Johor Bahru’s cafe scene has gone way beyond matcha lattes and pastel-toned interiors. Tucked between the viral spots are a handful of serious coffee places—some with their own farms, some that roast their own beans on-site, and a couple of old-school kopitiams that have been perfecting the sock-drip method for decades. Here are the 10 best JB cafes for coffee lovers to check out the next time you cross the causeway!
The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.32 as of 26 June 2026.
For true coffee geeks, My Liberica Coffee is as close to “farm-to-cup” as JB gets. The brand grows, processes, roasts, and brews its own Liberica beans—a variety that makes up just 1% of global coffee production—on a plantation in Kulai, Johor, and its beans have placed at the World Barista Championship.
At the Taman Molek flagship, grab a seat at the coffee bar to watch baristas work the espresso machine up close, or order the Ice Drip Coffee (price TBD), a concentrated cold brew that’s not for the faint-hearted. The Jackfruit Hand Brew Coffee (price TBD) is a great pick if you want something fruitier, and yes, they do a civet cat kopi luwak for the curious.
Website | Full list of outlets
My Liberica Coffee is not halal-certified.
There’s no food menu, no pastries, no distractions—just good coffee at Sweet Blossom Coffee Roasters. This Taman Pelangi roastery sources its specialty beans through blind tasting, and the lineup of single-origins rotates depending on seasonal availability, so regulars never quite know what they’ll get. Order a hand-brew filtered coffee to taste the beans at their purest, or go for the Espresso Tonic (RM15) for something refreshing on a hot day.
Bags of their light-roasted beans are also available if you’d like to bring the JB coffee scene home with you.
Address: 28, Jalan Maju, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Fri-Wed 9am to 5pm
Website
Sweet Blossom Coffee Roasters is not halal-certified.
Described as “a workshop more than a cafe”, August Drip Coffee imports over 70 types of specialty beans from around the world, some through coffee auctions for exclusive lots. The roasting happens right in the cafe, so don’t be surprised if the place smells like a roastery mid-visit. Beyond classic pour-overs, the menu gets experimental with specialty pours infused with lemongrass, pandan, and even white pepper.
Besides filter coffee, you’ll also find a decent range of dirty coffees, in flavours such as Salted Butter (RM25) and Pistachio (RM25), alongside classic espresso-style coffee.
Address: 211, Jalan Dato Sulaiman, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 10pm
Website
August Drip Coffee is not halal-certified.
Hiritsu Coffee Roastery offers a far more tranquil coffee experience than most viral JB cafes, with a hand-brew bar that puts the entire process—grinding, blooming, the slow spiral pour—on full display. The cafe’s signature Shaddock Gathered Coffee (RM18+) is a citrusy, layered cold coffee made with cold brew, tonic water, and pomelo, finished with a thick cream cap. Pair it with the Bring Me Go Croffle (RM20+), a crispy croffle topped with vanilla ice cream and a ladyfinger biscuit, for a sweet contrast to the bright, fruity coffee.
Read our Hiritsu Coffee Roastery feature.
Address: 89, Jalan Beringin, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 7pm
Website
Hiritsu Coffee Roastery is not halal-certified.
You’ll find Cool Coffee Project in the unlikeliest of places: tucked inside a working car workshop near Mount Austin. This micro-roastery serves its brews in handmade ceramic cups that you get to pick yourself, sake-bar style, and counter seating puts you right in front of the baristas as they work through the pour-over process. It’s an ideal spot for solo coffee dates, especially if you order the Canele (RM12) or Japanese Cheesecake (RM19) on the side and settle in to watch the show.
For coffee, the espresso options are prepared with seasonal coffee; you won’t go wrong with an Iced Black (RM13) or White (RM12). You’ll also find coffee flights on the menu, perfect for caffeine addicts who want to try more than one cup.
Address: PTD52709 B, Jalan Ros Merah 2/2, Taman Johor Jaya, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 10am to 7pm
Website
Cool Coffee Project is not halal-certified.
Hidden on the second floor of a Bandar JB shophouse, Sunday Morning Coffee Shop is a Japanese-inspired cafe where drip coffee is the entire point. Choose between Hand Drip Hot Black Coffee (from RM13) or Hot Cafe Au Lait (from RM14), both made to order, and settle in by the window with a book if you’re flying solo. The cafe doubles as a quiet spot for brunch too, with mains including Katsu Curry Rice (RM28) and Mentaiko Udon (RM26) for when the coffee alone isn’t enough.
Check out our Sunday Morning Coffee Shop feature.
Address: 124, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 9am to 5pm
Website
Sunday Morning Coffee Shop is not halal-certified.
The Brew Orchestra‘s interior is designed to resemble a concert hall, complete with strings on the ceiling and light bulbs strung up like musical notes. Beyond the design-forward space, the brew bar takes its pour-overs and cold brews seriously, alongside signature concoctions including Pistachio Dirty (RM19), Dirty Coconut (RM16), and Coco Land (RM18): chilled coconut water with foamy dalgona espresso.
If you’re peckish, the Tiramisu Waffle (RM32) is the dish to order, finished with vanilla ice cream, mascarpone, coffee, and a hint of rum.
Address: 19, Jalan Molek 1/5C, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 7pm
Website
The Brew Orchestra is not halal-certified.
One of JB’s original cafe darlings, The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen is housed in a 1940s heritage shophouse along Jalan Dhoby, a 15-minute walk from the customs. It’s worth the visit for the coffee alone—the cafe brews with beans from Singapore’s well-regarded Common Man Coffee Roasters, a detail that’s earned it a loyal following among coffee-focused diners. Order a Latte (RM13++) or pick from their rotating specialty pours, then pair it with the cafe’s famous Churros (price TBD), served with a choice of salted egg, salted caramel, dark chocolate, or Nutella dip.
Address: 33-34, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 9am to 4:30pm, Fri 9am to 5pm
Website
The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen is not halal-certified but uses no pork or lard.
For a slow morning or tea break, head to KACJ Coffee, a quiet Taman Pelangi spot where you can indulge in both good coffee and fresh bakes without the usual JB cafe crowds. We really enjoyed the Iced White (RM14), which was strong and full-bodied even paired with oat milk, alongside the earthy Iced Hojicha Latte (RM17). You’ll also find trendy concoctions on the menu, such as Dirty Black Sesame (RM17) and Dirty Pure Pistachio (RM18), the cafe’s spins on the viral dirty coffee.
Check out our KACJ Coffee feature.
Address: 32, Jalan Sri Pelangi 4, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 9:30am to 5:30pm
Website
KACJ Coffee is not halal-certified.
Coffee snobbery isn’t just a third-wave thing, and Roast & Coffee, located along the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk stretch, proves it. This Nanyang kopitiam serves traditional coffee the old-fashioned way: think Gu You Kopi-O (RM4.20), featuring black coffee with a knob of butter melted in for a smoother, buttery aroma, and 3 Layer Kopi (RM7.90), an iced coffee with a top layer of strong kopi-o, a middle layer of evaporated milk, and a bottom layer of palm sugar. The old-school cafe also offers a wide range of mains and sides, including vegetarian options.
Address: 62 and 63, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 6pm
Website
Roast & Coffee is not halal-certified.
Whether you’re after a Liberica farm pour or a properly kaw kopi-O, JB has more than enough to satisfy even the pickiest coffee drinker.
For more dining recommendations, check out our ultimate JB food guide, or read our list of the best JB cafes for a solo trip if you’re planning on cafe-hopping alone. Alternatively, if you need something to go with your coffee, check out our guide to the best JB bakeries near the customs.
Feature image adapted from Sweet Blossom Coffee Roasters and My Liberica Coffee
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