By ANNA USHER

Australia’s best coffee isn’t hidden in a Melbourne laneway.

It’s being poured on Willoughby Road in Crows Nest.

Only Coffee Project has been named Australia’s top coffee shop and ranked fourth best in the world in the World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 list … a major win for Sydney and an even bigger one for the lower north shore.

The global rankings are based on coffee quality, innovation, atmosphere and consistency, and judges agreed the tiny Crows Nest espresso bar outperformed cafés across the country – including Melbourne, long regarded as Australia’s coffee capital.

For local caffeine lovers, Only Coffee Project has become a familiar sight: a tight little shopfront, a queue spilling onto the footpath, and baristas focused entirely on what’s in the cup.

There’s no brunch menu. No pastry cabinet. No distractions.

Owner Sam Lee built Only Coffee Project around a single idea -strip everything back and let the coffee do the talking.

Last week, that philosophy paid off.

“What an unbelievable honour. We are beyond grateful, proud, and feeling so incredibly loved right now,” he told Mosman Collective.

“Being named the fourth best coffee shop in the world is mind-blowing.”

The busy dad, who shares three children – Ariel, Solomon, and Grace – with wife Yuki, says his ethos is simple: to provide the ultimate coffee experience for every person who orders.

“For those who don’t know where to start, we treat it a bit like a wine bar,” he said.

“You might prefer Riesling to Chardonnay, so with coffee, we’ll start with the tasting notes. Sweet, delicate, floral. Juicy, citric, or something funky. And based on those categories, we can make suggestions.”

The international recognition has this week drawn coffee fans from all corners of Sydney, with caffeine lovers making a beeline for Willoughby Road to taste what judges say is among the best coffee on the planet.

“To our loyal customers who choose us, support us, and fill our space with life, we really thank you,” Sam said.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this journey. This is our shared win.

“Here’s to many more cups together.”