

By Deanne Jeffers
SHEPPARTON is brewing up a coffee culture that rivals Australia’s big cities, recently being named the fifth Coffee Capital in the country. While Melbourne has long been celebrated as the pinnacle of quality coffee, Shepparton is making a strong case for itself as a worthy contender.
A new study from global financial provider Remitly ranked the top Australian destinations for coffee lovers. The research analysed over 2.37M Google Maps reviews, more than 4,000 Instagram posts, the number of coffee shops, their average ratings, and the volume of customer reviews. This data was then adjusted for city population size and converted into an indexed score, revealing Coffs Harbour as Australia’s top coffee city, with Shepparton claiming fifth place with a score of 57 out of 100. Shepparton ranked higher than major cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney.
Matt Kington, owner of Stellar Coffee, said the recognition was no surprise, highlighting Shepparton’s vibrant coffee culture. “Shepparton has many excellent operators and great businesses. You don’t have to walk far to find a good cup of coffee. I think this competitiveness drives up quality,” he said.


“Here, we have a real passion for coffee. Being close to Melbourne and located in the food bowl of the nation, we have access to high-quality ingredients and beans. It’s really no wonder we ranked so highly,” Matt added.
“At the end of the day, you’re only as good as your beans, your staff, and your equipment. Without all three working well, you won’t have customers or a successful business.”
Despite rising costs, Matt shared that Stellar Coffee has only increased its prices twice since opening. “Increasing costs are a challenge for businesses, whether it’s labour, insurance, or ingredients. But we’ve kept price changes minimal, and it hasn’t affected customer loyalty.”
According to the study, Shepparton boasts 106 coffee shops, which have received 17,296 customer reviews, with an impressive average rating of 4.23.
On a broader scale, Queenstown in New Zealand’s South Island claimed the title of the top coffee city across Australia and New Zealand, with Shepparton placing sixth overall.Shepparton coffee culture Shepparton coffee capital Top coffee cities Australia Remitly coffee capitals index Shepparton cafes
To read more about the study, visit: https://blog.remitly.com/en-au/lifestyle-culture/australia-new-zealand-coffee-capitals/
Australia’s 2025 coffee capitals 1. Coffs Harbour – 66.4 (out of 100) 2. Gold Coast – 60.7 3. Cairns – 60.5 4. Sunshine Coast – 57.2 5. Shepparton – 57.0 6. Melbourne – 55.0 7. Mildura – 52.3 8. Brisbane – 49.3 9. Adelaide – 47.4 10. Sydney – 46.5

