes and the resulting scores; coffee shops per person, coffee shop customer ratings, number of customer reviews, and Instagram posts per person, were scaled to a 100-point system, providing a comprehensive look at the ultimate coffee hotspots of Oceania that goes far beyond the number of coffee shops in the area.

Top 20 best destinations for coffee lovers in Australia and New Zealand

Queenstown tops Remitly’s Coffee Capitals index, with an almost perfect score of 97.8 out of 100. The South Island town has a modest number of cafes according to Google Maps (112); however, its highly rated and reviewed coffee shops contribute to its high overall score with each cafe in the town averaging over 400 reviews and an impressive rating of 4.47 out of five.

In second place is Coffs Harbour, which is home not only to several coffee shops, but also several roasteries where caffeine enthusiasts can enjoy local produce and learn more about the coffee-making process. With average rated score of 4.23 out of five according to customer reviews, the coffee scene is clearly popular with locals and visitors alike, with one five-star review describing the cafe culture in Coffs as “just hitting different”.

Coming in at third is the Gold Coast, with an overall score of 60.7 out of 100 in the index and boasting 379 shops to serve the over 645,000 population. With many of the popular cafes overlooking the sandy beaches in the area, coffee lovers can enjoy their drinks with a view too.

Cairns and the Sunshine Coast follow to make up the top five hotspots coffee enthusiasts should consider visiting, with respective scores of 60.5 and 57.2 out of 100. Surprisingly, despite being known for its coffee culture, Sydney missis out on a top 10 position, ranking in 12th overall with a score of 46.5 out of 100. The city scored slightly less on average coffee shop ratings than other locations. However, it still offers almost 280,000 cafes for people to explore.

Of the top 10 cities for coffee lovers, three-quarters (15 cities) are located in Australia and just five are New Zealand-based. Interestingly, apart from Queenstown, which dominates the top position with a score of 97.8, no other major New Zealand city is in the top 20. Taupo, a territorial authority district in New Zealand, completes the top 10 with a score of 49, while Rotorua ranks in the 13th spot, Nelson in the 19th spot, and Timaru in the 20th.

Remitly’s Coffee Capitals Index.

“Anyone considering a move or visit to Australia or New Zealand will likely already be aware of the thriving coffee culture and café scene in both countries,” Remitly VP of marketing for EMEA and APAC, Ryan Riley, said. “With espresso-based brews at the heart of every menu, these nations offer incredible coffee that rivals even Italy’s best. Beyond exceptional coffee though, the shops and cafes dotted around the region provide the perfect opportunity for new residents of an area to establish a routine, meet new people, and sample some of the finest local produce the region has to offer.

“Coffee shops here aren’t just about getting a caffeine hit, they allow connection to a community and are just one part of what it means to live life as an Aussie or Kiwi. We hope our data will help inspire people to explore the best coffee shops in their area, especially independents that might need some extra support this summer.”

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Remitly Remitly's Coffee Capitals Index