Eco Mapu Coffee named best coffee shop in South America

The South America’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 rankings were announced at The Global Coffee Fair in Quito, Ecuador. In a historic result, the Chilean coffee shop Eco Mapu Coffee, located in Villarrica, was named the best in the continent. Led by founder Cristian Cariman, the establishment was recognized for its use of endemic southern Chilean ingredients like maqui and murtilla.

Chile achieved a record presence in the rankings with 13 coffee shops included. Other notable participants from the region include 18 establishments from Peru, 15 from Ecuador (including Fankø, which ranked second globally), and 8 from Venezuela.

The evaluation process involved over 300 expert judges visiting 4,200 locations across the continent, accounting for 70% of the score, while the remaining 30% was determined by public voting. Criteria for selection included coffee quality, barista expertise, service excellence, sustainability, and innovation.