The Best Coffee in Bali: Specialty Cafes, Kintamani Beans and Kopi Luwak

The first proper flat white I had in Bali cost me Rp 38,000 and came with an apology — the barista at a Canggu brew bar reckoned the milk had been “a touch hot.” I’d had worse coffee in London for four times the price, served by someone who’d never apologise for anything. That cup rearranged my expectations. If you’re hunting for the best coffee Bali has to offer, the good news is that the island punches absurdly above its weight, and the better news is that you can drink brilliantly for a couple of quid.

There are two coffee stories happening here at once. One is the third-wave café scene — the single-origin pour-overs, the on-site roasters, the baristas who’ll talk you through a washed Kintamani like it’s a wine. The other is the coffee that’s actually grown here, up in the volcanic highlands, by farmers organised into centuries-old cooperatives. And then there’s kopi luwak, the famous “civet coffee,” which I’ll be honest with you about because most guides won’t be.

Here’s where I’d send my own friends.

The best specialty coffee cafes in Canggu and Ubud

If you only have time for two cafes, make them Revolver in Canggu and Seniman Coffee Studio in Ubud. They’re the twin pillars of Bali’s specialty coffee scene and they couldn’t be more different in mood.

Revolver is the dark, moody one — tucked down a gang (alley) off Jalan Kayu Aya, all exposed brick and bare bulbs, roasting its own beans on site. It’s been quietly consistent for years while flashier places have opened and shut around it. Order the long black and grab a stool; it gets rammed by 9am with the laptop crowd, so come early if you actually want a seat.

Seniman, up in Ubud, is the cerebral one. It’s a full coffee playground — a micro-roastery, a brew bar, a shop selling kit, and a rotating line-up of Indonesian single origins alongside beans from Africa and the Americas. The first time I went I sat in one of their slightly mad rocking chairs and worked through a tasting flight, and a staff member explained why the Flores beans tasted of cocoa and the Kintamani of citrus. That’s the kind of place it is.

Beyond those two, Canggu is thick with good cafes — Hungry Bird does the quietest filter coffee, Shelter near Batu Bolong has strong wifi and full meals if you’re settling in for the day, and Blacklist and Nyom Nyom are two more local favourites worth a detour. Up in Ubud, House of Yoreh and Ubud Coffee Roasters round out the list for serious bean hunters. The best cafes in Bali aren’t hard to find here; the hard part is leaving.

Kintamani coffee: Bali’s single-origin from the slopes of Mount Batur

Most people are surprised to learn Bali grows its own coffee at all — and grows it seriously well. Kintamani coffee comes from the highlands around Mount Batur, at altitudes of roughly 1,000 to 1,500 metres, where volcanic soil and cool mountain air do something lovely to the beans.

In 2008 Kintamani Arabica became the first Indonesian coffee to earn Geographical Indication protection — the same kind of legal status that guards Champagne or Parmigiano in Europe (the certificate was issued on 5 December 2008). That matters because it means the name is tied to a real place and a real method, not just slapped on a bag.

What you taste is a clean, bright cup — citrus notes of mandarin and lemon, sometimes a whisper of bergamot, with none of the heavy, earthy spice you get from a lot of Sumatran coffee. Most of it is wet-processed (washed), which gives that clarity.

What I love about Kintamani is the human structure behind it. The farmers belong to a Subak Abian, a Balinese cooperative that governs not just the growing but the social and religious life of the community — coffee here is genuinely woven into how people live. If you want to see it for yourself, the drive up to the Batur caldera is stunning; you’ll want a scooter or a driver for the day, because the roads up there are not for the faint-hearted.

Kopi luwak: the honest truth about Bali’s civet coffee

Now the awkward one. Kopi luwak — coffee made from beans eaten and excreted by the Asian palm civet — is marketed all over Bali as a luxury must-try, and you’ll be offered it on practically every plantation tour around Ubud, Kintamani and Tegallalang.

I won’t tell you not to be curious. But I will tell you what the research says. When scientists assessed wild civets held in cages at 16 plantations on Bali, every single one failed basic animal welfare standards — small cages, poor diet, isolation. PETA estimates up to 80% of coffee sold as “wild-sourced” actually comes from caged, force-fed animals. National Geographic ran a long, grim investigation into exactly this.

So here’s my honest position. The romantic version — a wild civet roaming the forest, picking the ripest cherries — barely exists at commercial scale. Most of what’s poured for tourists at “Rp 50,000 a cup” comes from cages, and a lot of it isn’t even genuine luwak. The flavour, frankly, is unremarkable; people pay for the story, not the cup.

If you genuinely want to try it, ask hard questions about whether the civets are wild-collected and free-roaming, and walk away if the answer is vague or there are caged animals on the premises. I’d rather spend that money on a flawless Kintamani pour-over, and I usually do.

What coffee actually costs in Bali (and what to order)

Let’s talk money, because the value here is half the joy. A latte or cappuccino at a decent café runs roughly Rp 19,000 to Rp 49,000 — call it £1 to £2.50. Canggu and Seminyak sit at the top of that range; quieter streets in Ubud or Denpasar come in cheaper. Specialty single-origin filter will cost a little more, but you’re still rarely over £3.

My everyday order, though, isn’t the flat white — it’s kopi susu, the local iced coffee with milk and palm sugar, which often lands at Rp 17,000 to Rp 30,000. Warungs and little roadside stalls do versions of it that knock the chain cafés flat. There’s a place near my old place in Pererenan that does one for Rp 20,000 that I still think about.

A practical tip: many cafés add tax and service on top of the menu price, so the Rp 35,000 latte might ring up nearer Rp 42,000. Worth knowing before you tut at the bill. And if you’re learning to cook the local dishes too, a Cooking Class in Ubud pairs beautifully with a coffee-farm morning.

Buying beans to take home: the best Bali coffee roasters

If you want to take Bali home in a bag, buy from a roaster who actually roasts here. My two reliable picks are Seniman in Ubud and Expat Roasters, whose Bali café sits in the Petitenget area near Canggu and who work directly with Balinese farmers.

Both will vacuum-seal whole beans, which travel far better than ground. Ask for a washed Kintamani if you want that bright, citrussy cup at home, or a natural-process Flores or Sumatran if you prefer something darker and fruitier. Tell the barista how you brew — espresso, V60, AeroPress — and they’ll point you to the right roast. Skip the touristy “Bali coffee” tins in the supermarket; the difference is night and day.

My honest verdict

The best coffee in Bali isn’t the most expensive cup or the most Instagrammed plantation — it’s a clean Kintamani single-origin pulled by someone who cares, drunk somewhere quiet while the morning warms up.

I’ve left places off this list on purpose, because the scene changes fast and half the fun is the café you stumble into yourself. So — where’s your favourite? Reply and tell me the spot, the order, the price you paid. My list is never finished, and I’d genuinely love a new one to try next time I’m back on the island.

Before you go — I wrote this in 2026 and double-checked every price, fee, opening time and rule I could, but Bali changes fast. Treat the figures here as a guide and confirm the latest details before you book or travel.

Some of the links in this article are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend things I would happily send a friend to.

FAQs

What is the best coffee in Bali? For specialty coffee, Seniman in Ubud and Revolver in Canggu are the standout cafes, while Kintamani Arabica is Bali’s best home-grown single-origin bean. The cafes roast their own beans on site and serve excellent single-origin pour-overs. Kintamani, grown on the slopes of Mount Batur, is the bean to look for if you want something genuinely local and protected by Geographical Indication status.

Is coffee cheap in Bali? Yes — a latte or cappuccino usually costs Rp 19,000 to Rp 49,000, roughly £1 to £2.50. Local iced kopi susu is cheaper still, often Rp 17,000 to Rp 30,000. Even premium specialty filter coffee rarely tops £3, which makes Bali one of the best-value coffee destinations anywhere.

What is Kintamani coffee? Kintamani is Bali’s home-grown Arabica, farmed at 1,000–1,500 metres around Mount Batur on volcanic soil. It became Indonesia’s first Geographical Indication coffee in 2008. It has bright citrus notes — mandarin and lemon — and a clean finish, and most of it is wet-processed by farmers organised into traditional Subak Abian cooperatives.

Should I try kopi luwak in Bali? I’d be cautious — most commercial kopi luwak comes from caged, force-fed civets, and welfare studies on Bali plantations found serious problems. PETA estimates up to 80% of coffee labelled “wild-sourced” actually comes from captive animals. If you do try it, insist on genuinely wild-collected sourcing and avoid anywhere keeping civets in cages.

Where is the best coffee in Canggu? Revolver is the iconic pick for strong, well-roasted coffee, with Hungry Bird best for quiet filter and Shelter near Batu Bolong good for working (for a proper desk, see my Bali coworking guide). Canggu has one of the densest specialty coffee scenes in Bali, so you’re rarely far from a great cup. Arrive before 9am if you want a seat at the popular spots.

What is kopi susu? Kopi susu is the local Indonesian iced coffee with milk and palm sugar, usually costing Rp 17,000 to Rp 30,000. It’s my everyday order in Bali. Warungs and roadside stalls often make versions that rival the trendy cafes for a fraction of the price.

Where can I buy good Bali coffee beans to take home? Buy from a local roaster like Seniman in Ubud or Expat Roasters near Canggu, and choose vacuum-sealed whole beans. They roast on the island and work directly with Balinese farmers. Ask for a washed Kintamani for a bright cup, and skip the generic supermarket tins.

Does Bali grow its own coffee? Yes — Bali grows both Arabica (most famously Kintamani, around Mount Batur) and Robusta in lower areas. Kintamani Arabica is protected by Geographical Indication status. The volcanic highland soil and cool altitude give the beans their distinctive clean, citrussy character.

How much does kopi luwak cost in Bali? At a plantation or café in Bali, a cup typically runs from around Rp 50,000 upwards, far cheaper than the £30-plus you’d pay in London. But price doesn’t guarantee quality or ethics. Much of it is from caged civets and the flavour is, in my experience, underwhelming for the hype.

What time do cafes open in Bali? Most specialty cafes open between 7am and 8am and the popular ones fill up by 9am with remote workers. Coming early gets you a quieter room and the pick of the seats. Many close by late afternoon or early evening rather than running late into the night.